Apple A12Z Bionic vs Apple A12 Bionic

Comparative analysis of Apple A12Z Bionic and Apple A12 Bionic 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 A12Z Bionic

Apple A12 Bionic

Differences

Reasons to consider the Apple A12Z Bionic

CPU is newer: launch date 1 year(s) 6 month(s) later
2 more cores, run more applications at once: 8 vs 6
2 more threads: 8 vs 6
Around 33% more L1 cache; more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
4x more maximum memory size: 16 GB vs 4 GB
Around 11% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 2202 vs 1979
Around 89% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 9365 vs 4949

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	25 Mar 2020 vs 21 Sep 2018
Number of cores	8 vs 6
Number of threads	8 vs 6
L1 cache	128 KB instruction + 128 KB data (per core) vs 128 KB instruction + 128 KB data (per core)
Maximum memory size	16 GB vs 4 GB
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	2202 vs 1979
PassMark - CPU mark	9365 vs 4949

Reasons to consider the Apple A12 Bionic

2.5x lower typical power consumption: 6 Watt vs 15 Watt

Thermal Design Power (TDP)	6 Watt vs 15 Watt

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Apple A12Z Bionic
CPU 2: Apple A12 Bionic

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2202

1979

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

9365

4949

Name	Apple A12Z Bionic	Apple A12 Bionic
PassMark - Single thread mark	2202	1979
PassMark - CPU mark	9365	4949

Compare specifications (specs)

	Apple A12Z Bionic	Apple A12 Bionic
Essentials
Architecture codename	Vortex/Tempest/Chinook	Vortex/Tempest
Launch date	25 Mar 2020	21 Sep 2018
OS Support	iPadOS 13.4, macOS Big Sur 11.0 Beta 1, iOS 16.4.1, iPadOS 16.4.1, tvOS 16.2	iOS 12.0, iOS 16.4.1, iPadOS 16.4.1, tvOS 14.5, tvOS 16.2
Place in performance rating	994	1175
Processor Number	APL1083	APL1W81
Vertical segment	Mobile	Mobile
Performance
Base frequency	1.59 GHz	1.59 GHz
L1 cache	128 KB instruction + 128 KB data (per core)	128 KB instruction + 128 KB data (per core)
L2 cache	8 MB (shared)	8 MB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	7 nm	7 nm
Maximum frequency	2.49 GHz	2.49 GHz
Number of cores	8	6
Number of threads	8	6
Transistor count	10 billion	6.9 billion
Memory
Max memory channels	2	1
Maximum memory bandwidth	68.2 GB/s	34.1 GB/s
Maximum memory size	16 GB	4 GB
Supported memory types	LPDDR4X-4266	LPDDR4X-4266
Graphics
Execution Units	32	16
Graphics base frequency	1125 MHz	1125 MHz
Graphics max frequency	8
iGPU core count		4
Compatibility
Max number of CPUs in a configuration	1	1
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	15 Watt	6 Watt