Apple M4 vs Apple A14 Bionic

The Apple A14 Bionic, introduced at the end of 2020, was manufactured using the 5 nm process and can be found in iPhones and iPads of that generation.

Its architecture (Firestorm/Icestorm) includes 12 MB L2 and 16 MB L3 cache, with a memory bandwidth of 34 GB/s. It offers solid single-core and multi-core performance for everyday tasks and multitasking. The integrated graphics enable fluid display in most applications and games of its time, with balanced energy efficiency for mobile use.

The Apple M4, unveiled in mid-2024, is the heart of the current iPad Pro models and targets professional users.

Manufactured using the advanced 3 nm process, its M4 architecture is based on a 20 MB L2 cache and offers a maximum memory bandwidth of 120 GB/s. It significantly surpasses the Apple A14 Bionic in single-core and multi-core performance, delivering outstanding computing capacity. The integrated Apple M4 (10 Core) graphics offer superior performance for demanding gaming and graphics-intensive tasks, supported by excellent energy efficiency.

The Apple M4 shows significantly higher performance in all areas, from CPU performance to graphics, supported by the more advanced 3 nm process and higher memory bandwidth. This makes it ideal for professional, demanding applications and modern games. While older, the Apple A14 Bionic still offers good performance for daily use in more affordable devices.

For peak performance and future-proofing, the Apple M4 is the clear recommendation; for basic to medium requirements and a limited budget, the Apple A14 Bionic is a viable choice.