Apple A9 vs MediaTek Dimensity 800U

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CPU comparison with benchmarks


Apple A9 CPU1 vs CPU2 MediaTek Dimensity 800U
Apple A9 MediaTek Dimensity 800U

CPU comparison

Apple A9 or MediaTek Dimensity 800U - 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 A9 has 2 cores with 2 threads and clocks with a maximum frequency of 1.85 GHz. Up to 2 GB of memory is supported in 1 memory channels. The Apple A9 was released in Q3/2015.

The MediaTek Dimensity 800U has 8 cores with 8 threads and clocks with a maximum frequency of 2.40 GHz. The CPU supports up to 12 GB of memory in 2 memory channels. The MediaTek Dimensity 800U was released in Q3/2020.
Apple A series (22) Family Mediatek Dimensity (36)
Apple A9/A9X (2) CPU group MediaTek Dimensity 700/720/800 (4)
9 Generation 1
A9 Architecture Cortex-A76 / Cortex-A55
Mobile Segment Mobile
Apple A8 Predecessor --
Apple A10 Fusion Successor --

CPU Cores and Base Frequency

The Apple A9 has 2 CPU cores and can calculate 2 threads in parallel. The clock frequency of the Apple A9 is 1.85 GHz while the MediaTek Dimensity 800U has 8 CPU cores and 8 threads can calculate simultaneously. The clock frequency of the MediaTek Dimensity 800U is at 2.40 GHz.

Apple A9 Characteristic MediaTek Dimensity 800U
2 Cores 8
2 Threads 8
normal Core architecture hybrid (big.LITTLE)
No Hyperthreading No
No Overclocking ? No
1.85 GHz
2x Twister
A-Core 2.40 GHz
2x Cortex-A76
-- B-Core 2.00 GHz
6x Cortex-A55

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

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. 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 A9 Characteristic MediaTek Dimensity 800U
-- AI hardware --
-- AI specifications --

Internal Graphics

The Apple A9 or MediaTek Dimensity 800U has integrated graphics, called iGPU for short. The iGPU uses the system's main memory as graphics memory and sits on the processor's die.

Apple A9 GPU ARM Mali-G57 MP3
0.65 GHz GPU frequency 0.95 GHz
-- GPU (Turbo) --
6 GPU Generation Vallhall 1
16 nm Technology 7 nm
1 Max. displays 2
24 Compute units 3
192 Shader 48
No Hardware Raytracing No
No Frame Generation No
4 GB Max. GPU Memory 4 GB
-- DirectX Version 12

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 A9 GPU ARM Mali-G57 MP3
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
Decode Codec VP8 Decode / Encode
No Codec AV1 Decode
Decode Codec AVC Decode / Encode
Decode Codec VC-1 Decode / Encode
Decode / Encode Codec JPEG Decode / Encode

Memory & PCIe

The Apple A9 can use up to 2 GB of memory in 1 memory channels. The maximum memory bandwidth is 25.6 GB/s. The MediaTek Dimensity 800U supports up to 12 GB of memory in 2 memory channels and achieves a memory bandwidth of up to 17.1 GB/s.

Apple A9 Characteristic MediaTek Dimensity 800U
LPDDR4-3200 Memory LPDDR4X-4266
2 GB Max. Memory 12 GB
1 (Single Channel) Memory channels 2 (Dual Channel)
25.6 GB/s Max. Bandwidth 17.1 GB/s
No ECC No
3.00 MB L2 Cache --
4.00 MB L3 Cache --
-- PCIe version --
-- PCIe lanes --
-- PCIe Bandwidth --

Thermal Management

The thermal design power (TDP for short) of the Apple A9 is 5 W, while the MediaTek Dimensity 800U has a TDP of --. The TDP specifies the necessary cooling solution that is required to cool the processor sufficiently.

Apple A9 Characteristic MediaTek Dimensity 800U
5 W TDP (PL1 / PBP) --
-- TDP (PL2) --
-- TDP up --
-- TDP down --
-- Tjunction max. --

Technical details

The Apple A9 is manufactured in 16 nm and has 7.00 MB cache. The MediaTek Dimensity 800U is manufactured in 7 nm and has a 0.00 MB cache.

Apple A9 Characteristic MediaTek Dimensity 800U
16 nm Technology 7 nm
Chiplet Chip design Chiplet
Armv8-A (64 bit) Instruction set (ISA) Armv8-A (64 bit)
-- ISA extensions --
-- Socket --
None Virtualization None
No AES-NI No
iOS Operating systems Android
Q3/2015 Release date Q3/2020
-- Release price --
show more data show more data


Rate these processors

Here you can rate the Apple A9 to help other visitors make their purchasing decisions. The average rating is 5.0 stars (3 ratings). Rate now:
Here you can rate the MediaTek Dimensity 800U to help other visitors make their purchasing decisions. The average rating is 0 stars (0 ratings). Rate now:


Average performance in benchmarks

⌀ Single core performance in 2 CPU benchmarks
Apple A9 (89%)
MediaTek Dimensity 800U (100%)
⌀ Multi core performance in 3 CPU benchmarks
Apple A9 (54%)
MediaTek Dimensity 800U (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 A9 Apple A9
2C 2T @ 1.85 GHz
558 (94%)
MediaTek Dimensity 800U MediaTek Dimensity 800U
8C 8T @ 2.40 GHz
593 (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 A9 Apple A9
2C 2T @ 1.85 GHz
1024 (57%)
MediaTek Dimensity 800U MediaTek Dimensity 800U
8C 8T @ 2.40 GHz
1783 (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 A9 Apple A9
2C 2T @ 1.85 GHz
632 (84%)
MediaTek Dimensity 800U MediaTek Dimensity 800U
8C 8T @ 2.40 GHz
753 (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 A9 Apple A9
2C 2T @ 1.85 GHz
921 (49%)
MediaTek Dimensity 800U MediaTek Dimensity 800U
8C 8T @ 2.40 GHz
1882 (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 A9 Apple A9
Apple A9 @ 0.65 GHz
250 (68%)
MediaTek Dimensity 800U MediaTek Dimensity 800U
ARM Mali-G57 MP3 @ 0.95 GHz
365 (100%)

AnTuTu 8 Benchmark

The AnTuTu 8 Benchmark measures the performance of a SoC. AnTuTu benchmarks the CPU, GPU, Memory as well as the UX (User Experience) by simulating browser and app usage. AnTuTu can benchmark any ARM CPU that runs under Android or iOS. Devices may not be directly compareable if the benchmark has been performed under different operating systems.

In the AnTuTu 8 benchmark, the single-core performance of a processor is only slightly weighted. The evaluation consists of the multi-core performance of the processor, the speed of the RAM and the performance of the internal graphics.
Apple A9 Apple A9
2C 2T @ 1.85 GHz
172160 (51%)
MediaTek Dimensity 800U MediaTek Dimensity 800U
8C 8T @ 2.40 GHz
334689 (100%)

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 A9 Apple A9
2C 2T @ 1.85 GHz
2053 (57%)
MediaTek Dimensity 800U MediaTek Dimensity 800U
8C 8T @ 2.40 GHz
3621 (100%)

AnTuTu 9 Benchmark

The AnTuTu 9 benchmark is very well suited to measuring the performance of a smartphone. AnTuTu 9 is quite heavy on 3D graphics and can now also use the "Metal" graphics interface. In AnTuTu, memory and UX (user experience) are also tested by simulating browser and app usage. AnTuTu version 9 can compare any ARM CPU running on Android or iOS. Devices may not be directly comparable when benchmarked on different operating systems.

In the AnTuTu 9 benchmark, the single-core performance of a processor is only slightly weighted. The rating is made up of the multi-core performance of the processor, the speed of the working memory, and the performance of the internal graphics.
Apple A9 Apple A9
2C 2T @ 1.85 GHz
0 (0%)
MediaTek Dimensity 800U MediaTek Dimensity 800U
8C 8T @ 2.40 GHz
368465 (100%)

Devices using this processor

Apple A9 MediaTek Dimensity 800U
Apple iPhone 6s
Apple iPhone SE (1. Gen)
Unknown

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