ARM has introduced Cortex-A35 64-bit processor for wearables and embedded applications. ARM says that it will offer significant efficiency improvements compared to other 64-bit processors. Most of the current smartwatches use Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 SoC based on ARM Cortex-A7, the Cortex-A35 takes the power profile of Cortex-A7 and its ARM big.LITTLE multi-core configurability and combines it with the software maturity and 64-bit compute performance of the ARMv8-A architecture, said the company.
It also promises an average of 20% greater performance and efficiency across a range of 32-bit mobile workloads relative to Cortex-A7, while consuming less than 90mW total power per core when operating at 1GHz in a 28nm process node and also maintains full compatibility with existing 32-bit applications. ARM also said that Cortex-A35 processor consumes 32% less power, has 25% smaller silicon footprint and provides 25% more efficiency compared to the Cortex-A53 processor.
It will enable ultra-efficient 64-bit compute capabilities for next billion smartphone devices and other rapidly growing markets beyond mobile, said ARM. Devices based on ARM Cortex-A35 chips are expected by late 2016.