Apple A18 Pro vs Apple M2

The Apple M2, with the architecture codename M2, is a processor for desktop and laptop systems, introduced in 2022.

It targets a broad audience that needs a balanced mix of performance and energy efficiency for everyday tasks up to creative applications. This chip is manufactured using the 5 nm process and features an integrated graphics unit known as Apple M2 (10 Core). The Level 2 cache is 20 MB and it supports PCIe 4.0.

In single-core tests, the Apple M2 shows solid performance, while in multi-core applications it achieves higher performance than the Apple A18 Pro.

The integrated graphics unit Apple M2 (10 Core) and a maximum memory bandwidth of 102 GB/s provide a good basis for games in its class, especially for the desktop environment. The Apple M2 is designed for higher sustained performance, which is supported by appropriate cooling systems in the desktop and laptop areas.

The processor is an integral part of Apple devices and offers balanced performance and efficiency within this ecosystem. The Apple A18 Pro, based on the architecture codename Donan, is an advanced processor primarily developed for mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. It aims to deliver maximum performance with the highest energy efficiency in a compact form factor.

Manufactured using the state-of-the-art 3 nm process, the Apple A18 Pro features an integrated graphics unit named Apple A18 Pro (6 GPU Cores). It has 20 MB of Level 2 cache and 24 MB of Level 3 cache. The Apple A18 Pro significantly outperforms the Apple M2 in single-core applications but shows lower performance in multi-core scenarios.

The integrated graphics unit Apple A18 Pro (6 GPU Cores) and a memory bandwidth of 60 GB/s offer very good performance for mobile gaming, with optimization for this form factor being paramount. Thanks to the 3 nm manufacturing process and design for mobile devices, the Apple A18 Pro is characterized by outstanding energy efficiency, which is crucial for long battery life.

As the core of high-end mobile devices, the Apple A18 Pro offers leading performance per watt for its class.