Apple A12 Bionic vs Apple M4

The Apple A12 Bionic, codenamed A12, was introduced in 2018 and was designed for Apple mobile devices.

It was manufactured using a 7nm process and features a 6-core CPU with two performance cores and four efficiency cores. Its internal graphics unit is the Apple A12, with a maximum memory bandwidth of 34 GB/s and 8 MB of Level-2 cache. The Apple M4, codenamed M4, was introduced in 2024 and targets premium tablets such as the iPad Pro.

It is manufactured using an advanced 3nm process and offers an up to 10-core CPU with up to four performance cores and six efficiency cores. The integrated graphics solution is the Apple M4 (10 Core), with a maximum memory bandwidth of 120 GB/s and 20 MB of Level-2 cache. In a performance comparison, the Apple M4 shows significant superiority in single-core and multi-core performance, with significantly higher values in relevant benchmarks compared to the Apple A12 Bionic.

This also makes it superior for gaming scenarios, supported by the more powerful GPU and significantly higher memory bandwidth. Regarding energy efficiency, thanks to the 3nm process, the Apple M4 is significantly more efficient per watt than the 7nm A12 Bionic, although it potentially consumes more total energy under load.

The Apple A12 Bionic is now found in older, more cost-effective devices, while the M4 is exclusively available in the latest, high-priced models, anchoring its price/performance ratio in the premium segment. The Apple A12 Bionic is a solid choice for users seeking a reliable and cost-effective device for everyday tasks and media consumption.

The Apple M4 is the clear choice for professional users, creatives, and gamers who require the highest performance and energy efficiency for the most complex tasks.