Don't hate on me okay but I have just bought a iPhone 5s purely because of the camera and App selection. Since ordering one and waiting for it to be delivered I have been watching a couple of comparison videos. I came across a video where they guy compared the Geekbench results of the iPhone 5s and Samsung Galaxy S4 and even though the SGS4 has a 'better' processor and more RAM the iPhone 5s scores almost double the figures, and when the 5s is compared to the 5/5c the scores are massively higher. This is because of the 64-bit architecture right? If it is why does the iPhone 5s do so well with the new 64-bit architecture?
It has very little to with 64 bit and everything to do with the amount of apps running in the backround. 1 app on a iphone is ofcoursegoing to appear faster than the twenty apps that run at the same time on everything else. You might say a iphone can only do one thing at a time while the rest of the world multitasks.
The 64 bit architecture doesn't really make a difference to performance, it just means it can count higher (2^64 as opposed to 2^32). This affects a lot of things, such as the amount of memory it can address, however the speed of execution is not affected.
The reason behind these geekbench results IS because of the new 64-bit arch.
Now, before everyone starts throwing a hissy fit, allow me to explain.
Despite what everyone said, the difference between 64 and 32 bit computing is NOT simply a difference between memory usage. In certain cases, such as encoders, crypto, and other number crunch programs receive a significant boost in performance. This is because the processor can use larger integers and does not have to fetch as much. Some tests have shown up to a 30% increase in speed for these types of programs.
Now lets look at the Geekbench results. They are significantly higher in the iPhone 5s compared to most smartphones, even though it is clocked at a much slower speed. This is because Geekbench 3 is one of the few apps that are currently 64-bit optimized. It can take advantage of the new arch and as a result can crunch the numbers for a benchmark significantly faster with less hardware. If we were to compare Geekbench 3 to a benchmark tool that is not optimized for the new 64 bit arch, I'm sure we will see a different story.
Now let me wrap this up by saying that the 64-bit Arch WAS a smart move on Apple's part, but it is not it's saving grace. This performance boost will not be shown as much in applications that do not involve some massive number crunching. So games and everyday apps will suffer. Also, since 64-bit integers are larger, the more 64-bit optimized applications running in the background will result in a more sluggish performance. However, I do not believe there will be a majority of 64-bit vs 32 bit optimized apps before the next release, which will definitely have more RAM to offset this.
To be honest, I would take Geekbench resaults with a grain of salt. They have always been one sided. Last year they said the iPhone 4S was more powerful than the Galaxy S3. Not only was that false in it intirety they also failed to mention they were testing against the dual core American S3. I did some of my own tests on my old S3 and the new 5S (No I didnt buy one, Cusins boyfriend bought one) and found that in raw computing power, The S3 Quad core is still more powerful. The iPhone 5S holds 87% of the power of the Galaxy S3. Though the iPhone will run better on a daily bases as the os is not as fragmented as android, On apps that require raw computing power, You will see better performance on the 1 1/2 year old Galaxy S3.
Larger address space, ie. supports more memory. That's it.
Access to more memory equals things will work, as opposed to chugging because there's not enough memory in the system for modern demand. Whatever performance boost is insignificant outside of systems where you place less then 4gigs of memory (ie. not tacking advantage of the extra address space), since the 64bit system just has infinite wiggle room compared to the 32bit system, so it can constantly cheat it's way to victory on anything that actually matters.
64 is bigger number the 32 so it must be better......lol. But there are actually some differences but until they make a more powerful better chip and more memory and apps to take advantage of it I dont think it matters
First of all you need to understand that bench-marking puts a hell of a lot of stress through a device/system, its what its supposed to do.
This ends up with the "theoretical" top performance of said device, in this case ignore the makers of the devices and look at the two factors, one is a 32bit system and the other is 64bit, its pretty obvious that the more modern upto date system will score better.
In the real world you pretty much wont notice anything when your making calls sending messages etc, you will only notice a difference when you do things that take a huge amount of power to do (video editing/rendering etc). Also take into account that hardly anything available currently for the iphone is coded to use 64bit and you see that in the real world you probably wont notice the difference.
The only comparison i can make to try and explain this is with cars, take a BMW 5 series and a Ford Fiesta, you put these cars on a racing track and the BMW hammers the Fiesta everywhere (bench marking), if you place them both on a normal road with a speed limit of 30 MPH (both law abiding drivers) youl hardly see any difference between the two (real world performance) thats probably the diff between 32 and 64 bit software.
If this were reddit I would make a billion accounts and upvote you all with them.
This is the MAIN thing. Apple is simply future proofing.
It's the one time I think they're very smart about it, although if rumors be true, we will certainly see 64 bit android, probably in 5.0, and probably some time early-middle of next year.
Basically, the iPhone still only have 1gb of RAM, far from the 4gb needed to full take use of that 64-bit OS. However, as other people have stated, this CAN result in some minor improvements to your apps. Up to around a 30% increase. However, ONCE apple phones reach the need to use 64-bit, when they evolve to using 4gb of RAM or more, all the apps that have been out will most likely ALREADY be optimized for 64-bit. I wouldn't expect apple to have that much RAM until late next year, or even 2015, but the point is, when you buy the new 4GB of RAM iPhone, on DAY ONE all of your apps will already see a giant improvement in speed and such. Whereas with android, I'm sure it will be released fairly soon, with phones touting 4GB of ram, yet with very few apps ready to take advantage of that, basically making a jump to a new 4GB of RAM phone not quite worth it. However with apple, they will start claiming giant speed increases. I'm almost willing to bet on next year, 2gb of ram iphone 6, followed by the next years 6s with 4GB of ram and (the BIGGEST increase in a phone speed EVER seen in the WHOLE WORLD. Your apps will be more unique and more exclusive then EVER BEFORE!) a usual silly marketting campaign touting the (most likely factualy this time) speeds.
TL;DR: They are faster, a little bit, but the main goal here is future proofing, and preparing the app market.
This is also a very good point. More people need to realize this with devices like the motox.
Not to mentioned that, you can get the same speed and smoothness with less power, while ALSO saving battery life by not having a quite as beastly spec sheet. Then again, I see a LOT of sports cars where their owners never take it past 70mph....so maybe humans just aren't the brightest when it comes to BIG NUMBERSSSS
