Apple A12Z Bionic vs Apple A13 Bionic

Comparative analysis of Apple A12Z Bionic and Apple A13 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 A13 Bionic

Differences

Reasons to consider the Apple A12Z Bionic

CPU is newer: launch date 6 month(s) later
2 more cores, run more applications at once: 8 vs 6
2 more threads: 8 vs 6
4x more maximum memory size: 16 GB vs 4 GB
Around 64% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 9365 vs 5701

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	25 Mar 2020 vs 20 Sep 2019
Number of cores	8 vs 6
Number of threads	8 vs 6
Maximum memory size	16 GB vs 4 GB
Benchmarks
PassMark - CPU mark	9365 vs 5701

Reasons to consider the Apple A13 Bionic

Around 6% higher clock speed: 2.65 GHz vs 2.49 GHz
Around 13% more L1 cache; more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
2.5x lower typical power consumption: 6 Watt vs 15 Watt
Around 6% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 2327 vs 2202

Specifications (specs)
Maximum frequency	2.65 GHz vs 2.49 GHz
L1 cache	192 KB instruction + 128 KB data (per core) vs 128 KB instruction + 128 KB data (per core)
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	6 Watt vs 15 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	2327 vs 2202

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Apple A12Z Bionic
CPU 2: Apple A13 Bionic

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

2202

2327

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

9365

5701

Name	Apple A12Z Bionic	Apple A13 Bionic
PassMark - Single thread mark	2202	2327
PassMark - CPU mark	9365	5701

Compare specifications (specs)

	Apple A12Z Bionic	Apple A13 Bionic
Essentials
Architecture codename	Vortex/Tempest/Chinook	Lightning/Thunder
Launch date	25 Mar 2020	20 Sep 2019
OS Support	iPadOS 13.4, macOS Big Sur 11.0 Beta 1, iOS 16.4.1, iPadOS 16.4.1, tvOS 16.2	iOS 13.0, iPadOS 13.0, iOS 16.4.1, iPadOS 16.4.1
Place in performance rating	1088	1084
Processor Number	APL1083	APL1W85
Vertical segment	Mobile	Mobile
Performance
Base frequency	1.59 GHz	1.72 GHz
L1 cache	128 KB instruction + 128 KB data (per core)	192 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	2.65 GHz
Number of cores	8	6
Number of threads	8	6
Transistor count	10 billion	8.5 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	1230 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