Now that we know that the iPad mini 4 has an A8 chip with 2GB of RAM, it is safe to say that the extra gig of RAM is the necessary component for split-screen multitasking. In that case, what do you guys think the third core in the A8X used for?
My theory is that they needed that third core because they knew that they would not introduce an iPad Air 3 this year, so they needed a chip that would still be considered fast a year after its introduction. Next year they'll probably put the A9X in the iPad Air 3, the A9 in the iPad mini 5, an A10X in the iPad Pro 2, and an A10 in the iPhones 7 and 7 Plus.
My theory is that they needed that third core because they knew that they would not introduce an iPad Air 3 this year, so they needed a chip that would still be considered fast a year after its introduction. Next year they'll probably put the A9X in the iPad Air 3, the A9 in the iPad mini 5, an A10X in the iPad Pro 2, and an A10 in the iPhones 7 and 7 Plus.