Apple A15 Bionic (4-GPU) vs Apple A16 Bionic (5-CPU 4-GPU)

The Apple A15 Bionic (4-GPU) and the Apple A16 Bionic (5-CPU 4-GPU) are mobile System-on-a-Chip solutions from Apple.

The A15 Bionic, introduced with the iPhone 13 series, offers high performance for everyday tasks. The A16 Bionic, first seen in the iPhone 14 Pro models, was designed for more demanding mobile experiences. The A15 Bionic is manufactured using a 5 nm process, featuring six CPU cores (two performance cores, four efficiency cores) and four GPU cores.

It offers 16 MB of Level 2 cache, 32 MB of Level 3 cache, and a maximum memory bandwidth of 34 GB/s. The A16 Bionic utilizes a more advanced 4 nm process, has five CPU cores and four GPU cores. Its specifications include 20 MB of Level 2 cache, 24 MB of Level 3 cache, and a higher memory bandwidth of 51 GB/s.

In terms of computing power, both processors show very similar values, with only slight advantages for the A16 Bionic. For gaming scenarios, however, the A16 Bionic is superior, as its significantly higher memory bandwidth of 51 GB/s enables smoother graphics than the 34 GB/s of the A15 Bionic. The A16 Bionic's more advanced 4 nm manufacturing process also makes it more energy-efficient than the 5 nm A15 Bionic.

This leads to better battery life with comparable performance. A direct price evaluation of the SoCs is not possible, as they are permanently integrated into Apple devices.