Apple A15 Bionic (4-GPU) vs Apple A18 Pro

The Apple A15 Bionic (4-GPU), introduced around the time of the iPhone 13, targeted the premium segment of mobile devices and offered solid performance.

The Apple A18 Pro is designed as a successor for cutting-edge mobile devices that require the highest computing power, including for AI tasks and gaming.

The Apple A15 Bionic (4-GPU) is manufactured using a 5nm process and is based on the A15 architecture with 16 MB L2 and 32 MB L3 cache. The Apple A18 Pro utilizes the more advanced 3nm process and the Donan architecture, equipped with 20 MB L2 and 24 MB L3 cache, representing a significant technological advancement.

In terms of performance, the Apple A18 Pro significantly surpasses the Apple A15 Bionic (4-GPU). The Apple A18 Pro shows considerably higher performance in both Geekbench 6 single-core and multi-core tests. The Apple A15 Bionic (4-GPU) achieves solid scores in the Cinebench R23 single-core test, but the Apple A18 Pro benefits from efficiency improvements due to the newer manufacturing process.

For gaming, the Apple A18 Pro is the most powerful processor. It features 6 GPU cores (Apple A18 Pro (6 GPU Cores)) and 60 GB/s memory bandwidth for superior graphics. The Apple A15 Bionic (4-GPU) offers 4 GPU cores (Apple A15 (4 GPU Cores)) and 34 GB/s memory bandwidth, placing it behind the Apple A18 Pro in demanding games.

The Apple A18 Pro benefits from its 3nm manufacturing process, which enables superior energy efficiency compared to the 5nm process of the Apple A15 Bionic (4-GPU). This results in lower power consumption and reduced heat generation. Since both processors are permanently installed in mobile devices, no separate market prices exist.

The Apple A18 Pro is found in the latest, high-priced devices, while the Apple A15 Bionic (4-GPU) is found in older, potentially more affordable models. The price-performance ratio depends on the respective end device.