Apple A8X vs Apple M4 (10-CPU)

Last updated:

CPU comparison with benchmarks


Apple A8X CPU1 vs CPU2 Apple M4 (10-CPU)
Apple A8X Apple M4 (10-CPU)

CPU comparison

In this CPU comparison, we compare the Apple A8X and the Apple M4 (10-CPU) and use benchmarks to check which processor is faster.

We compare the Apple A8X 3 core processor released in Q3/2014 with the Apple M4 (10-CPU) which has 10 CPU cores and was introduced in Q2/2024.
Apple A series (22) Family Apple M series (25)
Apple A8/A8X (2) CPU group Apple M4 (2)
8 Generation 4
A8 Architecture M4
Mobile Segment Mobile
Apple A6X Predecessor Apple M3
Apple A9X Successor --

CPU Cores and Base Frequency

The Apple A8X is a 3 core processor with a clock frequency of 1.50 GHz. The processor can compute 3 threads at the same time. The Apple M4 (10-CPU) clocks with 0.70 GHz (4.41 GHz), has 10 CPU cores and can calculate 10 threads in parallel.

Apple A8X Characteristic Apple M4 (10-CPU)
3 Cores 10
3 Threads 10
normal Core architecture hybrid (big.LITTLE)
No Hyperthreading No
No Overclocking ? No
1.50 GHz
3x Typhoon
A-Core 0.70 GHz (4.41 GHz)
4x P-Core
-- B-Core 0.74 GHz (2.85 GHz)
6x E-Core

NPU AI performance

The performance values of the processor's AI unit. The isolated NPU performance is specified here, the total AI performance (NPU+CPU+iGPU) can be higher. Processors with support for artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) can process many calculations, especially audio, image and video processing, much faster than classic processors.

Apple A8X Characteristic Apple M4 (10-CPU)
-- AI hardware Apple Neural Engine
-- AI specifications 16 Neural cores @ 38 TOPS
-- NPU + CPU + iGPU --

Integrated graphics (iGPU)

Graphics (iGPU) integrated into the processor not only enable image output without having to rely on a dedicated graphics solution, but can also efficiently accelerate video playback.

Apple A8X GPU Apple M4 (10 Core)
0.45 GHz GPU frequency --
-- GPU (Turbo) --
5 GPU Generation --
20 nm Technology 3 nm
1 Max. displays 2
32 Compute units 160
256 Shader 1280
No Hardware Raytracing Yes
No Frame Generation No
2 GB Max. GPU Memory 24 GB
-- DirectX Version --

Hardware codec support

A 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 A8X GPU Apple M4 (10 Core)
No Codec h265 / HEVC (8 bit) Decode / Encode
No Codec h265 / HEVC (10 bit) Decode / Encode
Decode Codec h264 Decode / Encode
No Codec VP9 Decode / Encode
No Codec VP8 Decode
No Codec AV1 Decode
Decode Codec AVC Decode
Decode Codec VC-1 Decode
Decode / Encode Codec JPEG Decode / Encode

Memory & PCIe

Up to 2 GB of memory in a maximum of 1 memory channels is supported by the Apple A8X, while the Apple M4 (10-CPU) supports a maximum of 16 GB of memory with a maximum memory bandwidth of 120.0 GB/s enabled.

Apple A8X Characteristic Apple M4 (10-CPU)
LPDDR3-1600 Memory LPDDR5X-7500
2 GB Max. Memory 16 GB
1 (Single Channel) Memory channels 2 (Dual Channel)
12.8 GB/s Max. Bandwidth 120.0 GB/s
No ECC No
2.00 MB L2 Cache 22.00 MB
4.00 MB L3 Cache --
-- PCIe version 4.0
-- PCIe lanes --
-- PCIe Bandwidth --

Thermal Management

The Apple A8X has a TDP of 8 W. The TDP of the Apple M4 (10-CPU) is 22 W. System integrators use the TDP of the processor as a guide when dimensioning the cooling solution.

Apple A8X Characteristic Apple M4 (10-CPU)
8 W TDP (PL1 / PBP) 22 W
-- TDP (PL2) --
-- TDP up --
-- TDP down 15 W
-- Tjunction max. 100 °C

Technical details

The Apple A8X has 6.00 MB cache and is manufactured in 20 nm. The cache of Apple M4 (10-CPU) is at 22.00 MB. The processor is manufactured in 3 nm.

Apple A8X Characteristic Apple M4 (10-CPU)
20 nm Technology 3 nm
Chiplet Chip design Chiplet
Armv8-A (64 bit) Instruction set (ISA) Armv9-A (64 bit)
-- ISA extensions Rosetta 2 x86-Emulation, AVX2, SME
-- Socket --
None Virtualization Apple Virtualization Framework
No AES-NI Yes
iOS Operating systems macOS, iPadOS
Q3/2014 Release date Q2/2024
-- Release price --
show more data show more data


Rate these processors

Here you can rate the Apple A8X to help other visitors make their purchasing decisions. The average rating is 4.8 stars (5 ratings). Rate now:
Here you can rate the Apple M4 (10-CPU) to help other visitors make their purchasing decisions. The average rating is 4.8 stars (104 ratings). Rate now:


Average performance in benchmarks

⌀ Single core performance in 2 CPU benchmarks
Apple A8X (13%)
Apple M4 (10-CPU) (100%)
⌀ Multi core performance in 2 CPU benchmarks
Apple A8X (8%)
Apple M4 (10-CPU) (100%)

Geekbench 5, 64bit (Single-Core)

Geekbench 5 is a cross plattform benchmark that heavily uses the systems memory. A fast memory will push the result a lot. The single-core test only uses one CPU core, the amount of cores or hyperthreading ability doesn't count.
Apple A8X Apple A8X
3C 3T @ 1.50 GHz
386 (15%)
Apple M4 (10-CPU) Apple M4 (10-CPU)
10C 10T @ 4.41 GHz
2491 (100%)

Geekbench 5, 64bit (Multi-Core)

Geekbench 5 is a cross plattform benchmark that heavily uses the systems memory. A fast memory will push the result a lot. The multi-core test involves all CPU cores and taks a big advantage of hyperthreading.
Apple A8X Apple A8X
3C 3T @ 1.50 GHz
1075 (9%)
Apple M4 (10-CPU) Apple M4 (10-CPU)
10C 10T @ 0.70 GHz
12509 (100%)

Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)

Geekbench 6 is a benchmark for modern computers, notebooks and smartphones. What is new is an optimized utilization of newer CPU architectures, e.g. based on the big.LITTLE concept and combining CPU cores of different sizes. The single-core benchmark only evaluates the performance of the fastest CPU core, the number of CPU cores in a processor is irrelevant here.
Apple A8X Apple A8X
3C 3T @ 1.50 GHz
427 (11%)
Apple M4 (10-CPU) Apple M4 (10-CPU)
10C 10T @ 4.41 GHz
3767 (100%)

Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)

Geekbench 6 is a benchmark for modern computers, notebooks and smartphones. What is new is an optimized utilization of newer CPU architectures, e.g. based on the big.LITTLE concept and combining CPU cores of different sizes. The multi-core benchmark evaluates the performance of all of the processor's CPU cores. Virtual thread improvements such as AMD SMT or Intel's Hyper-Threading have a positive impact on the benchmark result.
Apple A8X Apple A8X
3C 3T @ 1.50 GHz
959 (7%)
Apple M4 (10-CPU) Apple M4 (10-CPU)
10C 10T @ 0.70 GHz
14621 (100%)

iGPU - FP32 Performance (Single-precision GFLOPS)

The theoretical computing performance of the internal graphics unit of the processor with simple accuracy (32 bit) in GFLOPS. GFLOPS indicates how many billion floating point operations the iGPU can perform per second.
Apple A8X Apple A8X
Apple A8X @ 0.45 GHz
230 (100%)
Apple M4 (10-CPU) Apple M4 (10-CPU)
Apple M4 (10 Core) @ 0.00 GHz
0 (0%)

Estimated results for PassMark CPU Mark

Some of the CPUs listed below have been benchmarked by CPU-monkey. However the majority of CPUs have not been tested and the results have been estimated by a CPU-monkey’s secret proprietary formula. As such they do not accurately reflect the actual Passmark CPU mark values and are not endorsed by PassMark Software Pty Ltd.
Apple A8X Apple A8X
3C 3T @ 1.50 GHz
2356 (100%)
Apple M4 (10-CPU) Apple M4 (10-CPU)
10C 10T @ 0.70 GHz
0 (0%)

AI performance (NPU)

The performance values of the processor's AI unit. The isolated NPU performance is given here, the total AI performance (NPU+CPU+iGPU) can be higher.

Processors 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. The performance is given in the number (trillions) of arithmetic operations per second (TOPS).
Apple A8X Apple A8X
3C 3T @ 1.50 GHz
0 (0%)
Apple M4 (10-CPU) Apple M4 (10-CPU)
10C 10T @ 0.70 GHz
38 (100%)

Devices using this processor

Apple A8X Apple M4 (10-CPU)
Apple iPad Air 2 Apple iPad Pro 11 (2024) [1-2 TB]

Popular comparisons containing this CPUs

1. Apple A8XApple A12 Bionic Apple A8X vs Apple A12 Bionic
2. Apple A8XApple A10 Fusion Apple A8X vs Apple A10 Fusion
3. Apple A8XApple A9 Apple A8X vs Apple A9
4. Apple A8XApple A14 Bionic Apple A8X vs Apple A14 Bionic
5. Apple A13 BionicApple A8X Apple A13 Bionic vs Apple A8X
6. Apple A8XApple M1 Apple A8X vs Apple M1
7. Apple A8XApple A8 Apple A8X vs Apple A8
8. Apple A8XApple A9X Apple A8X vs Apple A9X
9. Apple A7Apple A8X Apple A7 vs Apple A8X
10. Apple A8XApple A10X Fusion Apple A8X vs Apple A10X Fusion


back to index