Apple M1 vs Apple A15 Bionic (4-GPU)

The Apple M1 is a System-on-a-Chip (SoC) developed for Mac computers and iPads, which initiated Apple's transition to its own ARM architecture.

Manufactured in Apple's 5 nm process, it integrates an 8-core CPU (4 high-performance cores, 4 efficiency cores) and an Apple M1 (8 Core) graphics unit. It features 16 MB of Level 2 Cache, a maximum memory bandwidth of 68 GB/s, and PCIe 4.0 support. In single-core benchmarks, the Apple M1 shows significantly higher performance than the Apple A15 Bionic.

Multi-core performance is substantially superior. The 8-core GPU delivers good gaming performance. The design is engineered for high performance with efficient power consumption. The processor is available exclusively as an integral component of Apple devices. The Apple A15 Bionic is a powerful mobile processor, primarily designed for iPhones and certain iPad models to handle demanding tasks in a compact form factor.

Also manufactured in Apple's 5 nm process, it integrates a 6-core CPU (2 high-performance cores, 4 efficiency cores) and an Apple A15 (4 GPU Cores) graphics unit. It offers 16 MB of Level 2 Cache and 32 MB of Level 3 Cache, with a maximum memory bandwidth of 34 GB/s. Single-core performance is comparable to that of the Apple M1 in some measurements, but lower in others.

Multi-core performance is significantly below that of the Apple M1. The 4-core GPU offers very good mobile gaming performance. The A15 Bionic is characterized by high energy efficiency and is also only available as an integrated system. Thanks to its higher core count and graphics unit, the Apple M1 offers superior overall performance and is better suited for demanding desktop tasks and more intensive gaming.

The Apple A15 Bionic excels with its high performance and extreme energy efficiency in a mobile form factor, ideal for smartphones and tablets. For maximum computing power and graphics performance, the Apple M1 is the better choice. For highest mobility and energy efficiency, the Apple A15 Bionic is preferable.