Apple Chipset Journey: From A4 to A16 Bionic
Apple's A-series chipset is one of the most powerful chipsets in the world. After the launch of the first Chipset A4 for iPad, Apple continuously built powerful and efficient chips for iPhones, iPads, AirPods, and Apple watches. Let's have a look at all the chips.
A4: Featuring on First iPad (2010)
The A4 is the first chip which is designed by Apple and
featured in its First-Gen iPad in 2010. This is basically a 32-bit system on a
chip SOC (Security Operations Center) manufactured by Samsung. This addition of
a chip makes a remarkable Apple's entry in the designing their own SOCs.
Specification:
- Process
Technology: 45nm
- CPU: Single-core (Cortex-A8)
- GPU: PowerVR SGX535
- Neural
Engine: N/A
- Cache: L1(32KB), L2(32KB), L3(N/A)
- Ram: 512 MB (MAX)
- Devices: iPhone 4, iPod touch, First Gen iPad
Key Features:
- Boost
Performance: The A4 chip featured on iPod touch, iPhone 4, and iPad(1st Gen) increases web browsing speed, app launch speed, and
responsiveness.
- Increase
Power Efficiency: It extends the battery life
and also decreases the power consumption compared to previous chips which
is the best-selling point for Apple's mobile devices.
- Multitasking: Unlike previous ARM11 on mobile devices,
Multitasking was introduced first time with the A4 chip which helps users
easily use two different apps at a time.
- First-gen silicon chips: With the arrival of this Apple's custom chips pave the way for other
upcoming chips and help the company to become independent from third-party
chips.
A5: Faster Graphics Performance to iPhone 4S (2011)
Specification:
- Process
Technology: 32nm
- CPU: Dual-core (Cortex-A9)
- GPU: PowerVR SGX543MP2
- Neural
Engine: N/A
- Cache: L1(32KB), L2(512KB), L3(N/A)
- Ram: 1GB (MAX)
- Devices: iPhone 4s, iPod touch (5th Gen), iPad
(2nd Gen), Apple TV (3rd Gen)
Key Features:
- Boosts Graphic Performance: The A5 chip equipped with the latest GPU of that time, increases 9 times speed of graphics performance from its predecessor A4.
- Increase Power Efficiency: It extends the battery life and also decreases the power consumption same as the previous A4's chip, claims by Apple.
- Enhancing Functions: It enhances the video recording quality to 1080p capability on iPhone 4s, which is 720p on A4's chip. It also provides a high Retina Display on the iPad 2 for stunning video watching. It also provides iPhone with Siri voice assistant and Airplay mirroring.
A5X: Enhance Gaming on iPad 3 (2012)
Specification:
Key Features:
- Boosts Performance: The A5X chip is equipped with a Dual-core (Cortex-A9) which is similar to its A5 chip but focuses on optimization for the iPad 3 screen and it also increases 2 times speed of graphics performance from its predecessor for a better gaming experience.
- Editing Feature: It allowed users to easily edit and shoot 1080p videos on iPad, the first one for any Apple mobile phone.
- Extend Memory: This chip provides users a faster transfer of data between CPU and GPU, as its memory bandwidth is 5 times larger than its previous A5 chip, which improves the smoothness of launching apps on iPad and also enhances the multitasking experience.
- Stunning Display: This chipset provided the user with 2048x1536 pixels capabilities that enhanced the Retina Display for better graphic visualization. This display features enhance and make the graphics more richer, sharper, and crisper.
A6: A Die Size Powerful Chip (2013)
Specification:
Key Features:
- Enhanced Performance: The A6 chip is equipped with a Dual-core (Swift) which is a remarkable upgrade from its predecessor chip and it also enhances 2 times speed of performance from its predecessor for a better multitasking and app launches experience.
- Crisper graphics: As the company make slighter upgrade from previous GPU to PowerVR SGX543MP3 which was 2x better graphics than A5X chip and provide enhanced and more crisper graphics in gaming experience.
- Smaller in size: It came in die size which plays a unique and significant role in sleeky and thinner design of iPhone 5.
- New Features: It supports new features like Siri and iCloud which made iPhone 5 an advanced and more capable device than its predecessor flagship smartphone.
A6X: A Chip behind Powerful iPad4 (2013)
Specification:
Key Features:
- Enhanced Performance: The A6X chip is equipped with a Dual-core (Swift) which is a remarkable upgrade from its predecessor chip and it also enhances 2 times speed performance and graphics from its predecessor for a better multitasking and a smooth and lethal visuals gaming experience on a larger screen.
- Extended Memory Bandwidth: As the company makes no changes to the Memory bandwidth of A6X from its predecessor, it works on the same Quad-channel LPDDR2-1066 memory which ensures sufficient memory for both processors to work function normally.
- Heat dissipation: It works on a metal heat spreader which dissipates the heat at the peak hours and acts as a cooling function for iPad 4.
Specification:
Key Features:
- 64-bit Architecture: The company revolutionized the A7 chip with 64-bit architecture which is a major upgrade from its predecessor chipset and also a drastic change in iPhones and iPads which were previously compatible with 32-bit architecture. This allows the larger data handling which improves performance as it enables access to more RAM.
- Boosts gaming experience: The company makes slighter changes in GPU 一 PoweVR G6430 from its predecessor, which boosts the gaming visuals and provides a wider and smoother experience.
- Improved Battery: Apple introduced a new M7 motion coprocessor which handled sensor data such as the accelerometer and gyroscope, freeing space for other tasks which helps in reduce the workload and improve battery life on iPhone 5s, iPad Air.
Specification:
Key Features:
- Second Generation 64-bit Architecture: The company upgraded the A8 chip with a second-gen 64-bit architecture, which is a significant upgrade from its predecessor chipset architecture as it delivers 25% faster performance on the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus than its predecessor.
- Boosts Graphics: The Quad-core PowerVr Series 6XT enhance the graphics to 50 % ,so gaming visuals comes in more detail and smoothly.
- M8 motion coprocessor: Apple just remains the same motion coprocessor in M8 as the M7, which handles sensor data such as the accelerometer and gyroscope, freeing space for other tasks which helps reduce the workload and improves battery.
Specification:
Key Features:
- Tri-Core CPU boost: This CPU comes with 1.8 GHz clock that accelerates the performance to 25% faster than A8's chipset configuration which results in faster app launches, enhances responsiveness.
- Boosted Multitasking: It boosts the multitasking of iPad Air 2 to higher level, a pleasing side for many creators, designers and artists.
- M8 motion coprocessor: Apple remains the same motion coprocessor of M8 一 that handles sensor data such as the accelerometer and gyroscope, freeing space for other tasks which helps reduce the workload and provides long-lasting battery.
A9: A Complete package of efficiency and graphic performance (2015)
Specification:
Key Features:
- Epic Performance: It comes with a dual-core Twister CPU clocked at 1.85 GHz, a major upgrade over the A8 chipset that boosts performance by up to 75%, resulting in significantly faster app launches, routine tasks, and multitasking.
- Richness of Graphics: It equipped with PowerVR G7A GPU with six cores which drastically increases the performance to 90% compared to Apple's A8 chip, very attractive and smoother in gameplay and visualization of graphics is very rich in games and app.
- Ram increase: This was also the most significant upgrade as the RAM increased to 2GB. This is very helpful in playing previously supported or slow games due to lack of memory.
A9X: A beast behind iPad Pro(2015)
Specification:
Key Features:
- Enhanced efficiency: It enhances the CPU performance by up to 80 % over than an A9 chipset as it clocked on 2.26 GHz, resulting in effective responsiveness.
- Improvement in Graphics: It was equipped with a 12-core PowerVR Series7XT GPU with 12 cores, a significant upgrade, twice the performance of A9's chipset, making it demanding tasks ideal for editing and other apps..
- M9 motion coprocessor: This upgraded to M9 motion coprocessor embedded improved the performance of fitness tracking and other sensor-based features.
A10 Fusion: Featuring on iPhone 7 and 7 Plus (2016)
Specification:
Key Features:
- Architecture (different Cores): ): The A10 was the first Apple's designed SoC chipset that comes with two high-performance cores (Hurricane) and two high-efficiency cores (Zephyr) resulting in 40 % faster performance and 20% less power than the A9 chipset.
- Enhanced battery life: It comes with a 16nm FinFET technology processor which enhances the efficiency and also improves the battery life compared to A9's 20nm process.
- Improvement in Graphics: PowerVR Series7XT GT7600 CPU, a significant upgrade, 50% better performance than A9's chipset, providing the best visual during gaming and other apps.
A10X Fusion: Supercharging the iPad Pro(2017)
Specification:
Key Features:
- Supports Apple Pencil: Apple's A10X was the first chipset that supported Apple Pencil 一 paved the way for creative tasks, drawings, and note-taking.
- Architecture (Six Cores): Apple continues its legacy and launched the A10X chipset comes with three high-performance cores (Hurricane) and three high-efficiency cores (Zephyr) resulting in 30 % faster CPU performance and 40 % faster performance of GPU and 20% less power than the A9X chipset.
- Ample Memory: It come with 4GB of LPDDR4 RAM which helps in multitasking and running demanding tasks.
- Improvement in Graphics: PowerVR Series7XT GT CPU, a significant upgrade to 12 cores, which provides a 40% boost to the graphic performance over the A9X, making it ideal for content creators.
A11 Bionic: Beginning of AI and Neural processing Era(2017)
Specification:
Key Features:
- Six Core CPU: Apple launched the A11 Bionic chipset with Two high-performance cores (Monsoon) and four high-efficiency cores (Mistral), providing 40 % faster CPU performance and 40 % faster performance of GPU than the A10 chipset.
- Neural Engine: This was the first Neural Engine for any Apple chipset, designed to perform AI tasks, it can perform almost 600 billion operations per second, featuring different Features like Face ID.
- Improved Gaming Experience: It comes with a 12-core PowerVR GPU processor which has 50 % faster graphics performance than A10 Fusion and provides a crisper gaming elevator.
A12 Bionic: Legacy of Neural Engine (2018)
Specification:
Key Features:
- Flash-Fast performance: Apps launched instantly, enhanced multitasking and seamless gaming experience on iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR. Vortex cores help the chip to be 15% faster and 50% more energy efficient than the A11's.
- AI-powered enhancements: This chipset is powered with a next-generation Neural engine which made Face ID more fast and secure, Animoji and Memoji gained new expressive capabilities, portrait mode effects became more refined, and real-time photos became more optimized.
- Fueling App Development: App developers are more encouraged to develop AI-based apps, which are more capable and have great exposure to AI advancements.
A12Z Bionic: Powerhouse for Content Creators(2018)
Specification:
Key Features:
- Support Apple Pencil (2nd Generation): It supports Apple Pencil (2nd Generation) for a better and more natural text writing experience.
- Powerhouse for Content creators: This chipset is powered with a next-generation Neural engine which enhance the editing features like photo and video editing an alternate to laptop users.
- LiDAR Scannner: Apple enhanced the object scanning capabilities, and improved augmented reality experiences with the advanced depth-sensing features.
A13 Bionic: Powerful Photography advancements(2019)
Specification:
Key Features:
- Long Lasting Battery: This chipset is more power efficient than its predecessor which was a good selling point for iPhone 11 series as it makes the battery a long-lasting one.
- Powerful Neural Engine: This chipset is powered by an 8-core Neural engine that is up to 20 % faster and 15% more efficient than A12's. This enhanced different tasks such as facial recognition.
- Image processor : Apple introduced their designed image processor which enhances the photo quality through noise reduction, better dynamic range, Accurate Color Rendering, and Smart HDR which captures and merges multiple exposures and convert them into a single image for more detail.
A14 Bionic: Enhace AI capabilities and cutting edge photography skills (2020)
Specification:
Key Features:
- New AI accelerators: Apple accelerates its artificial intelligence (AI) with the addition of dedicated AMX blocks to the CPU.
- A new 5nm chip: This was the first commercially available 5nm chip which is smaller in size but larger in density and improved energy efficiency that results in improved battery timing.
- Enhanced Image processor : Apple continued its designed image processor legacy with the A14 chipset which enhances the photo quality through advanced noise reduction, and more refined depth-of-field effects in portrait mode.
A15 Bionic: Next Leap in mobile chip advancemnets (2021)
In 2021, Apple launched their flagship smartphone iPhone 12, 12 Pro, and 12 Pro Max powered with A15 Bionic chipset. While not an overall revolutionary leap from its predecessor but a refinement in image processing, doubled system cacher for faster data access, and enhanced neural engine. Let's explore tech worthy specs of A15's chipset.
Specification:
Key Features:
- 16-core Neural Engine: Apple accelerates its Neural engine with a 6-core that is capable of doing 15.8 trillion operations per second. This enables us to perform different tasks such as Facial recognition and image analysis faster and better.
- Image Signal Processor: This enhances photography skills by enhancing image processing一 with a new ISP (Image Signal Processor) that captures more details and reduces noise in photos in low light.
- Ground breaking performance : Apple claims that this chipset CPU is 50 % faster than its competitors, blistering performance in demanding tasks, as the CPU is equipped with a Six-core (Two Avalanche+ four Blizzard) at 3.24 GHz clock.
A16 Bionic: Pushes AI boundaries (2022)
Specification:
Key Features:
- Mobile AI Giant: Capable of 17 trillion operations per second which is a significant upgrade from 15.08 (TOPS) of A15's . This enhances the capabilities of device AI processing, reducing reliance on cloud processing and giving a faster and more secure environment.
- Photonic Engine: This enables only the iPhone 14 Pro camera system, enhances low light images with more details, high-quality photos with noise reduction, and more refined bokeh effects.
- Ground breaking performance : This chipset was a significant upgrade over A15's chipset as it increased the CPU performance up to 40% and 50% more GPU memory bandwidth, giving realistic and smoother graphics in applications and games.