Apple A10X Fusion vs Apple A9

Comparative analysis of Apple A10X Fusion and Apple A9 processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Graphics. Benchmark processor performance analysis: PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark.

Apple A10X Fusion

Apple A9

Differences

Reasons to consider the Apple A10X Fusion

CPU is newer: launch date 1 year(s) 9 month(s) later
4 more cores, run more applications at once: 6 vs 2
4 more threads: 6 vs 2
Around 29% higher clock speed: 2.38 GHz vs 1.85 GHz
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 10 nm vs 16 nm
3x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
2.7x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
2x more maximum memory size: 4 GB vs 2 GB

Launch date	13 Jun 2017 vs 9 Sep 2015
Number of cores	6 vs 2
Number of threads	6 vs 2
Maximum frequency	2.38 GHz vs 1.85 GHz
Manufacturing process technology	10 nm vs 16 nm
L1 cache	64 KB instruction + 64 KB data (per core) vs 64 KB instruction + 64 KB data (per core)
L2 cache	8 MB (shared) vs 3 MB (shared)
Maximum memory size	4 GB vs 2 GB

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Apple A10X Fusion
CPU 2: Apple A9

Name	Apple A10X Fusion	Apple A9
PassMark - Single thread mark		1187
PassMark - CPU mark		2067

Compare specifications (specs)

	Apple A10X Fusion	Apple A9
Essentials
Architecture codename	Hurricane/Zephyr	Twister
Launch date	13 Jun 2017	9 Sep 2015
OS Support	iOS 10.3.2, iOS 15.7.5, iPadOS 16.4.1, tvOS 16.2, tvOS 11.0	iOS 9.0, iOS 15.7.5, iPadOS 16.4.1, tvOS 16.2
Place in performance rating	not rated	2056
Processor Number	APL1071	APL1021
Performance
Base frequency	1.30 GHz	1.85 GHz
L1 cache	64 KB instruction + 64 KB data (per core)	64 KB instruction + 64 KB data (per core)
L2 cache	8 MB (shared)	3 MB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	10 nm	16 nm
Maximum frequency	2.38 GHz	1.85 GHz
Number of cores	6	2
Number of threads	6	2
Transistor count	4 billion	2 billion
L3 cache		4 MB (shared)
Memory
Max memory channels	2	1
Maximum memory bandwidth	51.2 GB/s	25.6 GB/s
Maximum memory size	4 GB	2 GB
Supported memory types	LPDDR4-3200	LPDDR4-3200
Graphics
Execution Units	48	24
Graphics base frequency	1000 MHz	650 MHz
iGPU core count	12	6
Processor graphics		Custom PowerVR Series 7XT @ 650MHz