Apple A12Z Bionic vs Apple A9

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CPU comparison with benchmarks


Apple A12Z Bionic CPU1 vs CPU2 Apple A9
Apple A12Z Bionic Apple A9

CPU comparison

In this CPU comparison, we compare the Apple A12Z Bionic and the Apple A9 and use benchmarks to check which processor is faster.

We compare the Apple A12Z Bionic 8 core processor released in Q1/2020 with the Apple A9 which has 2 CPU cores and was introduced in Q3/2015.
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 A10X Fusion Predecessor Apple A8
-- Successor Apple A10 Fusion

CPU Cores and Base Frequency

The Apple A12Z Bionic is a 8 core processor with a clock frequency of 2.49 GHz. The processor can compute 8 threads at the same time. The Apple A9 clocks with 1.85 GHz, has 2 CPU cores and can calculate 2 threads in parallel.

Apple A12Z Bionic Characteristic Apple A9
8 Cores 2
8 Threads 2
hybrid (big.LITTLE) Core architecture normal
No Hyperthreading No
No Overclocking ? No
2.49 GHz
4x Vortex
A-Core 1.85 GHz
2x Twister
1.59 GHz
4x Tempest
B-Core --

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

Processors 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.

Apple A12Z Bionic Characteristic Apple A9
Apple Neural Engine AI hardware --
8 Neural cores @ 5 TOPS AI specifications --

Internal Graphics

Graphics (iGPU) integrated into the processor not only enable image output without having to rely on a dedicated graphics solution, but can also efficiently accelerate video playback.

Apple A12Z GPU Apple A9
1.13 GHz GPU frequency 0.65 GHz
-- GPU (Turbo) --
9 GPU Generation 6
7 nm Technology 16 nm
1 Max. displays 1
32 Compute units 24
512 Shader 192
No Hardware Raytracing No
No Frame Generation No
6 GB Max. GPU Memory 4 GB
-- DirectX Version --

Hardware codec support

A 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.

Apple A12Z GPU Apple A9
Decode / Encode Codec h265 / HEVC (8 bit) No
Decode / Encode Codec h265 / HEVC (10 bit) No
Decode / Encode Codec h264 Decode
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 & PCIe

Up to 6 GB of memory in a maximum of 2 memory channels is supported by the Apple A12Z Bionic, while the Apple A9 supports a maximum of 2 GB of memory with a maximum memory bandwidth of 25.6 GB/s enabled.

Apple A12Z Bionic Characteristic Apple A9
LPDDR4X-4266 Memory LPDDR4-3200
6 GB Max. Memory 2 GB
2 (Dual Channel) Memory channels 1 (Single Channel)
68.2 GB/s Max. Bandwidth 25.6 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 Management

The Apple A12Z Bionic has a TDP of 15 W. The TDP of the Apple A9 is 5 W. System integrators use the TDP of the processor as a guide when dimensioning the cooling solution.

Apple A12Z Bionic Characteristic Apple A9
15 W TDP (PL1 / PBP) 5 W
-- TDP (PL2) --
-- TDP up --
-- TDP down --
-- Tjunction max. --

Technical details

The Apple A12Z Bionic has 8.00 MB cache and is manufactured in 7 nm. The cache of Apple A9 is at 7.00 MB. The processor is manufactured in 16 nm.

Apple A12Z Bionic Characteristic Apple A9
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
Q1/2020 Release date Q3/2015
-- Release price --
show more data show more data


Rate these processors

Here you can rate the Apple A12Z Bionic to help other visitors make their purchasing decisions. The average rating is 4.0 stars (7 ratings). Rate now:
Here you can rate the Apple A9 to help other visitors make their purchasing decisions. The average rating is 5.0 stars (1 ratings). Rate now:


Average performance in benchmarks

⌀ Single core performance in 2 CPU benchmarks
⌀ Multi core performance in 2 CPU benchmarks

Geekbench 5, 64bit (Single-Core)

Geekbench 5 is a cross plattform benchmark that heavily uses the systems memory. A fast memory will push the result a lot. The single-core test only uses one CPU core, the amount of cores or hyperthreading ability doesn't count.
Apple A12Z Bionic Apple A12Z Bionic
8C 8T @ 2.49 GHz
1124 (100%)
Apple A9 Apple A9
2C 2T @ 1.85 GHz
558 (50%)

Geekbench 5, 64bit (Multi-Core)

Geekbench 5 is a cross plattform benchmark that heavily uses the systems memory. A fast memory will push the result a lot. The multi-core test involves all CPU cores and taks a big advantage of hyperthreading.
Apple A12Z Bionic Apple A12Z Bionic
8C 8T @ 2.49 GHz
4718 (100%)
Apple A9 Apple A9
2C 2T @ 1.85 GHz
1024 (22%)

Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)

Geekbench 6 is a benchmark for modern computers, notebooks and smartphones. What is new is an optimized utilization of newer CPU architectures, e.g. based on the big.LITTLE concept and combining CPU cores of different sizes. The single-core benchmark only evaluates the performance of the fastest CPU core, the number of CPU cores in a processor is irrelevant here.
Apple A12Z Bionic Apple A12Z Bionic
8C 8T @ 2.49 GHz
1351 (100%)
Apple A9 Apple A9
2C 2T @ 1.85 GHz
632 (47%)

Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)

Geekbench 6 is a benchmark for modern computers, notebooks and smartphones. What is new is an optimized utilization of newer CPU architectures, e.g. based on the big.LITTLE concept and combining CPU cores of different sizes. The multi-core benchmark evaluates the performance of all of the processor's CPU cores. Virtual thread improvements such as AMD SMT or Intel's Hyper-Threading have a positive impact on the benchmark result.
Apple A12Z Bionic Apple A12Z Bionic
8C 8T @ 2.49 GHz
4798 (100%)
Apple A9 Apple A9
2C 2T @ 1.85 GHz
921 (19%)

iGPU - FP32 Performance (Single-precision GFLOPS)

The theoretical computing performance of the internal graphics unit of the processor with simple accuracy (32 bit) in GFLOPS. GFLOPS indicates how many billion floating point operations the iGPU can perform per second.
Apple A12Z Bionic Apple A12Z Bionic
Apple A12Z @ 1.13 GHz
1152 (100%)
Apple A9 Apple A9
Apple A9 @ 0.65 GHz
250 (22%)

AnTuTu 8 Benchmark

The AnTuTu 8 Benchmark measures the performance of a SoC. AnTuTu benchmarks the CPU, GPU, Memory as well as the UX (User Experience) by simulating browser and app usage. AnTuTu can benchmark any ARM CPU that runs under Android or iOS. Devices may not be directly compareable if the benchmark has been performed under different operating systems.

In the AnTuTu 8 benchmark, the single-core performance of a processor is only slightly weighted. The evaluation consists of the multi-core performance of the processor, the speed of the RAM and the performance of the internal graphics.
Apple A12Z Bionic Apple A12Z Bionic
8C 8T @ 2.49 GHz
717401 (100%)
Apple A9 Apple A9
2C 2T @ 1.85 GHz
172160 (24%)

Cinebench R23 (Single-Core)

Cinebench R23 is the successor of Cinebench R20 and is also based on the Cinema 4 Suite. Cinema 4 is a worldwide used software to create 3D forms. The single-core test only uses one CPU core, the amount of cores or hyperthreading ability doesn't count.
Apple A12Z Bionic Apple A12Z Bionic
8C 8T @ 2.49 GHz
991 (100%)
Apple A9 Apple A9
2C 2T @ 1.85 GHz
0 (0%)

Cinebench R23 (Multi-Core)

Cinebench R23 is the successor of Cinebench R20 and is also based on the Cinema 4 Suite. Cinema 4 is a worldwide used software to create 3D forms. The multi-core test involves all CPU cores and taks a big advantage of hyperthreading.
Apple A12Z Bionic Apple A12Z Bionic
8C 8T @ 2.49 GHz
4539 (100%)
Apple A9 Apple A9
2C 2T @ 1.85 GHz
0 (0%)

AnTuTu 9 Benchmark

The AnTuTu 9 benchmark is very well suited to measuring the performance of a smartphone. AnTuTu 9 is quite heavy on 3D graphics and can now also use the "Metal" graphics interface. In AnTuTu, memory and UX (user experience) are also tested by simulating browser and app usage. AnTuTu version 9 can compare any ARM CPU running on Android or iOS. Devices may not be directly comparable when benchmarked on different operating systems.

In the AnTuTu 9 benchmark, the single-core performance of a processor is only slightly weighted. The rating is made up of the multi-core performance of the processor, the speed of the working memory, and the performance of the internal graphics.
Apple A12Z Bionic Apple A12Z Bionic
8C 8T @ 2.49 GHz
779044 (100%)
Apple A9 Apple A9
2C 2T @ 1.85 GHz
0 (0%)

Estimated results for PassMark CPU Mark

Some of the CPUs listed below have been benchmarked by CPU-monkey. However the majority of CPUs have not been tested and the results have been estimated by a CPU-monkey’s secret proprietary formula. As such they do not accurately reflect the actual Passmark CPU mark values and are not endorsed by PassMark Software Pty Ltd.
Apple A12Z Bionic Apple A12Z Bionic
8C 8T @ 2.49 GHz
0 (0%)
Apple A9 Apple A9
2C 2T @ 1.85 GHz
2053 (100%)

Performance for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML)

Processors 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. The performance is given in the number (trillions) of arithmetic operations per second (TOPS).
Apple A12Z Bionic Apple A12Z Bionic
8C 8T @ 2.49 GHz
5 (100%)
Apple A9 Apple A9
2C 2T @ 1.85 GHz
0 (0%)

Devices using this processor

Apple A12Z Bionic Apple A9
Apple iPad Pro 2020 Apple iPhone 6s
Apple iPhone SE (1. Gen)

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