Apple to equip iPhone 5 and iPad 2 with dual core GPU

Though speculation regarding the quality of iPad 2's screen remains conflicted, the question of just what would power the tablet's retina display should it come to pass appears to have been answered by Apple Insider.

The site claims an unnamed source who previously unveiled the deal between Apple, Imagination Technologies and Samsung to develop the A4 chip has revealed variations of a new version of A4 will feature in both iPad 2 and iPhone 5.

HD hearsay

The dual core SGX543, as it's called, will bring full 1080p support to iOS devices across the board, the source claims, and most importantly in the meantime it will enable iPad 2's rumoured retina display to function.

More widely, however, it should provide a series of upgrades for existing iOS services. Devices equipped with SGX543, will be able to tap into higher quality FaceTime, with iPad 2 owners able to take advantage of the rumoured two cameras to join in the video conferencing.

One of the site's sources also claims, as well updating its video core, the design of the SGX543 will enable Apple to move to multiple cores.

The firm's custom configuration dubbed SGX543MP2 will more than likely combine two SGX543 cores to work as one, offering around four times the capability as the existing A4.

Screen believing

The employment of SGX543 in both iPad 2 and iPhone 5 seems far more solid than talk of iPad 2's rumoured 2048 x 1536 pixel retina display, which some critics have claimed would be impractical.

As previously reported, it's been pointed out that Apple lacks the content to adequate fill such a set up.

Conversely, SGX543's employment seems somewhat more realistic, with its architecture is reportedly also PSP2 bound, using between four or eight cores to drive the chip in Sony's portable.

[source: Apple Insider]