Apple A12 Bionic | Apple A9X | |
CPU comparisonApple A12 Bionic or Apple A9X - which processor is faster? In this comparison we look at the differences and analyze which of these two CPUs is better. We compare the technical data and benchmark results.
The Apple A12 Bionic has 6 cores with 6 threads and clocks with a maximum frequency of 2.49 GHz. Up to 4 GB of memory is supported in 1 memory channels. The Apple A12 Bionic was released in Q3/2018. The Apple A9X has 2 cores with 2 threads and clocks with a maximum frequency of 2.26 GHz. The CPU supports up to 4 GB of memory in 2 memory channels. The Apple A9X was released in Q3/2015. |
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Apple A series (22) | Family | Apple A series (22) |
Apple A12/A12X/A12Z (3) | CPU group | Apple A9/A9X (2) |
12 | Generation | 9 |
A12 | Architecture | A9 |
Mobile | Segment | Mobile |
Apple A11 Bionic | Predecessor | Apple A8X |
Apple A13 Bionic | Successor | Apple A10X Fusion |
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CPU Cores and Base FrequencyThe Apple A12 Bionic has 6 CPU cores and can calculate 6 threads in parallel. The clock frequency of the Apple A12 Bionic is 2.49 GHz while the Apple A9X has 2 CPU cores and 2 threads can calculate simultaneously. The clock frequency of the Apple A9X is at 2.26 GHz. |
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Apple A12 Bionic | Characteristic | Apple A9X |
6 | Cores | 2 |
6 | Threads | 2 |
hybrid (big.LITTLE) | Core architecture | normal |
No | Hyperthreading | No |
No | Overclocking ? | No |
2.49 GHz 2x Vortex |
A-Core | 2.26 GHz 2x Twister |
1.59 GHz 4x Tempest |
B-Core | -- |
Artificial Intelligence and Machine LearningProcessors with the support of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) can process many calculations, especially audio, image and video processing, much faster than classic processors. Algorithms for ML improve their performance the more data they have collected via software. ML tasks can be processed up to 10,000 times faster than with a classic processor. |
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Apple A12 Bionic | Characteristic | Apple A9X |
Apple Neural Engine | AI hardware | -- |
8 Neural cores @ 5 TOPS | AI specifications | -- |
Internal GraphicsThe Apple A12 Bionic or Apple A9X has integrated graphics, called iGPU for short. The iGPU uses the system's main memory as graphics memory and sits on the processor's die. |
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Apple A12 | GPU | Apple A9X |
1.13 GHz | GPU frequency | 0.65 GHz |
-- | GPU (Turbo) | -- |
9 | GPU Generation | 6 |
7 nm | Technology | 16 nm |
1 | Max. displays | 1 |
16 | Compute units | 48 |
256 | Shader | 384 |
No | Hardware Raytracing | No |
No | Frame Generation | No |
4 GB | Max. GPU Memory | 4 GB |
-- | DirectX Version | -- |
Hardware codec supportA photo or video codec that is accelerated in hardware can greatly accelerate the working speed of a processor and extend the battery life of notebooks or smartphones when playing videos. |
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Apple A12 | GPU | Apple A9X |
Decode / Encode | Codec h265 / HEVC (8 bit) | No |
Decode / Encode | Codec h265 / HEVC (10 bit) | No |
Decode / Encode | Codec h264 | Decode / Encode |
Decode / Encode | Codec VP9 | No |
Decode / Encode | Codec VP8 | Decode |
No | Codec AV1 | No |
Decode | Codec AVC | Decode |
Decode | Codec VC-1 | Decode |
Decode / Encode | Codec JPEG | Decode / Encode |
Memory & PCIeThe Apple A12 Bionic can use up to 4 GB of memory in 1 memory channels. The maximum memory bandwidth is 34.1 GB/s. The Apple A9X supports up to 4 GB of memory in 2 memory channels and achieves a memory bandwidth of up to 51.2 GB/s. |
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Apple A12 Bionic | Characteristic | Apple A9X |
LPDDR4X-4266 | Memory | LPDDR4-3200 |
4 GB | Max. Memory | 4 GB |
1 (Single Channel) | Memory channels | 2 (Dual Channel) |
34.1 GB/s | Max. Bandwidth | 51.2 GB/s |
No | ECC | No |
8.00 MB | L2 Cache | 3.00 MB |
-- | L3 Cache | 4.00 MB |
-- | PCIe version | -- |
-- | PCIe lanes | -- |
-- | PCIe Bandwidth | -- |
Thermal ManagementThe thermal design power (TDP for short) of the Apple A12 Bionic is 6 W, while the Apple A9X has a TDP of 8 W. The TDP specifies the necessary cooling solution that is required to cool the processor sufficiently. |
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Apple A12 Bionic | Characteristic | Apple A9X |
6 W | TDP (PL1 / PBP) | 8 W |
-- | TDP (PL2) | -- |
-- | TDP up | -- |
-- | TDP down | -- |
-- | Tjunction max. | -- |
Technical detailsThe Apple A12 Bionic is manufactured in 7 nm and has 8.00 MB cache. The Apple A9X is manufactured in 16 nm and has a 7.00 MB cache. |
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Apple A12 Bionic | Characteristic | Apple A9X |
7 nm | Technology | 16 nm |
Chiplet | Chip design | Chiplet |
Armv8-A (64 bit) | Instruction set (ISA) | Armv8-A (64 bit) |
-- | ISA extensions | -- |
-- | Socket | -- |
None | Virtualization | None |
No | AES-NI | No |
iOS | Operating systems | iOS |
Q3/2018 | Release date | Q3/2015 |
-- | Release price | -- |
show more data | show more data | |
Apple A12 Bionic
6C 6T @ 2.49 GHz |
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Apple A9X
2C 2T @ 2.26 GHz |
Apple A12 Bionic
6C 6T @ 2.49 GHz |
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Apple A9X
2C 2T @ 2.26 GHz |
Apple A12 Bionic
6C 6T @ 2.49 GHz |
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Apple A9X
2C 2T @ 2.26 GHz |
Apple A12 Bionic
6C 6T @ 2.49 GHz |
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Apple A9X
2C 2T @ 2.26 GHz |
Apple A12 Bionic
Apple A12 @ 1.13 GHz |
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Apple A9X
Apple A9X @ 0.65 GHz |
Apple A12 Bionic
6C 6T @ 2.49 GHz |
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Apple A9X
2C 2T @ 2.26 GHz |
Apple A12 Bionic
6C 6T @ 2.49 GHz |
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Apple A9X
2C 2T @ 2.26 GHz |
Apple A12 Bionic
6C 6T @ 2.49 GHz |
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Apple A9X
2C 2T @ 2.26 GHz |
Devices using this processor |
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Apple A12 Bionic | Apple A9X |
Apple iPhone XR Apple iPhone XS Apple iPhone XS Max Apple iPad mini (5. Gen) Apple iPad Air (3. Gen) |
Apple iPad Pro (1. Gen) |