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In March 2020, we saw the introduction of the new iPad Pro, in whose bowels there is a powerful A12Z Bionic processor. Half a year later, more precisely within the framework of this year's first autumn conference, after that Apple alongside new ones Apple Watch also introduced iPad Air fourth generation, which came with the A14 Bionic processor. It should be noted that this processor is currently the most advanced processor since Applu, a month later he also appeared in the new iPhonech 12. Both of these processors are very powerful and rank among the most powerful mobile processors from Applu. Let's take a look at both of these pieces and compare them in detail.
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A12Z, A12X and A12 - what's the difference?
At the beginning of 2020, the Apple A13 Bionic processor was already available, which is currently beating in iPhonech 11. The one mentioned in the introduction iPad Pro was introduced only after iPhonech 11, but it was still equipped with an older processor from the A12 series, not the more modern A13 Bionic. To put things in perspective, only the A12Z processor is equipped iPad Pro 2020 – you won't find this processor in any other device. It is an improved version of the A12X processor, which is in turn equipped with iPad Pro 2018. Both of these processors with the letters Z and X in the name are based on the "regular" A12 Bionic processor, which can be found in the iPhone XS, for example (Max), iPad Air third generation iPad mini fifth generation and eighth generation iPad.
The classic A12 Bionic processor offers six CPU cores, which are seconded by four GPU cores. The A12X is then more powerful, as it offers eight CPU cores and seven GPU cores. The A12Z is even better after that, offering eight CPU cores and eight GPU cores. The A12Z is only slightly better than the A12X, the performance difference can only be observed in graphics tasks. In any case, the A12Z processor is therefore the most powerful processor of the A12 family and it "behaves" slightly differently compared to the A14 Bionic.
Comparison of A12Z Bionic and A14 Bionic
He designed both processors mentioned in the title himself Apple. These are processors with 64-bit architecture and you will find several differences between them. You can view the main ones in the table below, and you will find more detailed information under the table itself.
| A12Z Bionic | A14 Bionic | |
| Frequency | 1.59 GHz | 1.8 GHz |
| Overclocking | up to 2.49 GHz | up to 3.01 GHz |
| Number and type of CPU cores | 8 cores: 4 powerful, 4 economical | 6 cores: 2 powerful, 4 economical |
| Number of GPU cores | 8 cores | 4 cores |
| Manufacturing process | 7nm | 5nm |
| Type | based on the 12 A2018 Bionic processor | the most powerful apple processor of 2020 |
CPU
The A14 Bionic processor (hereinafter referred to as A14) has a higher clock frequency than the A12Z Bionic (hereinafter referred to as A12Z) - specifically, we are talking about 1.8 GHz for the A14 and 1.59 GHz for the A12Z. It is the same in the case of overclocking, where the A14 can handle up to a frequency of 3.01 GHz, while the A12Z is "only" 2.49 GHz. If we were to translate it into a more understandable language, it means that the A14 can perform more operations compared to the A12Z, and that it is therefore faster. However, it should be noted that the processors do not run at the highest frequencies all the time - they only reach them when it is really needed. As for saving, the A12Z offers two extra economical CPU cores, so it can split a certain multi-core into a total of four cores and not just two, as is the case with the A14.
iPad Air fourth generation:
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GPU
The A12Z offers twice as many graphics cores (GPU) as the A14, namely eight instead of four. This makes the A12Z much more powerful than the A14 in various graphics tasks. Anyway, despite the fact that the A14 has twice as many GPU cores compared to the A12Z, it must be noted that the performance of these cores is surprising and it certainly cannot be said that the A14 is twice as slow in graphics operations.
RAM
An important aspect of the hardware is also the RAM. It should be noted that RAM is not integrated directly into the processor, so it varies from device to device. The A12Z processor, which is only found in the iPad Pro 2020, is supported by 6 GB of RAM. As for the A14 processor, the same is true for the iPad Air and iPhone 12 (mini) are supported by 4 GB of RAM, in the flagships in the form of iPhone 12Pro (Max) then 6 GB of RAM.
Production
The A12Z processor is manufactured using an older, 7nm manufacturing process, while the A14 processor, which is a few months old, is the first processor in the world to be manufactured using a 5nm manufacturing process. Above all, this difference between the two processors is significant, because in the case of the A14 processor, it is possible to place several transistors in the same space - specifically, it is about 11.8 billion transistors. The A14 is, among other things, more economical than the A12Z thanks to a more modern production process. Apple although the A12Z states that the thermal architecture has been improved, the A14 is more advanced anyway.
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Performance tests
If you have at least a little understanding of the above specifications, you can most likely already guess how the two processors fare against each other in performance tests. In general, processor performance tests can be divided into single-core and multi-core, i.e. performance on one core and performance when all cores are used. Considering the specifications, the A14 processor should be better in single-core performance compared to A12Z, but worse in multi-core performance - and that is the case. Below are the benchmarks from Geekbench 5.
Single-core
In tasks in which only one core is used, the A14 is, as expected, more powerful than the A12Z, namely by about 30%. In this case, the performance is primarily due to the higher clock frequency, which is specifically 1.8 GHz in the "idle" state, while overclocking the processor can reach up to 3.01 GHz. Keep in mind that both processors are only two years old. During these two years Apple was able to increase performance per core by up to the mentioned 30%, which is definitely remarkable.
Multi-core
If we look at performance in tasks that can use more cores, the A12Z wins. Compared to the A14, the A12Z's performance in these tasks is about 15% higher, despite the fact that it is an older chip. In this case, the A12Z benefits from twice the number of cores – but still note that the performance difference is not double. So during those two years Apple It also pushed forward multi-core performance, which is again remarkable. You can also notice that the iPad's performance is Air fourth generation is higher than the new iPhones. This is probably due to the greater "prostorem" around the processor, in which heat can be better distributed and the processor can operate longer at a higher frequency.
Metal
The two paragraphs above indicate how the CPU is performing. The Geekbench 5 Metal benchmark then measures how the GPU, or graphics accelerator, is performing. Given the larger number of graphics cores, you would probably expect the A12Z to win in this discipline – but the opposite is true, or only partially. The winner in this category was the A14 processor, in any case only in the iPad Air fourth generation. The second place is occupied by the A12Z processor in the iPad Pro, and paradoxically the last place is occupied by the A14 in the iPhone 12. It is not entirely clear why the A14 in the iPad Air The fourth generation performs so well in the GPU performance test, in any case, it scores three thousand more points than the same A14 processor in the iPhone 12. Most of us would expect that the double number of GPU cores in the A12Z would cause an absolute win, but that is not the case.
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If we summarize it, we find that the A14 processor is better especially in tasks that are designed for a single core. At the same time, it is necessary to take into account that the A14 is made using a more modern manufacturing process compared to the A12Z. The A12Z is then suitable for complete multi-core tasks, even though it is older. The A12Z benefits primarily from a larger number of cores, both in the case of the CPU and the GPU. In general, the use of processors makes sense - iPad Pro users will most likely use more multi-core performance, users of weaker iPads Air or iPhones will benefit primarily from high performance per core. The same applies to graphics tasks - most users with graphics as such work on the iPad, not the iPhone. Apart from the "anomaly" with the iPad Air of the fourth generation, where the A14 is more powerful, the older A12Z should be more usable thanks to more cores.
So what is better from a computational performance perspective? Ipad PRO 2020 or Air 4?
PRO for me just because of those sentences...
I have an ip 12 pro since yesterday max and first experiences:
Display compared to XS Max it is not absolutely brighter (rather even darker gently) and it has 800 vs 625 nits, i.e. more than the XS Max. Progress in the display 0 points and Super retina XDR just sucks at people.. so disappointing
The speakers are not louder, they have a slightly different sound. Some may like the sound more from a 2-year-old iPhone XS. I was expecting a bigger improvement
The LED is less powerful than on the XS MAX. It shines noticeably weaker.
The dimensions have grown noticeably. It's already on the edge
Speed between XS MAX and 12 PRO MAX it is not felt at all in practice. Both phones go about the same speed (XS max has a new one via DFU iOS 14.2). And the side is seen as iPhone 12 error 120hz. This is an epic fail
Front camera on XS Max takes better photos than 12 PRO max that is, no change in 2 years. Selfie photos on XS max they have a more natural skin color and the whole photo is more natural on the 12 pro max It's as cold as if.
This is the first experience. It's scary to see how Apple install cheap hw as much as possible and via SW think that bunch of morons improved everything to save money and make the most money.
Jeez, you're an ass, so why did you buy it?🤦♂️
I have a similar experience between iPhone X has iPhone 12. The display on the X is noticeably white, while on the 12 it's yellowish when compared directly. I see it every time they're next to each other.
In the photos from 12, you can see that they are brutally improved by software. So that they would like to be sharper and more colorful.
And what I completely missed when I bought it is that the 12 doesn't have a telephoto lens. That one ultra wide is useless. 2x zoom like the X had was more practical. I already know I should have gotten the 12 Pro. I didn't want it because it's heavier. Oh my gosh.
So more of a disappointment than the wow effect I experienced with the X and am now seeing it with my son who switched from the 5 SE.
And why did I buy 12? Because jsrm X wanted to shift to children, the battery was already worse, I wanted a change and two SIMs in my mobile. As a true sheep, I simply expected much more.
turn off night shift :D
I would like to know the real functionality, tons. in which tasks one core is specifically used and when the processor uses multiple cores.
The author of the article could add an example where which tablet has the upper hand in real life and not just through table numbers. e.g. Games, or rendering, or whatever, but that's probably not possible, right?
As a new owner iPhone 12mini I can't praise the phone enough :) I switched from iPhone 7. X, XS, 11, 11pro were unnecessarily big and heavy phones for me. So I'm fully enjoying the 12mini with a weight of 130g, a slightly smaller form factor than iPhone SE 2020.
The display, camera, video, sound... just everything is perfect. Fortunately, the battery also lasts all day (including navigation, etc...).
The only fault is (a really big one) that the phone's display stops responding after sticking any film / glass and putting it in a case (any). Hopefully they will fix it soon, but it annoys me with a phone for 23...
I would definitely not make a decision based on the processor here.