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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 A18 Pro compare - 4 GHz6 / 6 cores
Apple A18 compare - 3.8 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
64 Bit64 Bit support
ArchitectureARM
Announcement Date09/12/2018

Benchmarks

3DMark - 3DMark Ice Storm Unlimited Physics
min: 27400     avg: 27548     median: 27547 (23%)     max: 27717 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Unlimited Physics
min: 2723     avg: 3064     median: 3056 (29%)     max: 3347 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Sling Shot (ES 3.0) Unlimited Physics
min: 2880     avg: 3129     median: 2961 (34%)     max: 3493 Points
Geekbench 6.4 - Geekbench 6.4 Single-Core
1325 points (33%)
Geekbench 6.4 - Geekbench 6.4 Multi-Core
2850 points (11%)
Restrict / Search: Model: Max. age: years
Geekbench 5.5 - Geekbench 5.1 - 5.5 64 Bit Single-Core
min: 1116     avg: 1118     median: 1117.5 (44%)     max: 1119 points
Restrict / Search: Model: Max. age: years
Geekbench 5.5 - Geekbench 5.1 - 5.5 64 Bit Multi-Core
min: 2772     avg: 2815     median: 2814.5 (5%)     max: 2857 points
Restrict / Search: Model: Max. age: years
Geekbench 5.0 - Geekbench 5.0 64 Bit Single-Core
1118 points (5%)
Geekbench 5.0 - Geekbench 5.0 64 Bit Multi-Core
2910 points (9%)
Geekbench 4.4 - Geekbench 4.1 - 4.4 64 Bit Single-Core
min: 4750     avg: 4779     median: 4774 (48%)     max: 4824 points
Geekbench 4.4 - Geekbench 4.1 - 4.4 64 Bit Multi-Core
min: 11244     avg: 11418     median: 11480 (11%)     max: 11598 points
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Kraken 1.1 Total Score *
min: 603     avg: 627     median: 626.5 (1%)     max: 653 ms
Octane V2 - Octane V2 Total Score
min: 41367     avg: 42312     median: 42333.5 (32%)     max: 43280 Points
WebXPRT 3 - WebXPRT 3 Score
min: 155     avg: 159.5     median: 159.5 (29%)     max: 166 Points
AnTuTu v7 - AnTuTu v7 MEM
min: 7312     avg: 9998     median: 10135.5 (31%)     max: 12409 Points
AnTuTu v7 - AnTuTu v7 UX
min: 59570     avg: 65177     median: 66701 (82%)     max: 67735 Points
AnTuTu v7 - AnTuTu v7 GPU
min: 129473     avg: 147840     median: 151931 (47%)     max: 158023 Points
AnTuTu v7 - AnTuTu v7 CPU
min: 106600     avg: 124761     median: 127986 (78%)     max: 136472 Points
AnTuTu v7 - AnTuTu v7 Total Score
min: 302955     avg: 347775     median: 358800 (63%)     max: 370545 Points
AnTuTu v8 - AnTuTu v8 UX
min: 71574     avg: 71607     median: 71606.5 (60%)     max: 71639 Points
AnTuTu v8 - AnTuTu v8 MEM
min: 45962     avg: 56767     median: 56767 (46%)     max: 67572 Points
AnTuTu v8 - AnTuTu v8 GPU
min: 166588     avg: 170290     median: 170290 (31%)     max: 173992 Points
AnTuTu v8 - AnTuTu v8 CPU
min: 98561     avg: 122385     median: 122385 (44%)     max: 146209 Points
AnTuTu v8 - AnTuTu v8 Total Score
min: 411764     avg: 421049     median: 421048 (41%)     max: 430333 Points
Antutu v9 - AnTuTu v9 Total Score
549549 Points (27%)
Antutu v9 - AnTuTu v9 CPU
129427 Points (32%)
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

Add one or more devices and compare

In the following list you can select (and also search for) devices that should be added to the comparison. You can select more than one device.

search for model:
v1.33
log 09. 00:17:18

#0 ran 0s before starting gpusingle class +0s ... 0s

#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 Mon, 07 Jul 2025 05:37:40 +0200 +0.001s ... 0.001s

#4 composed specs +0.01s ... 0.011s

#5 did output specs +0s ... 0.011s

#6 getting avg benchmarks for device 10166 +0.003s ... 0.014s

#7 got single benchmarks 10166 +0.012s ... 0.026s

#8 got avg benchmarks for devices +0s ... 0.026s

#9 min, max, avg, median took s +0.36s ... 0.386s

#10 return log +0.001s ... 0.387s

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 | Apple A12 Bionic GPU | 10.20" | 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 A...
Apple A12 Bionic | Apple A12 Bionic GPU | 7.90" | 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 it...
Apple A12 Bionic | Apple A12 Bionic GPU | 10.50" | 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 camer...
Apple A12 Bionic | Apple A12 Bionic GPU | 6.10" | 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” ...
Apple A12 Bionic | Apple A12 Bionic GPU | 5.80" | 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

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» Mobile CPU Comparison
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» 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 A18 Pro
   6x - 4 GHz
» Apple A17 Pro
   6x 2.11 GHz - 3.78 GHz
» Apple A18
   6x - 3.8 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 A12X Bionic
   8x - 2.49 GHz
» Apple A14 Bionic
   6x 1.8 GHz - 3.1 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

+ MediaTek Dimensity 8050
   8x 2 GHz - 3 GHz
+ Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 4
   8x 1.8 GHz - 2.3 GHz
+ MediaTek Dimensity 1300
   8x 2 GHz - 3 GHz
+ MediaTek Dimensity 8100
   8x 2 GHz - 2.85 GHz
+ MediaTek Dimensity 1200
   8x 2 GHz - 3 GHz
» Apple A12 Bionic
   6x - 2.49 GHz
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1
   8x 1.8 GHz - 2.4 GHz
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2
   8x 1.95 GHz - 2.4 GHz
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 780G 5G
   8x 1.9 GHz - 2.4 GHz
- Google Tensor G2
   8x 1.8 GHz - 2.85 GHz
- MediaTek Dimensity 8200-Ultra
   8x 2 GHz - 3.1 GHz