Apple A13 Bionic vs Apple A8

The Apple A13 Bionic (late 2019) was developed for high-performance mobile devices and demanding users.

The Apple A8 (late 2014) was designed for mid-range devices of its time and basic everyday tasks. The Apple A13 Bionic (7 nm) features a hexa-core CPU (two high-performance cores, four efficiency cores) with 8 MB Level 2 cache.

The Apple A8 (20 nm) integrates a dual-core CPU with 1 MB Level 2 and 4 MB Level 3 cache. The Apple A13 Bionic delivers significantly higher single-core and multi-core performance than the Apple A8. More modern architecture and a higher core count enable much faster processing of workloads.

For gaming, the Apple A13 Bionic offers significantly better performance. Its more powerful graphics unit (Apple A13) and 34 GB/s memory bandwidth surpass the 13 GB/s of the Apple A8 for smoother, more detailed graphics. The Apple A13 Bionic (7 nm) is more efficient per watt than the Apple A8 (20 nm).

The A13 Bionic offers higher performance with optimized energy consumption. The A8 has lower absolute consumption but lower efficiency per computing unit. As integrated SoCs, neither is available individually. The price-performance ratio of the Apple A13 Bionic is significantly better in terms of computing power.

Devices with the A13 Bionic offer high performance on the used market. A8 devices are very inexpensive, but their performance is severely limited for modern applications. The Apple A13 Bionic offers advanced architecture, high computing and graphics performance, ideal for speed, multitasking, and gaming.

The Apple A8 is an older, energy-saving processor, sufficient for basic tasks in older devices. Recommendation: A13 Bionic for demanding use; A8 for simple applications.