Apple A10 Fusion
Apple A10 Fusion: Review of an Outdated but Reliable Processor in 2025
April 2025
Introduction
Released in 2016, the Apple A10 Fusion was a significant step in the evolution of mobile chips. Despite its venerable age, devices based on it are still found in the budget segment. By 2025, this processor is no longer competitive with modern SoCs, but it remains an option for casual users. Let's explore the pros and cons it offers today.
1. Architecture and Process Technology: A Balance Between Power and Efficiency
Cores and Frequencies
The A10 Fusion is Apple's first quad-core processor. Its architecture includes:
- 2 high-performance Hurricane cores (up to 2.34 GHz);
- 2 energy-efficient Zephyr cores (for background tasks).
This approach allows for optimized energy consumption (TDP — 5 W) without significant performance losses. However, in 2025, the separation into "big" and "small" cores seems archaic — modern chips use heterogeneous clusters of 6–8 cores (for example, the A18 Bionic).
GPU PowerVR GT7600
The PowerVR GT7600 graphics accelerator, which supports the Metal API, struggles today with games like Genshin Impact or Call of Duty: Mobile. Its performance is comparable to Mali-G57 in budget MediaTek Dimensity 700, but the lack of support for modern technologies (e.g., ray tracing) makes it unsuitable for gaming.
16 nm Process Technology
The 16-nm process from TSMC is considered outdated in 2025. In comparison, new Apple and Qualcomm processors use 3-nm norms, providing better energy efficiency and lower heat generation.
2. Performance in 2025: What Can A10 Fusion Do?
Gaming
Modern titles at medium settings are a challenging task. Even PUBG Mobile runs on low settings with frame rates around 30 FPS, but frame drops are possible. Casual games (Angry Birds, Candy Crush) work stably.
Multimedia
- Video: Watching videos in 4K@60fps is possible, but AV1 encoding/decoding is not supported.
- Audio: The chip handles lossless formats and Dolby Atmos through third-party applications.
Artificial Intelligence
The A10 Fusion lacks a dedicated neural chip (NPU), meaning AI tasks (photo processing, voice assistants) are handled via CPU/GPU. This slows down applications like Adobe Lightroom Mobile.
Energy Consumption and Heat
With a TDP of 5 W, devices using the A10 Fusion demonstrate good battery life (up to 10 hours of web surfing). However, battery wear in older iPhones (7/7 Plus) often leads to a need for replacement.
3. Built-in Modules: Basic Connectivity
- Modem: The Intel XMM7360 supports 4G LTE Cat.12 (up to 600 Mbps) but lacks 5G, which is a significant downside in the era of widespread fifth-generation coverage.
- Wi-Fi: Only supports the 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) standard with a maximum of 866 Mbps. Modern routers with Wi-Fi 6/6E do not realize its potential.
- Bluetooth: Version 4.2 without support for LE Audio — wireless headphones work but with increased energy consumption.
- GPS: No support for GPS Galileo or GLONASS — only basic GPS is available.
4. Comparison with Competitors
Previous Apple Generations
- A9 (iPhone 6s): The A10 is 40% faster in multi-core tests.
- A11 Bionic (iPhone 8/X): The A11 outperforms the A10 by 25% due to its NPU and improved architecture.
2016–2017 Analogues
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 820: Lags behind the A10 in single-threaded tasks (Geekbench 6: ~700 vs 879) but surpasses it in graphics (Adreno 530 vs PowerVR GT7600).
- HiSilicon Kirin 960: Comparable in CPU performance, but Mali-G71 MP8 handles rendering better.
Modern Budget Chips (2025)
- MediaTek Dimensity 6100+: Supports 5G, Wi-Fi 6, AnTuTu 10 — ~450,000.
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 3: 30% faster in gaming and more energy-efficient.
5. Use Cases: Who Is the A10 Fusion Suitable For?
- Everyday Tasks: Social media, messaging, email — everything runs smoothly.
- Photo and Video: Recording in 4K@30fps is possible, but editing in CapCut or VSCO requires patience.
- Gaming: Only old or non-demanding games.
6. Pros and Cons
Pros
- Low cost of devices (new smartphones start at $199).
- Stability of iOS (support until version iOS 15).
- Sufficient performance for basic tasks.
Cons
- Lack of 5G and modern communication standards.
- Weak GPU for gaming.
- Limited AI capabilities.
7. Practical Tips: Is It Worth Buying?
- Price: New devices on A10 Fusion (if any still exist) should not cost more than $250.
- Target Audience: Older adults, children, those needing a "backup" phone.
- Recommendations: Check the battery condition and support for current applications.
8. Final Conclusion
The Apple A10 Fusion in 2025 is a choice for those who value budget-friendliness and reliability. It is suitable for:
- Simple tasks: calls, messages, YouTube.
- As a temporary device.
- Users who are not ready to pay extra for 5G and AI features.
The main benefits include a low price, stable iOS performance, and decent battery life. However, for modern tasks, it's better to consider devices with A15 Bionic or newer.
Note: In April 2025, new smartphones using the A10 Fusion are practically no longer produced. The mentioned prices ($199–250) are relevant for hypothetical models like the "iPhone SE 2016 re-edition," if they exist.