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Apple A12 Bionic

Apple A12 Bionic

The Apple A12 Bionic is a System on a Chip (SoC) from Apple that is found in the iPhone Xs and Xr. It was announced late 2018 and offers 6 cores divided in 2 performance cores and four power efficiency cores. Compared to the previous A11 Bionic, the A12 should offer a 15% improved CPU performance for the performance cores and a 50% lower power consumption for the efficiency cores (both according to Apple).

The chip also includes a new GPU that is advertised as 50% faster, the M12 Motion co-processor and a Neural Engine with 8 cores for up to 5 trillion operations per second.

With 6.9 billion transistors, the A12 Bionic is a big chip especially compared to the Snapdragon 835 (3 Billion) or a Skylake desktop quad-core Soc (1.75 Billion). Compared to the A11, the A12 integrates 60% more transistors.

SeriesApple Apple A-Series

Series: Apple A-Series

Apple A19 Pro compare2.6 - 4.26 GHz6 / 6 cores32 MB L3
Apple A19 compare2.6 - 4.26 GHz6 / 6 cores12 MB L3
Apple A18 Pro compare2.42 - 4.04 GHz6 / 6 cores
Apple A18 compare2.42 - 4.04 GHz6 / 6 cores
Apple A15 Bionic compare2.02 - 3.23 GHz6 / 6 cores32 MB L3
Apple A12 Bionic « - 2.49 GHz6 / 6 cores
Apple A6x compare1.4 GHzcores
Apple A6 compare1 GHzcores
Clock Rate <=2490 MHz
Level 1 Cache256 KB
Level 2 Cache8 MB
Number of Cores / Threads6 / 6
Transistor Count6900 Million
Manufacturing Technology7 nm
FeaturesARMv8 Instruction Set
GPUApple A12 Bionic GPU
NPU / AI5 TOPS INT8
64 Bit64 Bit support
ArchitectureARM
Announcement Date09/12/2018

Benchmarks

PassMark PerformanceTest Mobile V1 - PerformanceTest Mobile V1 CPU Tests
min: 482773     avg: 486852     median: 486197 (64%)     max: 491585 Points
- Range of benchmark values
red legend - Average benchmark values
* Smaller numbers mean a higher performance

Amazon Logo
  • $112.00
    Apple iPad 2020 (10.2-inch, Wi-Fi, 32GB) - Space Gray (Renewed)
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    Apple iPad (10.2-inch, Wi-Fi, 128GB, 8th Generation)- Space Gray (Renewed)
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    Apple 2020 iPad 8th Generation (10.2-inch, Wi-Fi + Cellular, 32GB) - Space Gray (Renewed)
  • $145.00
    Apple iPad Air (10.5-inch, Wi-Fi, 64GB) Space Gray (Renewed)
  • $2.99
    A complete user guide to the iPad 8th generation 2020: A step by step guide to help you set up and use your iPad

v1.35
log 29. 16:42:02

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#1 no ids found in url (should be separated by "_") +0s ... 0s

#2 not redirecting to Ajax server +0s ... 0s

#3 did not recreate cache, as it is less than 5 days old! Created at Fri, 28 Aug 2026 05:32:03 +0200 +0.002s ... 0.002s

#4 composed specs +0.016s ... 0.018s

#5 did output specs +0s ... 0.018s

#6 getting avg benchmarks for device 10166 +0.005s ... 0.024s

#7 got single benchmarks 10166 +0.011s ... 0.034s

#8 got avg benchmarks for devices +0s ... 0.034s

#9 min, max, avg, median took s +0.867s ... 0.902s

#10 return log +0.99s ... 1.892s

Reviews for the Apple A12 Bionic processor

Apple iPad 10.2 (2020) - Rejuvenation of the lower-priced Apple tablet

Apple iPad 10.2 (2020) - Rejuvenation of the lower-priced Apple tablet

The new iPad and the old iPad come with very similar specifications sheets. The 2020 model has a new SoC and a smaller carbon footprint.
Apple A12 Bionic, A12 Bionic GPU, 10.2", 495 g
Apple iPad Mini 5 2019

Apple iPad mini 5 Tablet Review

The 5th generation iPad mini combines a well-known design with modern hardware. In addition to a Retina display with True Tone technology it also supports the Apple Pencil. Find out what else you can expect from this latest iPad mini iteration and what parts Apple left unchanged in our review.
Apple A12 Bionic, A12 Bionic GPU, 7.9", 300 g
Apple iPad Air (2019) Tablet Review

Apple iPad Air (2019) Tablet Review

This year, Apple has revived a product label that was already thought dead and has fit some new hardware into an old case. The newly created tablet positions itself between the entry-level iPad and the Pro models and faces the high-end competition from Android in terms of its price. Our test will show whether this is a recipe for success.
Apple A12 Bionic, A12 Bionic GPU, 10.5", 456 g
Apple iPhone XR Smartphone Review

Apple iPhone XR Smartphone Review

Apple positions the iPhone XR between the two XS models’ size-wise but equips the device with a lower resolution LCD display and only a single rear-facing camera. There are a few other minor drawbacks too, but does the XR do enough to be crowned the best overall iPhone? Read on to find out.
Update: Review completed.
Apple A12 Bionic, A12 Bionic GPU, 6.1", 194 g
Apple iPhone XS Smartphone Review

Apple iPhone XS Smartphone Review

Apple has stuck with its “S” nomenclature even after its anniversary iPhone and has consequently followed the iPhone X with the iPhone XS. As with previous “S” models, the iPhone XS is more a technical refinement of its predecessor than a fundamental departure. The iPhone XS should do everything better than its predecessor without reinventing itself. Read on for our iPhone XS review and to find out whether the device can match expectations.
Update: Added PWM video.
Apple A12 Bionic, A12 Bionic GPU, 5.8", 177 g

Apple iPhone Xs Max: Apple A12 Bionic GPU, 6.50", 0.2 kg
  Review » Apple iPhone XS Max Smartphone Review

Apple iPad 10.2 2020: Apple A12 Bionic GPU, 10.20", 0.5 kg
  External Review » Apple iPad 10.2 2020

Apple iPad Air 3 2019: Apple A12 Bionic GPU, 10.50", 0.5 kg
  External Review » Apple iPad Air 2019

Apple iPad Mini 5: Apple A12 Bionic GPU, 7.90", 0.3 kg
  External Review » Apple iPad Mini 5

Apple iPhone Xs Max: Apple A12 Bionic GPU, 6.50", 0.2 kg
  External Review » Apple iPhone Xs Max

Apple iPhone XS: Apple A12 Bionic GPU, 5.80", 0.2 kg
  External Review » Apple iPhone XS

Apple iPhone XR: Apple A12 Bionic GPU, 6.10", 0.2 kg
  External Review » Apple iPhone Xr

Apple iPad 10.2 2020: Apple A12 Bionic GPU, 10.20", 0.5 kg
   » Opinion: This is why the Apple iPad 10.2 is a sustainable product

» Mobile CPU Comparison
Comparison of all mobile CPU series

» Mobile Processors - Benchmarklist
Benchmarklist of all known CPUs that are used in laptops (desktop and laptop CPUs)

Other CPUs of the series Apple A-Series

» Apple A19 Pro
   6x 2.6 GHz - 4.26 GHz
» Apple A19
   6x 2.6 GHz - 4.26 GHz
» Apple A18 Pro
   6x 2.42 GHz - 4.04 GHz
» Apple A18
   6x 2.42 GHz - 4.04 GHz
» Apple A17 Pro
   6x 2.11 GHz - 3.78 GHz
» Apple A16 Bionic
   6x 2.02 GHz - 3.46 GHz
» Apple A15 Bionic
   6x 2.02 GHz - 3.23 GHz
» Apple A12Z Bionic
   8x - 2.49 GHz
» Apple A14 Bionic
   6x 1.8 GHz - 3.1 GHz
» Apple A12X Bionic
   8x - 2.49 GHz
» Apple A13 Bionic
   6x - 2.66 GHz
» Apple A12 Bionic
   6x - 2.49 GHz
» Apple A11 Bionic
   6x - 2.39 GHz
» Apple A10X Fusion
   6x 2.39 GHz
» Apple A10 Fusion
   4x 2.34 GHz
» Apple A6x
   2x 1.4 GHz
» Apple A6
   2x 1 GHz

Surrounding CPUs

+ Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G+ 5G
   8x 1.9 GHz - 2.5 GHz
+ MediaTek Dimensity 1000+
   8x 2 GHz - 2.6 GHz
+ Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1
   8x 1.8 GHz - 2.4 GHz
+ Qualcomm QCM6490
   8x 1.96 GHz - 2.71 GHz
+ MediaTek Dimensity 8050
   8x 2 GHz - 3 GHz
» Apple A12 Bionic
   6x - 2.49 GHz
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 4G
   8x 1.8 GHz - 2.4 GHz
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G
   8x 1.8 GHz - 2.4 GHz
- Samsung Exynos 1380
   8x 2 GHz - 2.4 GHz
- MediaTek Dimensity 7300
   8x 2 GHz - 2.5 GHz
- MediaTek Dimensity 7300X
   8x 2 GHz - 2.5 GHz