Apple developers have created a series of systems on the Apple “A” chip. These chips are used in the iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, and Apple TV digital media player.
Such systems combine one or more processor cores based on ARM, a graphics processor, cache memory, and other essential components that ensure the reliable operation of mobile devices.
The Apple A series has a large number of units. Let’s talk about each of them separately.
- Apple 4.
On January 27, 2010, Apple announced the release of a microprocessor model operating at 1 GHz.
Characteristics:
- maximum power consumption is 500-800 mW;
- L2 cache with a capacity of 512 KB;
- the main core has modifications of the ARM Cortex A8 architecture;
- It is based on an integrated graphics core.
The company’s specialists produce A4 based on a 45-nanometer processor. The microprocessor crystal is located next to two SDRAM crystals in one package, which is made using Package on Package technology.
- Apple 5.
It replaced the previous one on March 2, 2011.
The A5 consists of two main cores operating at 0.8-1 GHz, as well as the PowerVR SGX 543MP2 graphics coprocessor.
The Apple 5 is manufactured by Samsung at a plant in Austin.
There are three generations of processors of this model:
- S5L8940, which has an area of 122.2 mm, is a PoP microassembly;
- S5L8942, which has a 69.6 mm footprint and features a PoP micro-assembly of processor and RAM;
- S5L8947, the model has been in use since January 2013.
A5 is used in such devices:
- iPad 2 – March 2011-March 2014;
- iPhone 4S – October 2011 – September 2014;
- Apple TV – March 2012 – January 2013;
- iPad 2 – March 2012 – March 2014;
- iPod Touch – October 2012 – July 2015;
- iPad mini – November 2012 – June 2015
- Apple A5X
It was a dual-core 32-bit microprocessor manufactured at Samsung’s factory in 2012, and also had a dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 MPCore processor, PowerVR SGX543MP4 graphics processor.
Its area was 163 mm2. The company’s developers have almost doubled the size of the memory interface.
The A5X is equipped with a metal heat distributor. In addition, the size of the silicon crystal has become larger.
- Apple A6
This processor includes two cores with ARM Cortex-A15 elements, a 3-core PowerVR graphics coprocessor, and a 3-core SGX 543MP3 accelerator.
- Apple A7
This processor was one of the first chips to be commercially produced.
The company’s developers claimed that the A7 belongs to the class of desktop processors.
It stands out for its performance, as it is equipped with LPDDR3 memory. Engineers have increased the number of processor registers to 32.
Characteristics:
- area – 102 mm2;
- the number of transistors is more than a billion;
- contains a graphics processor such as GPU;
- L1 caches (data) size – 64 KB;
- L1 caches (instructions) size – 64 KB;
- L2 caches are 1 MB in size;
- is characterized by high energy efficiency.
Used in:
- iPhone 5S;
- iPad Air;
- iPad mini with Retina display (iPad mini 2)
- iPad mini 3
- Apple A8
This processor is dual-core 64-bit and implements the ARMv8-A instruction set.
Characteristics:
- L2 cache – 1 MB;
- L3 cache – 4 MB;
- GPU – PowerVR Series 6XT GX6450;
- microarchitecture – Cyclone;
- 20 nm process technology.
Used in:
- iPhone 6 smartphone
- iPhone 6 Plus phablet
- Apple A8X
This processor was developed by Apple in October 2014.
The Apple A8X has three processor cores and is classified as a desktop processor, as it is characterized by multitasking and a wide range of tasks.
Characteristics:
- the number of transistors is about 3 billion;
- implements a set of instructions of the ARMv8-A type;
- 20 nm process technology;
- L1 cache – Per core: 64 kB;
- L2 cache – 2 MB;
- L3 cache – 4 MB;
- GPU – PowerVR Series 6XT GXA6850.
The Apple A8X microprocessor is used in the iPad Air 2.
- Apple A9
A new generation of Apple processors based on vertically gated transistors was announced in December 2013 and was scheduled for release in 2015.
Characteristics:
- command set – ARM, A64, F32, T32;
- the number of cores is 2;
- GPU – PowerVR Series 7XT GT7600;
- L1 cache – Per core: 64 KB;
- L2 cache – 3 MB;
- L3 cache – 8 MB;
- microarchitecture – Twister ARMv8-A-compatible.
This microprocessor is used in the following devices: iPhone 6S and 6S Plus, iPhone SE.
- Apple A10 Fusion
The microprocessor was first released in 2016.
It consists of two high-performance cores that are used for tasks of increased complexity, such as gaming, and two energy-efficient cores.
Characteristics:
- the number of cores is 4;
- processor – 16 nm FinFET;
- area – 125 mm2;
- the maximum CPU frequency is 2.34 GHz;
- command set – A32, T32, A64;
- the height of the processor is reduced by placing the system in the InFO shell.
It is used in iPhone 7 and 7 Plus.
- Apple A10X Fusion
A10X is a modification of the A10 chip, a 64-bit system-on-a-chip. One of the main features of this model is the built-in BeiDou-2 receiver, which is part of the Chinese satellite navigation system.
Characteristics:
- number of cores – 6;
- command set – A32, T32, A64;
- The GPU is 12-core;
- L1 cache – for the kernel: 64 KB instruction + 64 KB data;
- L2 cache – 8 MB;
- developers have increased the connection speed with the USB-C network port;
- Improved work with external interfaces.
Used in 10.5-inch iPad Pro and 12.9-inch iPad Pro.
- Apple A11 Bionic
On September 12, 2017, a new chip was presented in California.
Characteristics:
- 10 nm process technology;
- command set – A32, T32, A64;
- number of cores – 6;
- L1 cache – on the core: 64 KB for instructions + 64 KB for data;
- L2 cache – 8 MB.
It isused in iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X.
- Apple A12 Bionic
This chip model was presented to the public on September 12, 2018.
Characteristics:
- 7 nm process technology;
- the command set is A64;
- cores – 6 cores (2× Vortex performance cores + 4 Tempest efficiency cores;
- built-in neural network device;
- the number of transistors is 6.9 billion;
- L1 cache – 128 KB;
- L2 cache – 8 MB.
Used in iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR.
- Apple A12X Bionic
Apple has modified the Apple A12 Bionic chip and released a new A12X model on October 30, 2018, which is several times faster and more efficient than previous versions.
Characteristics:
- number of cores – 8 (4 Vortex performance cores and 4 Tempest efficiency cores);
- 7 nm process technology;
- GPU – 7-core graphics processor;
- the command set is A64;
- L1 cache – 128 KB;
- has a built-in M12 coprocessor and neural network equipment.
It is used in the 11-inch iPad Pro and the third generation of the 12.9-inch iPad Pro.
- Apple A12Z Bionic
This system was created and announced by the company on March 18, 2020, as part of a special release.
Characteristics:
- number of cores – 8 (ARM big.LITTLE: 4 “big” Vortex + 4 “small” Tempest);
- GPU enables faster and better editing and 4K augmented reality;
- L1 cache – 128 KB;
- L2 cache – 8 MB;
- The GPU is an 8-core one developed by Apple;
- has better integrated circuits.
Used in iPad Pro (4th generation), iPad Pro (4th generation), Mac ARM Developer Transition Kit
- Apple A13 Bionic
A13 is based on ARM architecture and went on sale on September 20, 2019.
Characteristics:
- process – 7 nm, technology – 7 FF;
- the command set is A64;
- number of cores – 6 (2 high-speed Lightning + 4 energy-saving Thunder);
- GPU – proprietary Apple GPU (4 cores);
- L1 cache – 256 KV;
- L2 cache is 8 MB.
Used in iPhone 11 and iPhone SE (2nd generation).
- Apple A14 Bionic
A14 is a 64-bit system-on-a-chip introduced by the company on September 15, 2020.
Characteristics:
- has a built-in 16-core neural engine and machine learning accelerators;
- Neural Engine can perform 11 trillion operations per second;
- 5 nm process technology;
- the command set is A64;
- number of cores – 6 (ARM big.LITTLE
]
: 2 “big” Firestorm + 4 “small” Icestorm); - The GPU is 4-core;
- number of transistors – 11.8 billion.
Used in iPhone 12 Mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max.
- Apple A15 Bionic
On September 14, 2021, a new chip model was created, based on an ARM-based chip.
Characteristics:
- microarchitecture – Avalanche and Blizzard;
- 5 nm process technology;
- the command set is A64;
- number of cores – 6 (4 efficient, 2 productive);
- has 15 billion transistors and special neural network equipment.
It is used in iPhone 13 and 13 Mini, iPhone 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max, and iPad mini 6.
Apple A16 Bionic
Apple engineers modified the chip and announced the release of a new model on September 7, 2021.
Characteristics:
- the number of transistors is 16 billion;
- process technology – 5 nm (N4);
- the command set is A64;
- number of cores – 6 (4 efficient, 2 productive);
- The GPU is 5-core;
- is equipped with a new image processor that features improved computational photography capabilities;
- The chip includes a Display Engine;
- its memory has been upgraded to LPDDR5.
Used in iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max
Thus, Apple developers continue to modernize Group A chips and use them in their gadgets. Every year, we improve them to meet the needs of users.