TechInsights confirms our analysis that the A12Z in the new iPad Pro is just an A12X with an extra GPU core enabled

A new x-ray analysis of the Apple A12Z Bionic chip in the iPad Pro (2020) confirms our exclusive report that the chip is a re-binned Apple A12X Bionic as originally found in the iPad Pro (2018). Early benchmarks showed that CPU performance was on part but there was a slight lift in graphics performance. An x-ray taken TechInsights shows that only difference between the two chips is that eighth GPU core that was disabled in the A12X has been enabled in the A12Z.

What the existence of the A12Z suggests is that Apple likely planned to have the A12X Bionic with all eight GPU cores active, however yield issues would have meant it could only reliably produce silicon where seven cores were fully functional. Thus, even if there are A12X chips with a functional core, Apple will have disabled each core with firmware to keep performance in line the range. It might also have simply binned these parts for later use, or started producing the A12Z with eight cores enabled when yield improved.

While many people had been expecting the new iPad Pro to pick up an A13X processor, Apple actually has a history skipping the odd number processor sequence for an ‘X’ variant. This aligns with another rumor that an iPad Pro with 5G radio will arrive late in 2020, alongside the new iPhone 12 5G models, but with an 14X chip. Apple took the opportunity now to give the current model a mild refresh ahead of the 5G model by using a rebinned A12X Bionic from the 2018 iPad Pro generation while also adding some other improvements like the new LIDAR scanner.

Our analysis confirms #Apple #A12Z GPU chip found inside #iPadPro (model A2068) is the same as A12X predecessor. A report of our findings is underway & will be available as part of TechInsights' #Logic Subscription. Learn more here bit.ly/2V3Yros

- TechInsights