The First Hybrid CPU (2016)
The Apple A10 Fusion marked a major shift in Apple’s chip design, introducing a 4-core hybrid architecture (2 high-performance + 2 efficiency cores) for the first time—a precursor to the big.LITTLE design in modern chips.
Key Features of the A10 Fusion
1. CPU: Hybrid Quad-Core Design
- 2x “Hurricane” high-performance cores (~40% faster than A9)
- 2x “Zephyr” efficiency cores (for light tasks, saving battery)
- First Apple chip with asymmetric cores (only 2 cores active at once)
- Clock speed: ~2.34 GHz (iPhone 7)
2. GPU: Custom PowerVR GT7600 Plus
- 6-core GPU (50% faster than A9)
- Better graphics for AR and console-like gaming
3. Manufacturing Process
- TSMC 16nm FinFET (same as A9’s TSMC variant)
4. RAM & Storage
- 2GB RAM (iPhone 7) / 3GB RAM (iPhone 7 Plus)
- First iPhone with 256GB storage option
5. Neural Processing
- No dedicated Neural Engine (introduced in A11)
- Basic machine learning via CPU/GPU
Devices Using the A10 Fusion
- iPhone 7 & 7 Plus (2016)
- iPad (6th & 7th Gen, 2018-2019)
- iPod Touch (7th Gen, 2019)
Performance vs. A9 & A11
| Feature | A10 Fusion | A9 | A11 Bionic |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPU Cores | 4 (2P+2E) | 2 (Twister) | 6 (2P+4E) |
| GPU | 6-core PowerVR GT7600+ | 6-core GT7600 | Apple-designed 3-core |
| Process | 16nm (TSMC) | 14/16nm | 10nm |
| Neural Engine | ❌ No | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Peak Perf. | ~40% faster CPU vs. A9 | Baseline | ~25% faster vs. A10 |
Why Was the A10 Important?
✅ First 4-core Apple chip (but only 2 cores active at a time)
✅ Paved the way for A11’s efficiency cores
✅ GPU improvements enabled better AR (iOS 11 ARKit)
✅ Longevity (used in iPads until 2019)
Limitations
❌ No true quad-core performance (only 2 cores run at once)
❌ No Neural Engine (A11 introduced AI acceleration)
❌ Efficiency cores were underutilized (improved in A11)
The A10 Fusion was a stepping stone between Apple’s early chips and the AI/AR-focused A11/A12. While not revolutionary, its hybrid design influenced future iPhones and iPads.