Apple A12X Bionic vs Apple M1 (8-core GPU)

Comparative analysis of Apple A12X Bionic and Apple M1 (8-core GPU) processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Graphics, Compatibility. Benchmark processor performance analysis: PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark.

Apple A12X Bionic

Apple M1 (8-core GPU)

Differences

Reasons to consider the Apple A12X Bionic

2x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later

L2 cache	8 MB (shared) vs 4 MB

Reasons to consider the Apple M1 (8-core GPU)

CPU is newer: launch date 2 year(s) 0 month(s) later
Around 29% higher clock speed: 3.204 GHz vs 2.49 GHz
A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 5 nm vs 7 nm
Around 50% more L1 cache; more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
2.7x more maximum memory size: 16 GB vs 6 GB
Around 38% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 3680 vs 2660
Around 28% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 14144 vs 11089

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	10 Nov 2020 vs 7 Nov 2018
Maximum frequency	3.204 GHz vs 2.49 GHz
Manufacturing process technology	5 nm vs 7 nm
L1 cache	192 KB instruction + 128 KB data (per core) vs 128 KB instruction + 128 KB data (per core)
Maximum memory size	16 GB vs 6 GB
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	3680 vs 2660
PassMark - CPU mark	14144 vs 11089

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Apple A12X Bionic
CPU 2: Apple M1 (8-core GPU)

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2660

3680

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

11089

14144

Name	Apple A12X Bionic	Apple M1 (8-core GPU)
PassMark - Single thread mark	2660	3680
PassMark - CPU mark	11089	14144

Compare specifications (specs)

	Apple A12X Bionic	Apple M1 (8-core GPU)
Essentials
Architecture codename	Vortex/Tempest/Chinook	Firestorm/Icestorm
Launch date	7 Nov 2018	10 Nov 2020
OS Support	iOS 12.1, iOS 16.4.1, iPadOS 16.4.1, tvOS 16.2	macOS Big Sur 11.0, macOS Ventura 13.3, iPadOS 14.5, iPadOS 16.4.1
Place in performance rating	836	356
Processor Number	APL1083	APL1102
Vertical segment	Mobile	Laptop
Performance
Base frequency	1.59 GHz	2.064 GHz
L1 cache	128 KB instruction + 128 KB data (per core)	192 KB instruction + 128 KB data (per core)
L2 cache	8 MB (shared)	4 MB
Manufacturing process technology	7 nm	5 nm
Maximum frequency	2.49 GHz	3.204 GHz
Number of cores	8	8
Number of threads	8	8
Transistor count	10 billion	16 billion
Memory
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	68.2 GB/s	66.67 GB/s
Maximum memory size	6 GB	16 GB
Supported memory types	LPDDR4X-4266	LPDDR4X-4266
Graphics
Execution Units	28	32
Graphics base frequency	1125 MHz	1278 MHz
Graphics max frequency	7
iGPU core count		8
Compatibility
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	15 Watt	15 Watt
Configurable TDP-down		10 Watt