“Reports and videos floating around the Internet seem to indicate that there might be a significant battery life difference between the Samsung and TSMC chips used in the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus,” Jim Lynch writes for CIO. “And this has made Apple’s customers wonder which chip their iPhones might be using. No worries though, it’s easy to find out which chip is in your iPhone 6s or 6 Plus.”
Here’s how you can quickly find out if your iPhone 6s or 6s Plus has a Samsung or TSMC chip:
1. Open the App Store on your iPhone.
2. Download and install the free Battery Memory System Status Monitor app.
3. Open the app and tap on the System tab.
4. Under the Device section, look for the Model.
5. The chip breakdown is as follows:
• N71mAP — TSMC
• N66mAP — TSMC
• N71AP — Samsung
• N66AP — Samsung
“If you find that you have a Samsung chip, you have the option of returning your iPhone to Apple if you are within the 14 day return window,” Lynch writes. “Is it worth it to do so? If battery life is a concern for you then I’d say yes it is, but you can make up your own mind after you watch the videos below.”
Much more, including a sample of Reddit conversations on the topic, in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Chips fabbed at 14nm and 16nm are simply not the same chips and should not be referred to or sold as such.
SEE ALSO:
Analyzing Apple’s statement on TSMC- and Samsung-stamped A9 chips – October 9, 2015
Apple may have made a huge mistake in having Samsung stamp inferior A9 chips – October 9, 2015
Apple claims iPhone 6s/Plus’ A9 battery performance only varies 2-3% between TSMC and Samsung variants in ‘real-world usage’ – October 8, 2015
Chipgate: Did you get the good A9 or the crap A9 in your iPhone 6s/Plus? – October 8, 2015
MDN give it a break. You took the bait hook, line, and sinker on this FUD.
MDN…you are still at it! First one ridiculous Take, then another, then another. These are all A9 chips – same design and virtually the same performance gabbed at slightly different feature sizes resulting in a few square mm of difference in area. This type of thing happens absolutely *everywhere* in the consumer electronics industry where components are sourced from multiple suppliers.
MDN, you really need to take a break on this topic and let the facts work themselves out before making any further comments.
If this hurts Samsung, I am willing to cut MDN some slack, normally I’d agree with you but Samsung is such a sleazy company that I don’t in this case.
I think MDN and everybody should look at this issue as a positive for Apple.
The more the issue is brought to forefront the more Samsung, not Apple, looks bad. Yes Apple will have to deal with the fallout but it is clear that Samsung dropped the ball and that Apple is a victim of their incompetence or worse…put on your tin foil conspiracy hats…sabotage! What if Samsung had purposely hobbled the chip to keep iPhone battery life equal to or worse than Galaxy. After all, the 14 nm, in theory, should perform better on all counts.
Perhaps Samsung engineers did not anticipate that a comparison of the CPUs would be made and that their hobbled chip would be outed. Such sweet Karma that it appears to the world that, given the identical A9 design and specs, their product is significantly inferior, EVEN WITH 14nm TECNOLOGY THEY ALLEGEDLY STOLE FROM TSMC, and raced to market before TSMC!
Cherry on top: After Samsung’s continued loss of flagship handset profits to Apple, Korean analysts see Samsung’s chip supply to Apple as the bright spot in their financials. But no! – now Samsung’s perceived chip prowess is tainted AND rumor has it that 100% of the A10s will be supplied by TSMC….probably in part because Apple was dissatisfied with Samsung’s performance on the A9.
Joy to us all that the thieving, copying, criminal, disgrace to Korea is burning to the ground like the Hindenburg!
the only thing I find hilarious is MDN did not report on this (or maybe I missed it) when last week the Samsung chips were considered superior due to the smaller process.
Forums have discussed wether Samsung is actually that advanced. But, it has been addressed in other online discussions and they have questioned Samsungs claims. It is not a new subject. Much as discussions on how Samsung cheated when testing software was used. Samsung had the CPU go full bore if common benchmark software was used. So, Samsung has a history of playing Loose with facts.
If they both meet or exceed the stated battery time then who should GAF?
agree
People with values, morals and scruples care. I would even choose the TSMC chip over the Samsung one if the TSMC chip was more power hungry and slower.
I have boycotted Samsung consumer goods and would love to make my dislike of their morality known with components too.
This “chip-gate” is developing into MDN’s chicken little moment… screaming, squawking about the inferior, defective samsung supplied products. I’m sure Apple has sufficient quality control measures in place, that if these chips were in fact inferior or defective that they would be rejected and not used in the new iPhone. It all seems to be sheer showboating based on shakey testing/reporting from a questionable source.
MDN, this is the “-gate” you anticipated. Wait until real tests get done before you get so angry, please!
Lol… Mdn.. Take a chill pill.
Crappy ? Lol..
At least try to maintain some credibility!
Both chips are within 2-3% of apples tolarance level.
I distinguishable realworld performance ! …
Stop The FUD…
Samsung = Crappy…PERIOD! Don’t want it!
It is interesting how this little article, following on the heels of the whole ‘chipgate’ mini-saga, got me to download and install that little app.
While I don’t for a second believe in the hogwash of “chipgate”, I am pleased that Samsung didn’t get the money from my particular phone for stamping out the chip inside.
I got the samsung chip…oh well, maybe I can look forward to a $0.50 payout from the class action lawsuit!
Pissed off with MDN. listen to all the complaints on your responses and get a grip. This is a complete non issue and you need take a step back. If you keep on this route your app will be deleted from my phone and many others.
Bravos MDN for having the conviction to speak out and stand up for Apple customers. I didn’t know the two chips have different fab specifications and thus are not the same in terms of performance and efficiency. Using them in the same products without proper customer disclosure is tantamount to deceptive sales practice. I expect much better sales conduct and customer care integrity from Cook and Apple.
MDN is enjoying any bit of Bad Publicity that Samsung gets. Samsung deserves it after they profited handsomely from their blantant thievery of Apple’s designs.
However, a posting on Ars Technica about the different chip manufactures made a good point: the 14nm design is new and was not extensively field-tested. Samsung needs Apple’s business badly, and likely made a convincing pitch to Apple’s decision-makers to use the newer component.
Apple Does Not Like Bad Publicity. Their Business Model depends upon a Positive Public Perception, and Apple works very hard to cultivate that. The perception that an unknown quantity of iPhones might have inferior hardware does hurt Apple’s image. Despite their bland pronouncements about the small differences between TSMC and Samsung performance, I’m certain the discussions taking place behind Apple Company Doors is Very Different. It will take a while for the Real Story to emerge. This may not be the Nail in the Coffin that finally breaks ties between the two companies, but it must be close.
This guy Cook talks like an angel about honesty, care, and fairness, and yet has allowed and condoned the chip cheat against customers. You just don’t know who to trust anymore. I guess anything for a fast buck. Thanks MDN for your persistence in exposing the deception.
So this app says I have the Samsung chip, but I have never ended a day with less than 45% and that is a day that starts at 6 am and usually ends around midnight.
I call BS on chipgate.
Mine has a Samsung chip and the 14-day return period has passed. What’s my recourse beyond complaining to BBB and my State Attorney office? I’m very disappointed. What a scummy thing Apple did to customers.
get a grip
this is just not that big of deal
Question is will Apple issue a refund/exchange seeing Samsung’s chip falls within Apple’s specs?
yay i have the TSMC chip
If you need to download an app to check which CPU variant you’ve got, that means you can’t tell the difference in normal usage. MDN, shame on you for feeding the trolls.
-jcr
It’s just too easy to take a dump on Samsung over this issue.
💩🚽
Extracting the FUD factor: I’d rather have the TSMC chip. But I’m not going to throw a fit over the slightly lesser ScamScum chip. I’ve watched the tests. I’ll live with it. Just don’t let it move into my neighborhood. 😉
Noooooooooooooo!!! (I hate my iPhone now)
May not be the same chips but fact is the 14nm should be expected to be the faster and more efficient one if the overall design is the same. To make it slower and less efficient is a real triumph for Samsung in sabotaging of Apple.
I thought I’d chime in. 3 days with a brand new 6S+ w/ Samsung chip, it was obvious the battery was not right. Light use had me at 20% by 8pm. It was occasionally running hot… the final straw was waking up to a brick.. Couldn’t even turn it on – was able to get back up by syncing on iTunes on my desktop (ended up being 100% charged). I ordered a replacement (I won’t go into that amazingly frustrating process).
Waking up to a brick? Did you have to charge it or reset it (reboot it)? If the latter, that’s not the chip’s fault. Software bug most likely fixed in 9.1.
I’m not sure if the chip is the entire fault… the battery performance is odd… it is just as bad as my 5S which is replaced. And it runs very hot at times. And there are no apps that are suspect. The brick thing was odd- never happened in my history of iPads and iPhones. Completely dead – tried all stand alone tricks… hooking it up to iTunes brought it back to life.
The video relies entirely on the % readout to measure battery life. I would not trust that at all, as I have often seen my phone go from 20% to shut down within seconds, or otherwise drop by 15%-20% in moments. A proper battery test should be full charge to shutdown.
I have no issues returning my iPhone repeatedly… costing Apple money to refurb the device! I quote MDN and a copy of this site! LOL
I’m in the same boat and quite displeased with the underhanded Apple sales tactic. I’ve sent Cook an email expressing my displeasure and asking for an exchange for the same phone with TSMC chip. I work hard for my money and want the best value for it.
I’ll escalate my complaint to BBB and SA office if I do not get a satisfactory reply from Cook or Apple in a week. It’s indeed a scummy thing Apple gives customers like me the shaft and trying to get away with it.