Apple M1 (7-core GPU) vs Apple A12Z Bionic

Comparative analysis of Apple M1 (7-core GPU) and Apple A12Z 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 M1 (7-core GPU)

Apple A12Z Bionic

Differences

Reasons to consider the Apple M1 (7-core GPU)

CPU is newer: launch date 7 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

Launch date	10 Nov 2020 vs 25 Mar 2020
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)

Reasons to consider the Apple A12Z 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

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Apple M1 (7-core GPU)
CPU 2: Apple A12Z Bionic

Name	Apple M1 (7-core GPU)	Apple A12Z Bionic
PassMark - Single thread mark		2202
PassMark - CPU mark		9365

Compare specifications (specs)

	Apple M1 (7-core GPU)	Apple A12Z Bionic
Essentials
Architecture codename	Firestorm/Icestorm	Vortex/Tempest/Chinook
Launch date	10 Nov 2020	25 Mar 2020
OS Support	macOS Big Sur 11.0, macOS Ventura 13.3, iPadOS 14.5, iPadOS 16.4.1	iPadOS 13.4, macOS Big Sur 11.0 Beta 1, iOS 16.4.1, iPadOS 16.4.1, tvOS 16.2
Place in performance rating	not rated	1088
Processor Number	APL1102	APL1083
Vertical segment	Laptop	Mobile
Performance
Base frequency	2.064 GHz	1.59 GHz
L1 cache	192 KB instruction + 128 KB data (per core)	128 KB instruction + 128 KB data (per core)
L2 cache	4 MB	8 MB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	5 nm	7 nm
Maximum frequency	3.204 GHz	2.49 GHz
Number of cores	8	8
Number of threads	8	8
Transistor count	16 billion	10 billion
Memory
Max memory channels	2	2
Maximum memory bandwidth	66.67 GB/s	68.2 GB/s
Maximum memory size	16 GB	16 GB
Supported memory types	LPDDR4X-4266	LPDDR4X-4266
Graphics
Execution Units	28	32
Graphics base frequency	1278 MHz	1125 MHz
iGPU core count	7
Graphics max frequency		8
Compatibility
Configurable TDP-down	10 Watt
Thermal Design Power (TDP)	15 Watt	15 Watt
Max number of CPUs in a configuration		1