HiSilicon Kirin 960 vs HiSilicon Kirin 980

When comparing the specifications of the HiSilicon Kirin 960 and the HiSilicon Kirin 980 processors, several differences can be noted.

In terms of CPU cores and architecture, the Kirin 960 features 4x 2.4 GHz Cortex-A73 cores and 4x 1.8 GHz Cortex-A53 cores. On the other hand, the Kirin 980 boasts 2x 2.6 GHz Cortex-A76 cores, 2x 1.92 GHz Cortex-A76 cores, and 4x 1.8 GHz Cortex-A55 cores. This indicates that the Kirin 980 offers a higher clock speed and a more advanced architecture compared to the Kirin 960, potentially resulting in improved performance and efficiency.

Moving on to lithography, the Kirin 960 is manufactured using a 16 nm process, while the Kirin 980 utilizes a more advanced 7 nm process. A smaller lithography allows for more transistors to be packed into the same space, leading to increased performance and power efficiency. In terms of transistor count, the Kirin 960 has 4000 million transistors, whereas the Kirin 980 boasts 6900 million transistors. This significant increase in transistor count suggests that the Kirin 980 is capable of handling more complex computing tasks and potentially provides a performance boost over the Kirin 960.

Another noteworthy difference is the inclusion of Neural Processing Units (NPU). The Kirin 980 features HiSilicon's Dual NPU, which is designed to improve artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities in devices. This NPU can enhance tasks such as facial recognition, AI-powered photography, and machine learning, providing a more intelligent user experience. The Kirin 960, on the other hand, does not have this dedicated AI processing unit.

Lastly, the TDP (Thermal Design Power) of the Kirin 960 is 5 Watts, while the Kirin 980 has a slightly higher TDP of 6 Watts. This indicates that the Kirin 980 may generate slightly more heat under heavy workloads, but the difference is unlikely to be significant.

Overall, the HiSilicon Kirin 980 offers superior specifications compared to the Kirin 960. With its advanced architecture, smaller lithography, higher transistor count, and the inclusion of a dedicated Neural Processing Unit, the Kirin 980 is likely to provide better performance, efficiency, and AI capabilities.