Apple A17 Pro | Apple A12 Bionic | |
CPU comparisonApple A17 Pro or Apple A12 Bionic - which processor is faster? In this comparison we look at the differences and analyze which of these two CPUs is better. We compare the technical data and benchmark results.
The Apple A17 Pro has 6 cores with 6 threads and clocks with a maximum frequency of 3.78 GHz. Up to 8 GB of memory is supported in 1 memory channels. The Apple A17 Pro was released in Q3/2023. The Apple A12 Bionic has 6 cores with 6 threads and clocks with a maximum frequency of 2.49 GHz. The CPU supports up to 4 GB of memory in 1 memory channels. The Apple A12 Bionic was released in Q3/2018. |
||
Apple A series (22) | Family | Apple A series (22) |
Apple A17 (1) | CPU group | Apple A12/A12X/A12Z (3) |
17 | Generation | 12 |
A17 | Architecture | A12 |
Mobile | Segment | Mobile |
Apple A16 Bionic | Predecessor | Apple A11 Bionic |
-- | Successor | Apple A13 Bionic |
|
||
CPU Cores and Base FrequencyThe Apple A17 Pro is a 6 core processor with a clock frequency of 3.78 GHz. The Apple A12 Bionic has 6 CPU cores with a clock frequency of 2.49 GHz. |
||
Apple A17 Pro | Characteristic | Apple A12 Bionic |
6 | Cores | 6 |
6 | Threads | 6 |
hybrid (big.LITTLE) | Core architecture | hybrid (big.LITTLE) |
No | Hyperthreading | No |
No | Overclocking ? | No |
3.78 GHz | A-Core | 2.49 GHz 2x Vortex |
2.11 GHz | B-Core | 1.59 GHz 4x Tempest |
Artificial Intelligence and Machine LearningProcessors 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 A17 Pro | Characteristic | Apple A12 Bionic |
Apple Neural Engine | AI hardware | Apple Neural Engine |
16 Neural cores @ 35 TOPS | AI specifications | 8 Neural cores @ 5 TOPS |
Internal GraphicsThe integrated graphics unit of a processor is not only responsible for the pure image output on the system, but can also significantly increase the efficiency of the system with the support of modern video codecs. |
||
Apple A17 Pro (6 GPU Cores) | GPU | Apple A12 |
1.40 GHz | GPU frequency | 1.13 GHz |
-- | GPU (Turbo) | -- |
-- | GPU Generation | 9 |
3 nm | Technology | 7 nm |
3 | Max. displays | 1 |
24 | Compute units | 16 |
768 | Shader | 256 |
Yes | Hardware Raytracing | No |
No | Frame Generation | No |
6 GB | Max. GPU Memory | 4 GB |
-- | DirectX Version | -- |
Hardware codec supportA 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 A17 Pro (6 GPU Cores) | GPU | Apple A12 |
Decode / Encode | Codec h265 / HEVC (8 bit) | Decode / Encode |
Decode / Encode | Codec h265 / HEVC (10 bit) | Decode / Encode |
Decode / Encode | Codec h264 | Decode / Encode |
Decode / Encode | Codec VP9 | Decode / Encode |
Decode / Encode | Codec VP8 | Decode / Encode |
Decode | Codec AV1 | No |
Decode | Codec AVC | Decode |
Decode | Codec VC-1 | Decode |
Decode / Encode | Codec JPEG | Decode / Encode |
Memory & PCIeThe Apple A17 Pro supports a maximum of 8 GB of memory in 1 memory channels. The Apple A12 Bionic can connect up to 4 GB of memory in 1 memory channels. |
||
Apple A17 Pro | Characteristic | Apple A12 Bionic |
LPDDR5-6400 | Memory | LPDDR4X-4266 |
8 GB | Max. Memory | 4 GB |
1 (Single Channel) | Memory channels | 1 (Single Channel) |
51.2 GB/s | Max. Bandwidth | 34.1 GB/s |
No | ECC | No |
20.00 MB | L2 Cache | 8.00 MB |
24.00 MB | L3 Cache | -- |
-- | PCIe version | -- |
-- | PCIe lanes | -- |
-- | PCIe Bandwidth | -- |
Thermal ManagementThe TDP (Thermal Design Power) of a processor specifies the required cooling solution. The Apple A17 Pro has a TDP of 11 W, that of the Apple A12 Bionic is 6 W. |
||
Apple A17 Pro | Characteristic | Apple A12 Bionic |
11 W | TDP (PL1 / PBP) | 6 W |
-- | TDP (PL2) | -- |
-- | TDP up | -- |
-- | TDP down | -- |
-- | Tjunction max. | -- |
Technical detailsThe Apple A17 Pro has a 44.00 MB cache, while the Apple A12 Bionic cache has a total of 8.00 MB. |
||
Apple A17 Pro | Characteristic | Apple A12 Bionic |
3 nm | Technology | 7 nm |
Chiplet | Chip design | Chiplet |
Armv8.6-A (64 bit) | Instruction set (ISA) | Armv8-A (64 bit) |
-- | ISA extensions | -- |
-- | Socket | -- |
None | Virtualization | None |
No | AES-NI | No |
iOS | Operating systems | iOS |
Q3/2023 | Release date | Q3/2018 |
-- | Release price | -- |
show more data | show more data | |
Apple A17 Pro
6C 6T @ 3.78 GHz |
|||
Apple A12 Bionic
6C 6T @ 2.49 GHz |
Apple A17 Pro
6C 6T @ 3.78 GHz |
|||
Apple A12 Bionic
6C 6T @ 2.49 GHz |
Apple A17 Pro
6C 6T @ 3.78 GHz |
|||
Apple A12 Bionic
6C 6T @ 2.49 GHz |
Apple A17 Pro
6C 6T @ 3.78 GHz |
|||
Apple A12 Bionic
6C 6T @ 2.49 GHz |
Apple A17 Pro
Apple A17 Pro (6 GPU Cores) @ 1.40 GHz |
|||
Apple A12 Bionic
Apple A12 @ 1.13 GHz |
Apple A17 Pro
6C 6T @ 3.78 GHz |
|||
Apple A12 Bionic
6C 6T @ 2.49 GHz |
Apple A17 Pro
6C 6T @ 3.78 GHz |
|||
Apple A12 Bionic
6C 6T @ 2.49 GHz |
Apple A17 Pro
6C 6T @ 3.78 GHz |
|||
Apple A12 Bionic
6C 6T @ 2.49 GHz |
Apple A17 Pro
6C 6T @ 3.78 GHz |
|||
Apple A12 Bionic
6C 6T @ 2.49 GHz |
Devices using this processor |
|
Apple A17 Pro | Apple A12 Bionic |
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max |
Apple iPhone XR Apple iPhone XS Apple iPhone XS Max Apple iPad mini (5. Gen) Apple iPad Air (3. Gen) |