Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU) | Apple A15 Bionic (5-GPU) | |
CPU comparisonApple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU) or Apple A15 Bionic (5-GPU) - 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 M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU) has 12 cores with 12 threads and clocks with a maximum frequency of 4.06 GHz. Up to 36 GB of memory is supported in 2 memory channels. The Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU) was released in Q4/2023. The Apple A15 Bionic (5-GPU) has 6 cores with 6 threads and clocks with a maximum frequency of 3.23 GHz. The CPU supports up to 6 GB of memory in 1 memory channels. The Apple A15 Bionic (5-GPU) was released in Q3/2021. |
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Apple M series (25) | Family | Apple A series (22) |
Apple M3 (6) | CPU group | Apple A15 (2) |
3 | Generation | 15 |
M3 | Architecture | A15 |
Mobile | Segment | Mobile |
Apple M2 Pro (12-CPU 19-GPU) | Predecessor | Apple A14 Bionic |
-- | Successor | Apple A16 Bionic |
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CPU Cores and Base FrequencyThe Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU) has 12 CPU cores and can calculate 12 threads in parallel. The clock frequency of the Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU) is 0.70 GHz (4.06 GHz) while the Apple A15 Bionic (5-GPU) has 6 CPU cores and 6 threads can calculate simultaneously. The clock frequency of the Apple A15 Bionic (5-GPU) is at 3.23 GHz. |
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Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU) | Characteristic | Apple A15 Bionic (5-GPU) |
12 | Cores | 6 |
12 | Threads | 6 |
hybrid (big.LITTLE) | Core architecture | hybrid (big.LITTLE) |
No | Hyperthreading | No |
No | Overclocking ? | No |
0.70 GHz (4.06 GHz) 6x P-Core |
A-Core | 3.23 GHz 2x Avalanche |
0.74 GHz (2.75 GHz) 6x E-Core |
B-Core | 2.02 GHz 4x Blizzard |
Artificial Intelligence and Machine LearningProcessors 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. |
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Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU) | Characteristic | Apple A15 Bionic (5-GPU) |
Apple Neural Engine | AI hardware | Apple Neural Engine |
16 Neural cores @ 35 TOPS | AI specifications | 16 Neural cores @ 15.8 TOPS |
Internal GraphicsThe Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU) or Apple A15 Bionic (5-GPU) 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. |
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Apple M3 Pro (18 Core) | GPU | Apple A15 (5 GPU Cores) |
0.39 GHz | GPU frequency | 1.34 GHz |
1.40 GHz | GPU (Turbo) | -- |
-- | GPU Generation | 12 |
3 nm | Technology | 5 nm |
3 | Max. displays | 3 |
288 | Compute units | 20 |
2304 | Shader | 640 |
Yes | Hardware Raytracing | No |
No | Frame Generation | No |
36 GB | Max. GPU Memory | 6 GB |
-- | DirectX Version | -- |
Hardware codec supportA 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. |
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Apple M3 Pro (18 Core) | GPU | Apple A15 (5 GPU Cores) |
Decode / Encode | Codec h265 / HEVC (8 bit) | Decode / Encode |
Decode / Encode | Codec h265 / HEVC (10 bit) | Decode / Encode |
Decode / Encode | Codec h264 | Decode / Encode |
Decode / Encode | Codec VP9 | Decode / Encode |
Decode | Codec VP8 | Decode / Encode |
Decode | Codec AV1 | No |
Decode | Codec AVC | Decode |
Decode | Codec VC-1 | Decode |
Decode / Encode | Codec JPEG | Decode / Encode |
Memory & PCIeThe Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU) can use up to 36 GB of memory in 2 memory channels. The maximum memory bandwidth is 153.6 GB/s. The Apple A15 Bionic (5-GPU) supports up to 6 GB of memory in 1 memory channels and achieves a memory bandwidth of up to 34.1 GB/s. |
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Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU) | Characteristic | Apple A15 Bionic (5-GPU) |
LPDDR5-6400 | Memory | LPDDR4X-4266 |
36 GB | Max. Memory | 6 GB |
2 (Dual Channel) | Memory channels | 1 (Single Channel) |
153.6 GB/s | Max. Bandwidth | 34.1 GB/s |
No | ECC | No |
36.00 MB | L2 Cache | 16.00 MB |
-- | L3 Cache | 32.00 MB |
4.0 | PCIe version | -- |
-- | PCIe lanes | -- |
-- | PCIe Bandwidth | -- |
Thermal ManagementThe thermal design power (TDP for short) of the Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU) is 35 W, while the Apple A15 Bionic (5-GPU) has a TDP of 7.25 W. The TDP specifies the necessary cooling solution that is required to cool the processor sufficiently. |
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Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU) | Characteristic | Apple A15 Bionic (5-GPU) |
35 W | TDP (PL1 / PBP) | 7.25 W |
-- | TDP (PL2) | -- |
-- | TDP up | -- |
-- | TDP down | -- |
100 °C | Tjunction max. | -- |
Technical detailsThe Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU) is manufactured in 3 nm and has 36.00 MB cache. The Apple A15 Bionic (5-GPU) is manufactured in 5 nm and has a 48.00 MB cache. |
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Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU) | Characteristic | Apple A15 Bionic (5-GPU) |
3 nm | Technology | 5 nm |
Chiplet | Chip design | Chiplet |
Armv8-A (64 bit) | Instruction set (ISA) | Armv8-A (64 bit) |
Rosetta 2 x86-Emulation | ISA extensions | -- |
-- | Socket | -- |
Apple Virtualization Framework | Virtualization | None |
Yes | AES-NI | No |
macOS, iPadOS | Operating systems | iOS |
Q4/2023 | Release date | Q3/2021 |
-- | Release price | -- |
show more data | show more data | |
Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU)
12C 12T @ 4.06 GHz |
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Apple A15 Bionic (5-GPU)
6C 6T @ 3.23 GHz |
Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU)
12C 12T @ 3.80 GHz |
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Apple A15 Bionic (5-GPU)
6C 6T @ 3.23 GHz |
Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU)
12C 12T @ 4.06 GHz |
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Apple A15 Bionic (5-GPU)
6C 6T @ 3.23 GHz |
Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU)
12C 12T @ 3.80 GHz |
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Apple A15 Bionic (5-GPU)
6C 6T @ 3.23 GHz |
Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU)
Apple M3 Pro (18 Core) @ 1.40 GHz |
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Apple A15 Bionic (5-GPU)
Apple A15 (5 GPU Cores) @ 1.34 GHz |
Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU)
12C 12T @ 0.70 GHz |
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Apple A15 Bionic (5-GPU)
6C 6T @ 3.23 GHz |
Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU)
12C 12T @ 4.06 GHz |
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Apple A15 Bionic (5-GPU)
6C 6T @ 3.23 GHz |
Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU)
12C 12T @ 4.06 GHz |
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Apple A15 Bionic (5-GPU)
6C 6T @ 3.23 GHz |
Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU)
12C 12T @ 4.06 GHz |
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Apple A15 Bionic (5-GPU)
6C 6T @ 3.23 GHz |
Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU)
12C 12T @ 3.80 GHz |
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Apple A15 Bionic (5-GPU)
6C 6T @ 3.23 GHz |
Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU)
12C 12T @ 0.70 GHz |
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Apple A15 Bionic (5-GPU)
6C 6T @ 3.23 GHz |
Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU)
12C 12T @ 3.80 GHz |
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Apple A15 Bionic (5-GPU)
6C 6T @ 3.23 GHz |
Devices using this processor |
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Apple M3 Pro (12-CPU 18-GPU) | Apple A15 Bionic (5-GPU) |
Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) |
Apple iPad mini (6. Gen) Apple iPhone 13 Pro Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max Apple iPhone 14 Apple iPhone 14 Plus |