The document compares the IMX6 Quad and APQ8016 processors. The IMX6 Quad has a wider operating temperature, more connectivity interfaces, more GPIO pins, and more free open source support online. However, it has poorer CPU and graphics performance, larger board size, and overheating issues. The APQ8016 has smaller size, higher performance CPU and graphics, lower idle power consumption, and built-in wireless, but only one USB port, no Ethernet, and less connectivity and customization options than the IMX6 Quad.

1. IMX6 Quad vs APQ 8016
2017/06/27
Alleen Wang

2. Outline
 IMX6 Introduction
 APQ8016 Introduction
 Hardware comparison
 Software comparison
 Performance comparison
 Power consumption
 Conclusion

3. IMX6 Introduction
 The i.MX 6 series of applications processors combines scalable platforms
with broad levels of integration and power-efficient processing
capabilities particularly suited to multimedia applications. The i.MX6
Quad processor features:
 Enhanced capabilities of high-tier portable applications by fulfilling MIPS
needs of operations systems and games
 Multilevel memory system
 Smart speed technology that enables the designer to deliver a feature-
rich product, requiring levels of power far lower than industry
expectations
 Dynamic voltage and frequency scaling
 Powerful graphics acceleration
 Interface flexibility
 Integrated power management throughout the device
 Advanced hardware-enabled security

4. APQ8016 Introduction
 The Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 (APQ8016) is
a ARM based mid-range SoC for tablets and
smartphones (mostly Android based).
 It was announced in Dec. 2013 and was the
first 64-Bit SoC by Qualcomm. It integrates
four ARM Cortex-A53 (quad-core) processor
cores, a Adreno 306 graphics card, a 64 Bit
LPDDR2/3 memory controller and WLAN,
Bluetooth, and UMTS/LTE radio.

5. Hardware comparison
 Processors
 Memory support
 Wireless and Network
 Multimedia
 Connectivity
 Configurable

6. Processors
IMX6 Quad APQ8016
Applications 1. ARM Cortex-A9
at 1.2GHz
2. 32-bit processor
3. Quad core, 1 MB L2 cache
4. 21 x 21 x 0.8 mm pitch
1. ARM Cortex-A53 at 1.2 GHz
2. 64-bit processor
3. Quad core, 512 kB L2 cache
4. 14 ×12 x 0.96 mm
ISA armv7 armv8
Operating
temperature
Automotive : -40 ~ +125
Industrial : -40 ~ +105
Extended Commercial : -20 ~
+105
Device : -30 ~ +85
3GPP2-mode : -30 ~ +60
3GPP-mode : -20 ~ + 60
Date of
publication
2011 2014
Semiconductor
device
fabrication
40 nm 28 nm

7. Memory support
IMX6 Quad APQ8016
System
memory
64-bit DDR3 and 2-
channel 32-bit LPDDR2
at 533MHz
Non PoP LPDDR2, LPDDR3
SDRAM; 32-bit wide; up to 533
MHz
External
memory
eMMC 4.4 eMMC v4.5

8. Wireless and Network
IMX6 Quad APQ8016
WLAN/BT/FM No Yes – all (with WCN3620)
GNSS No Gen 8C:
Support for 3 bands concurrently:
GPS, BeiDou, and Glonass or
GPS, BeiDou, and Galileo
Ethernet 1x GbE*+ I
EEE1588
* performance limited to
480Mbps
No
CAN 2x FlexCAN No

9. Multimedia (1)
IMX6 Quad APQ8016
Display
interfaces
• 2x Parallel
• 2x LVDS
• HDMI
• MIPI-DSI
• HD (1280 x 720) 60 fps;
16/18/24 bpp RGB
• MIPI DSI 4-lane
• Wi-Fi display – 720p 30/1080p
30
• FHD + 720p external wireless
display
Camera
interfaces
• 2x 20-bit Parallel
• 4x lane MIPI-CSI2
• 2x 1.5 Gbps per lane
• 4x lane; supports CMOS and
CCD sensors
• Up to 13 MP sensors
• 2-lane MIPI_CSI – webcam
support up to 8 MP sensors

10. Multimedia (2)
IMX6 Quad APQ8016
Encode • 1080p30
• 2x 720p
• H.264, H.263, MPEG-4,
MPEG-2, MJPEG
• 720p 30 fps
(H.264 Baseline/MPEG-4)
• 30 fps 1080p
(MPEG-4/H.264/VP8/H.263)
• WFD 720p @ 30 fps
Decode • 1080p60 + D1
• 2x 1080p30
(MPEG-2, H.264 MVC,
VC1, MPEG-4/Xvid,
DivX 6, H.263, MJPEG,
VP6 / WebM VP8)
• 30 fps 1080p
(MPEG-4, H.264, H.263, DivX,
MPEG2, VC1, Soreson, VP8)
• WFD 1080p @ 30 fps
Graphics 3D : Vivante GC2000; 600 MHz
19.2 GFlops
2D : Vivante GC320 + Vivante
GC355
Adreno 306; up to 400 MHz 3D
graphics accelerator
21.6 GFlops
Reference : http://kyokojap.myweb.hinet.net/gpu_gflops/

11. Multimedia (3)
IMX6 Quad APQ8016
Audio Codec N/A • Low power audio for mp3 and AAC
playback; surround sound;
Versatile – many audio playback and
voice modes; encoders for
audio and FM recording; many
concurrency modes G711; Raw PCM;
QCELP; EVRC, AMR-NB; GSMEFR
• MP3; AAC, eAAC; AMR-NB, G.711,
WMA 9/10 Pro
• Dolby Digital Plus and DTS-HD
surround sound
• Qualcomm Fluence™ noise
cancellation technology
• Qualcomm Aqstic™ audio software
• 128-voice polyphony wavetable
Audio interface 3x I2S, SPDIF Tx/Rx, ESAI 1x DMIC, 2x MI2S, CDC PDM
port

12. Connectivity (1)
IMX6 Quad APQ8016
UART 5, up to 3.6 Mbps 2, up to 4 Mbps
I2C x3 x6
SPI x5 x6
UIM N/A Three dual-voltage UIM ports
USB 4x USB2.0 high-speed One USB 2.0 high-speed
Secure digital
interfaces
3x SD/MMC 4.4
1x SDXC
2x SD/MMC 4.5
(1x 8-bit and 1x 4-bit)

13. Connectivity (2)
IMX6 Quad APQ8016
MLB
(MediaLB)
25/50/150 N/A
PCIe 1x PCIe 2.0 N/A
SATA S-ATA II 3Gbps N/A

14. Configurable
IMX6 Quad APQ8016
Configurable
GPIOs
224 GPIOs – 7 GPIO module,
each GPIO
module supports 32 bits of I/O.
122 GPIOs – GPIO_0 to
GPIO_121
(Kernel GPIO Number 902 ~
1023)

15. Software comparison
IMX6 Quad APQ8016
Bootloader uboot Little Kernel
OS Support • Linux (Last kernel version 4.1.5)
• Android 4 ~ 7
• WEC 7.0 / 2013
• Linux (Last kernel version 3.10)
• Android 5 ~ 6
• Windows 10 IoT
Official
Support Page
https://goo.gl/qwfn62 https://goo.gl/aJssur
Google search
result
~136,000 ~72,500

16. Performance comparison (1)
 AnTuTu Benchmark v5.6.1
Android
Version
memory Score
I.MX6 Quad -
Wandboard
5.0 2G 8998
APQ8016 - Samsung
Galaxy Tab A 9.7
5.0 2G 20887
APQ8016 – RSB4760 6.0.1 1G 19924
APQ8016 – RSB4760 6.0.1 2G 20016
Reference :
1. https://goo.gl/qHPZ6T
2. https://goo.gl/vaZNLJ

17. Performance comparison (2)
 AnTuTu Benchmark v6.0.1
Android
Version
memory Score
APQ8016 – RSB4760 6.0.1 1G 21044
APQ8016 – RSB4760 6.0.1 2G 25359
IMX6 Quad – ELAA-
ROM3420
6.0.1 1G 16153
IMX6 Quad – HIT-
W101C-GE
5.1.1 2G 18172

18. Power consumption – cpu 100%
I.MX6 Quad –
Wandboard Quad
5V ~1.2A ~4W
96Board -
DragonBoard 410c
15.2V ~260mA ~3.95W

19. Power consumption – deep sleep mode
I.MX6 Quad –
Wandboard Quad
~32 mW
96Board -
DragonBoard 410c
~15 mW

20. Conclusion (1)
IMX6 Quad APQ8016
CPU effect V
Operation
Temperature
V
Size V
Memory support — —
Wireless V
Network V
Multimedia V
Connectivity V
Configurable V
OS support V
Free open
source
V

21. Conclusion (2)
Strengths Weaknesses
IMX6 Quad Wide operating temperature.
More connectivity interface.
More GPIO.
More free open source on
internet.
Larger board size.
Poor cpu performance.
Poor graphics performance.
Overheat issue.
Not built-in audio codec.
Not built-in wifi/BT/GPS
module.
APQ 8016 Smaller board size.
Higher cpu performance.
Default built-in audio codec.
Default built-in wifi/BT/GPS
module.
Higher graphics
performance.
Low power consumption on
idle.
Only 1 USB.
No Ethernet.
Less connectivity interface
type.
Less GPIO.
Less open source on
internet.