Apple M4 vs Google Tensor

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CPU comparison with benchmarks


Apple M4 CPU1 vs CPU2 Google Tensor
Apple M4 Google Tensor

CPU comparison

Apple M4 or Google Tensor - 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 M4 has 9 cores with 9 threads and clocks with a maximum frequency of 4.41 GHz. Up to 8 GB of memory is supported in 2 memory channels. The Apple M4 was released in Q2/2024.

The Google Tensor has 8 cores with 8 threads and clocks with a maximum frequency of 2.80 GHz. The CPU supports up to 12 GB of memory in 2 memory channels. The Google Tensor was released in Q4/2021.
Apple M series (25) Family Google Tensor (3)
Apple M4 (2) CPU group Google Tensor (1)
4 Generation 1
M4 Architecture G1
Mobile Segment Mobile
Apple M3 Predecessor --
-- Successor Google Tensor G2

CPU Cores and Base Frequency

The Apple M4 is a 9 core processor with a clock frequency of 0.70 GHz (4.41 GHz). The Google Tensor has 8 CPU cores with a clock frequency of 2.80 GHz.

Apple M4 Characteristic Google Tensor
9 Cores 8
9 Threads 8
hybrid (big.LITTLE) Core architecture hybrid (Prime / big.LITTLE)
No Hyperthreading No
No Overclocking ? No
0.70 GHz (4.41 GHz)
3x P-Core
A-Core 2.80 GHz
2x Cortex-X1
0.74 GHz (2.85 GHz)
6x E-Core
B-Core 2.25 GHz
2x Cortex-A76
-- C-Core 1.80 GHz
4x Cortex-A55

NPU AI performance

The performance values of the processor's AI unit. The isolated NPU performance is specified here, the total AI performance (NPU+CPU+iGPU) can be higher. Processors with support for artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) can process many calculations, especially audio, image and video processing, much faster than classic processors.

Apple M4 Characteristic Google Tensor
Apple Neural Engine AI hardware Google Tensor AI
16 Neural cores @ 38 TOPS AI specifications Google Edge TPU @ 1.6 TOPS
-- NPU + CPU + iGPU --

Integrated graphics (iGPU)

The integrated graphics unit of a processor is not only responsible for the pure image output on the system, but can also significantly increase the efficiency of the system with the support of modern video codecs.

Apple M4 (10 Core) GPU ARM Mali-G78 MP20
0.39 GHz GPU frequency 0.76 GHz
1.40 GHz GPU (Turbo) --
-- GPU Generation Vallhall 2
3 nm Technology 5 nm
2 Max. displays 1
160 Compute units 20
1280 Shader 320
Yes Hardware Raytracing No
No Frame Generation No
24 GB Max. GPU Memory --
-- 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 M4 (10 Core) GPU ARM Mali-G78 MP20
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 Decode
Decode Codec AVC Decode / Encode
Decode Codec VC-1 Decode / Encode
Decode / Encode Codec JPEG Decode / Encode

Memory & PCIe

The Apple M4 supports a maximum of 8 GB of memory in 2 memory channels. The Google Tensor can connect up to 12 GB of memory in 2 memory channels.

Apple M4 Characteristic Google Tensor
LPDDR5X-7500 Memory LPDDR5-5500
8 GB Max. Memory 12 GB
2 (Dual Channel) Memory channels 2 (Dual Channel)
120.0 GB/s Max. Bandwidth 53.0 GB/s
No ECC No
18.00 MB L2 Cache 8.00 MB
-- L3 Cache --
4.0 PCIe version --
-- PCIe lanes --
-- PCIe Bandwidth --

Thermal Management

The TDP (Thermal Design Power) of a processor specifies the required cooling solution. The Apple M4 has a TDP of 22 W, that of the Google Tensor is 10 W.

Apple M4 Characteristic Google Tensor
22 W TDP (PL1 / PBP) 10 W
-- TDP (PL2) --
-- TDP up --
15 W TDP down --
100 °C Tjunction max. --

Technical details

The Apple M4 has a 18.00 MB cache, while the Google Tensor cache has a total of 8.00 MB.

Apple M4 Characteristic Google Tensor
3 nm Technology 5 nm
Chiplet Chip design Unknown
Armv9-A (64 bit) Instruction set (ISA) Armv8-A (64 bit)
Rosetta 2 x86-Emulation, AVX2, SME ISA extensions --
-- Socket --
Apple Virtualization Framework Virtualization None
Yes AES-NI No
macOS, iPadOS Operating systems Android
Q2/2024 Release date Q4/2021
-- Release price --
show more data show more data


Rate these processors

Here you can rate the Apple M4 to help other visitors make their purchasing decisions. The average rating is 4.2 stars (96 ratings). Rate now:
Here you can rate the Google Tensor to help other visitors make their purchasing decisions. The average rating is 4.3 stars (14 ratings). Rate now:


Average performance in benchmarks

⌀ Single core performance in 2 CPU benchmarks
Apple M4 (100%)
Google Tensor (42%)
⌀ Multi core performance in 1 CPU benchmarks
Apple M4 (100%)
Google Tensor (28%)

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 M4 Apple M4
9C 9T @ 4.41 GHz
2491 (100%)
Google Tensor Google Tensor
8C 8T @ 2.80 GHz
1043 (42%)

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 M4 Apple M4
9C 9T @ 4.41 GHz
3630 (100%)
Google Tensor Google Tensor
8C 8T @ 2.80 GHz
1494 (41%)

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 M4 Apple M4
9C 9T @ 0.70 GHz
13060 (100%)
Google Tensor Google Tensor
8C 8T @ 2.80 GHz
3639 (28%)

AI performance (NPU)

The performance values of the processor's AI unit. The isolated NPU performance is given here, the total AI performance (NPU+CPU+iGPU) can be higher.

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. The performance is given in the number (trillions) of arithmetic operations per second (TOPS).
Apple M4 Apple M4
9C 9T @ 0.70 GHz
38 (100%)
Google Tensor Google Tensor
8C 8T @ 2.80 GHz
1.6 (4%)

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 M4 Apple M4
9C 9T @ 0.70 GHz
0 (0%)
Google Tensor Google Tensor
8C 8T @ 2.80 GHz
2915 (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 M4 Apple M4
Apple M4 (10 Core) @ 1.40 GHz
0 (0%)
Google Tensor Google Tensor
ARM Mali-G78 MP20 @ 0.76 GHz
1943 (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 M4 Apple M4
9C 9T @ 0.70 GHz
0 (0%)
Google Tensor Google Tensor
8C 8T @ 2.80 GHz
691770 (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 M4 Apple M4
9C 9T @ 0.70 GHz
0 (0%)
Google Tensor Google Tensor
8C 8T @ 2.80 GHz
612494 (100%)

Devices using this processor

Apple M4 Google Tensor
Apple iPad Pro 11 (2024) Google Pixel 6
Google Pixel 6 Pro

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