Apple A12 Bionic vs Apple M2

The Apple A12 Bionic, introduced in 2018, was primarily designed for mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets.

The Apple M2 was launched in 2022 and targets more powerful Apple devices like laptops, entry-level desktops, and high-end tablets.

The Apple A12 Bionic was manufactured using a 7nm process and integrates a hexa-core CPU with two performance cores and four efficiency cores, supported by 8 MB of L2 cache. Its maximum memory bandwidth is 34 GB/s. The integrated Apple A12 graphics unit delivers solid performance for everyday mobile applications and light gaming.

Compared to the Apple M2, its single-core and multi-core performance is significantly lower. The processor is designed for high energy efficiency in mobile devices. As a permanently integrated component, it is not traded separately; it is sufficient for basic tasks in older devices.

The Apple M2 is produced using the more advanced 5nm process and features an octa-core CPU with four performance cores and four efficiency cores. It boasts a larger 20 MB L2 cache and a maximum memory bandwidth of 102 GB/s. The integrated Apple M2 (10 Core) graphics unit offers significantly higher graphics performance, making it better suited for demanding gaming and complex graphical applications.

In benchmarks, the Apple M2 surpasses the Apple A12 Bionic by well over 100 to 300 percent. Its energy efficiency is very good for the performance offered. The Apple M2 is also firmly integrated into Apple hardware; it provides outstanding performance for demanding applications and productivity in modern devices.