The Apple M3, with the architectural name M3, is a processor manufactured using the 3 nm process for Apple's Mac products such as MacBooks and iMacs.

It targets users who need high computing and graphics performance for professional and creative tasks. Equipped with an Apple M3 (10 Core) graphics unit and a maximum memory bandwidth of 102 GB/s, it shows strong multi-core performance and offers superior gaming performance compared to the Apple A18.

Its single-core performance is comparable to the Apple A18. The M3 supports PCIe 4.0 and is designed for sustained high performance with corresponding power consumption. The Apple A18, internally known as Donan, is also an Apple chip manufactured using the 3 nm process, primarily for mobile devices such as iPhones and iPads.

It focuses on efficient performance in a compact form factor for everyday tasks, mobile gaming, and AI applications. With an Apple A18 (5 GPU Cores) graphics unit and 60 GB/s memory bandwidth, the A18 offers excellent single-core performance, similar to that of the Apple M3, but has lower multi-core performance.

The processor is optimized for maximum energy efficiency and low power consumption to ensure long battery life. The Apple M3 is the preferred choice for users who need maximum computing and graphics performance for professional tasks on a desktop or laptop. It offers superior multi-core and graphics performance, making it ideal for demanding workflows.

The Apple A18, on the other hand, is optimal for mobile devices where energy efficiency and a compact design are crucial. It scores with excellent single-core performance and is perfect for responsive mobile applications and long battery life.

Apple M3

  • 3 nm manufacturing process
  • Strong multi-core and graphics performance (Apple M3 (10 Core))
  • High memory bandwidth (102 GB/s)
  • Supports PCIe 4.0 for desktop applications

Apple A18

  • 3 nm manufacturing process
  • Excellent single-core performance
  • Optimized for energy efficiency and mobile devices
  • Compact design with 24 MB L3 cache

Performance Overview
Average performance across multiple benchmarks

Single-core performance
Rank 2 - 92 %
Apple M3
Rank 1 - 100 %
Apple A18
Multi-core performance
Rank 1 - 100 %
Apple M3
Rank 2 - 71 %
Apple A18
Geekbench 6 Single-Core

Geekbench 6 Single-Core
Single-core performance

Apple M3
Apple M3 92 %
8C / 8T · 4.06 GHz
3,125
Apple A18
Apple A18 100 %
6C / 6T · 4.04 GHz
3,384
Geekbench 6 Multi-Core

Geekbench 6 Multi-Core
Multi-core performance

Apple M3
Apple M3 100 %
8C / 8T · 4.06 GHz
11,863
Apple A18
Apple A18 71 %
6C / 6T · 4.04 GHz
8,430
iGPU - FP32 Performance (Single-precision GFLOPS)

iGPU - FP32 Performance (Single-precision GFLOPS)

Apple M3
Apple M3 100 %
Apple M3 (10 Core)
3,550
Apple A18
Apple A18 61 %
Apple A18 (5 GPU Cores)
2,150
AI performance (NPU)

AI performance (NPU)

Apple M3
Apple M3 92 %
8C / 8T · 0.70 GHz
35.0 TOPS
Apple A18
Apple A18 100 %
6C / 6T · 0.70 GHz
38.0 TOPS

More benchmarks

At a glance

Wischen
Apple M3Apple A18
FamilyApple M series (38)Apple A series (27)
CPU groupApple M3 (6)Apple A18 (2)
ArchitectureM3Donan
Technology3 nm3 nm
SegmentNotebookSmartphone / Tablet
Socket
PredecessorApple M2Apple A16 Bionic
SuccessorApple M4Apple A19

CPU Cores and Base Frequency

Wischen
Apple M3Apple A18
CPU Cores / Threads8 / 86 / 6
Hyperthreading / SMT
Core architecturehybrid (big.LITTLE)hybrid (big.LITTLE)
Core Cluster 1: 4x Ibiza P-Core
0.70 - 4.06 GHz
2x Donan P-Core
0.70 - 4.04 GHz
Core Cluster 2: 4x Ibiza E-Core
0.74 - 2.75 GHz
4x Donan E-Core
0.74 - 2.30 GHz
L2-Cache20.00 MB20.00 MB
L3-Cache24.00 MB
Overclocking

Integrated graphics (iGPU)

Wischen
Apple M3Apple A18
GPU nameApple M3 (10 Core)Apple A18 (5 GPU Cores)
GPU frequency0.39 - 1.40 GHz0.39 - 1.68 GHz
CUs / Shader160 / 128020 / 640
Raytracing
Max. displays21
Max. GPU Memory24 GB8 GB
Technology3 nm3 nm
Release dateQ4/2023Q3/2024

NPU AI performance

Wischen
Apple M3Apple A18
AI hardwareApple Neural EngineApple Neural Engine
AI specifications16 Neural cores @ 35 TOPS16 Neural cores @ 38 TOPS
NPU + CPU + iGPU

Memory & PCIe

Wischen
Apple M3Apple A18
MemoryLPDDR5-6400 (102.4 GB/s)
LPDDR5X-7500 (60.0 GB/s)
Max. Memory24 GB8 GB
Memory channels21
ECCNoNo
PCIe4.0
PCIe Bandwidth

Thermal Management

Wischen
Apple M3Apple A18
TDP22 W12 W
TDP (PL2)
TDP up
TDP down15 W
T. junction max.100 °C

Technical details

Wischen
Apple M3Apple A18
Chip designMonolithicChiplet
AES-NI
Operating systemsmacOS, iPadOSiOS
Instruction setArmv8-A (64 bit)Armv9-A (64 bit)
ISA extensionsRosetta 2 x86-Emulation
Release dateQ4/2023Q3/2024
Release price
Documents

Your rating

Here you can rate one or both of the processors. The average rating of Apple M3 is 4.6 stars (1638 ratings), while Apple A18 has received 4.0 stars (215 ratings).

Click on the stars to rate one or both processors.

Apple M3
Apple M3
8C / 8T · 0.70 - 4.06 GHz
Apple A18
Apple A18
6C / 6T · 0.70 - 4.04 GHz

Most popular CPUs in both categories

Apple M3
Apple M3
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