Compare smartphones and desktops: Why is the phone slower than a computer?

A more powerful pocket smartphone than a large number of supercomputers has now ceased to function and some modern computers. Another fact is that "your mobile phone is more powerful than NASA's computer in 1969 when it placed two astronauts on the moon".

However, the modern smart processors of smartphones are still lagging behind the powerful processing process available in laptops or desktops. But does it have the same technology? Please see the following article.

1. The remarkable processors ever

Phone compared to desktop

Mobile processors use the same terminology as desktop computers but they are different. In fact, the processor has two types: mobile phones and desktop models. In addition, the "mobile" (mobile) card may mislead many people as it includes devices such as smartphones, laptops, and Internet of things (IoT) devices and many other devices.

Moreover, large chip makers in the desktop market such as Intel and AMD did not pay much attention to the microprocessor market for smartphones. Both manufacturers sell smart phone parts, deciding to compete with Qualcomm, Apple, Samsung and other mobile phone chip makers.

That said, Intel Atom CPUs offer some handy ASUS Zenfone models and there are rumors that they can re-enter the market in the near future with the 5G mobile phone generation.

1. Learn about 5G network, future mobile platform

Differences between mobile and desktop processors

There are a few key differences between the smartphone processor and the desktop processor.

1. CPU architecture: System on one IC
2. Instruction Set Architecture (Instruction Set Architecture): ARM versus x86
3. Electricity and heat

1. CPU architecture: System on one IC

When talking about a desktop CPU, we always mention that specific hardware. A desktop CPU is the brain of a computer. When talking about a smartphone CPU, the term "processor" is closer to architecture on a chip (SoC). So how are they different?

1. Learn about how the CPU works
2. All you need to know about mobile processors

SoC is a single chip of the same size as a desktop CPU, it also contains a GPU (a graphics processor, a separate computer component), radios, sensors, and security layers. and device features. Manufacturers pack all these accessories into a single chip. The image below is a picture showing the capabilities of Exynos 8895 SoC of Samsung Galaxy S8.

Compare smartphones and desktops: Why is the phone slower than a computer? Picture 1

2. Script architecture: ARM versus x86

The second CPU architecture aspect to consider is the overall CPU design. Intel licensed the design of x86 CPUs for AMD and VIA Technologies. Intel's design dominates the desktop microprocessor market, x86 CPU is designed for advanced computing power, can execute millions of commands. And because the desktop gets power directly from the socket, so the CPU is more powerful.

Smart phones are different, ARM designs and licenses most smartphone processors for manufacturers like Qualcomm, Apple, etc. But the main difference is the design of ARM processors for electricity. Smartphones prioritize both performance and battery life, while desktop CPUs often focus on performance. This is why.

1. ARM SoC CPUs use the RISC (short for Reduced Instruction Set Computing) architecture. Smaller RISC architecture, requires less power to process and complete quickly, free up system resources or allow "idle" devices to save battery power.
2. Intel x86 processors use CISC architecture (short for Complex Instruction Set Computing). CISC architecture is much more complex, plus strings containing multiple scripts.

In addition, all modern CPUs use micro code. Micro code is the type of internal CPU code that tells the CPU which action to take, breaking operations into commands. But micro code also works differently on RISC CPUs. Because RISC instructions are relatively small, breaking them into smaller microcode operations will take place faster.

3. Electricity and heat

When marketing CPUs, people often ask you to consider the number of cores and processor clock speeds. However, smartphone processor values ​​differ because they do not correlate with desktop CPU measurements and often lead to misunderstandings because of this. Zero values ​​illustrate another important aspect of smartphone CPUs: power generation versus heat dissipation.

When the processor runs, it generates a lot of heat. A desktop CPU radiates heat by using a fan or radiator; Smartphone CPU does not have fan and radiator. In addition, smartphone CPUs are packed into a confined space so it becomes hotter.

1. Your Android device is too hot, this is a fix

Smartphone CPU makers know this, so they limit the overall speed that the processor can run. A desktop CPU can advertise at a stable running speed, while a smartphone is advertised with maximum theoretical capability.

For example, Intel i7 CPU averages about 65 watts of heat; an ARM-based SoC CPU only produces about 3W, about 22 times less than an Intel chip. The latest Intel Atom chips (designed for mobile devices and smartphones) have much better heat dissipation.

In theory, ARM can develop SoC CPUs for smartphones, increasing clock speed but smartphones will heat up, the battery will drain quickly and stop working.

In some cases, smartphones are replacing desktop and laptop solutions. Recent handsets easily accomplish many tasks, running multiple applications at the same time. In addition, you can find applications that are equivalent to computers on Android and iOS phones easily. There are many desktop apps available on mobile like Microsoft Word.

Continuum was introduced in Windows 10, allowing you to connect your smartphone to a computer screen. Similarly, Samsung's DeX Docking Station connects to the screen and projects its smartphone screen on it.

Desktop computers should maintain its dominance because smartphones are limited in capacity and battery capacity. It's hard to imagine a time when smartphones are stronger than the latest desktop CPUs. It is important to remember that smartphones and desktops have different purposes, so they cannot be replaced. Measuring them correctly is not always true because of the large difference in purpose of use as well as the constantly changing smartphone market.

See more:

1. Comparison between Laptop, Netbook and Smartphone
2. Tablet and laptop, which option is right for you?
3. 10 reasons for desktop computers "live" well