Ax - Apple

Apple Ax

Developer	Apple, ARM Holdings
Manufacturer	Samsung, TSMC
Type	System on Chips
Architecture	High-performance ARM SoCs
ISA	ARM
Word size	32 bit 4 octets 8 nibbles , 64 bit 8 octets 16 nibbles
Process	45 nm 0.045 μm 4.5e-5 mm , 32 nm 0.032 μm 3.2e-5 mm , 28 nm 0.028 μm 2.8e-5 mm , 20 nm 0.02 μm 2.0e-5 mm , 16 nm 0.016 μm 1.6e-5 mm , 14 nm 0.014 μm 1.4e-5 mm , 10 nm 0.01 μm 1.0e-5 mm , 7 nm 0.007 μm 7.0e-6 mm , 5 nm 0.005 μm 5.0e-6 mm
Technology	CMOS
Clock	800 MHz-3.1 GHz

Ax is a family of high-performance 32-bit and 64-bit ARM system on chips designed by Apple exclusively for their consumer products.

Overview

Since the introduction of the original iPhone in 2007, Apple has been developing a series of chips designed exclusively for their own consumer products. Those system on chips are found in all iPhones, iPod Touches, iPads, Apple TVs, and Apple Watches. While initial models used IP cores licensed from ARM Holdings, since the introduction of the A6 in 2012, Apple has been developing their own microarchitecture for their chips which have become considerably more powerful than other ARM-based microprocessors.

Analysis

Die size comparison

Members

A4 (Cortex-A8)
A5 • A5X (Cortex-A9)
A6 • A6X (Swift)
A7 (Cyclone)
A8 • A8X (Typhoon)
A9 • A9X (Twister)
A10 Fusion • A10X (Hurricane)
A11 Bionic (Monsoon)
A12 Bionic (Vortex)
- A12X • A12Z
A13 Bionic (Lightning)
A14 Bionic (Firestorm)
A15 Bionic (Avalanche)
A16 Bionic (Everest Gen 1)
A17 Pro (Everest Gen 2)
A18 • A18 Pro (Everest Gen 3)

Mobile processors

Model	CPU	GPU	NPU	RAM	Catalog number	Process	Release date
Apple A18 Pro	2x Everest @4.05GHz 4x Sawtooth @2.42GHz	Proprietary (hexa-core) (2227 GFLOPS)	16x Neural Engine (35 TOPS)	LPDDR5x-7500 single-channel 64-bit @3750MHz (60GB/s)	APL1V07	TSMC N3E 3 nm	2024/09
Apple A18	2x Everest @4.05GHz 4x Sawtooth @2.42GHz	Proprietary (penta-core) (1789 GFLOPS)	16x Neural Engine (35 TOPS)	LPDDR5x-7500 single-channel 64-bit @3750MHz (60GB/s)	APL1V08	"3 nm" TSMC N3E	2024/09
Apple A17	2x Everest @3.78GHz 4x Sawtooth @2.11GHz	(2147 GFLOPS) Proprietary (hexa-core)	(35 TOPS) 16x Neural Engine	LPDDR5-6400 single-channel 64-bit @3200MHz (51.2GB/s)	APL1V02	"3 nm" TSMC N3B	2023/09
Apple A16	2x Everest @3.46GHz 4x Sawtooth @2.02GHz	(1789 GFLOPS) Proprietary (penta-core)	(17 TOPS) 16x Neural Engine	LPDDR5-6400 single-channel 64-bit @3200MHz (51.2GB/s)	APL1W10	"4 nm" TSMC N4P	2022/09
Apple A15	2x Avalanche @3.24GHz 4x Blizzard @2.0GHz	(1712 GFLOPS) Proprietary (penta-core)	(15.8 TOPS) 16x Neural Engine	LPDDR4X-4266 single-channel 64-bit @2133MHz (34.1GB/s)	APL1W07	"5 nm" TSMC N5P	2021/09
Apple A14	2x Firestorm @3.0GHz 4x Icestorm	(748.8 GFLOPS) Proprietary (quad-core)	(11 TOPS) 16x Neural Engine	LPDDR4X-4266 single-channel 64-bit @2133MHz (34.1GB/s)	APL1W87	"5 nm" TSMC N5	2020/09
Apple A13	2x Lightning @2.65GHz 4x Thunder @1.8GHz	(806 GFLOPS) Proprietary (quad-core)	(6 TOPS) 8x Neural Engine	LPDDR4X-4266 single-channel 64-bit @2133MHz (34.1GB/s)	APL1W85	"7 nm" TSMC N7P	2019/09
Apple A12	2x Vortex @2.5GHz 4x Tempest @1.6GHz	(576 GFLOPS) 4x Apple G11P	(5 TOPS) 8x Neural Engine	LPDDR4X-4266 single-channel 64-bit @2133 MHz (34.1GB/s)	APL1W81	"7 nm" TSMC N7	2018/09
Apple A11	2x Monsoon @2.4GHz 4x Mistral	(408 GFLOPS) Proprietary (tri-core)	(600 BOPS) 2x Neural Engine	LPDDR4X-4266 single-channel 64-bit @2133MHz (34.1GB/s)	APL1W72	"10 nm" TSMC FinFET	2017/09
Apple A10	2x Hurricane @2.34GHz 2x Zephyr @1.05GHz	(345.6 GFLOPS) 6x PowerVR GT7600 Plus @900MHz		LPDDR4-3200 single-channel 64-bit @1600MHz (25.6GB/s)	APL1W24	"16 nm" TSMC 16FFC	2016/09
Apple A9	2x Twister @1.85GHz	(249.6 GFLOPS) 6x PowerVR GT7600 @650MHz		LPDDR4-3200 single-channel 64-bit @1600MHz (25.6GB/s)	APL0898 APL1022	"14 nm" Samsung "16 nm" TSMC	2015/09
Apple A8	2x Apple Typhoon @1.5GHz	(136.5 GFLOPS) 4x PowerVR GXA6450 @533MHz		LPDDR3-1600 single-channel 64-bit @800MHz (12.8GB/s)	APL1011	"20 nm" TSMC	2014/09
Apple A7	2x Cyclone @1.3GHz	(115.2 GFLOPS) 4x PowerVR G6430 @450MHz		LPDDR3-1600 single-channel 64-bit @800MHz (12.8GB/s)	APL0698 / APL5698 S5L8960X	"28 nm" Samsung HKMG	2013/09
Apple A6	2x Swift @1.3GHz	(25 GFLOPS) 3x PowerVR SGX543 @266MHz		LPDRR2-1066 dual-channel 32-bit @533MHz (8.5GB/s)	APL0598 S5L8950X	"32 nm" Samsung HKMG	2012/09
Apple A5	2x ARM Cortex-A9 @1.0GHz	(12.8 GFLOPS) 2x PowerVR SGX543 @200MHz		LPDDR2-800 dual-channel 32-bit @400MHz (6.4GB/s)	APL0498 / APL2498 S5L8940X	"45 nm" Samsung "32 nm" Samsung HKMG	2011/03 2012/03
Apple A4	1x ARM Cortex-A8 @1.0GHz	PowerVR SGX535		LPDDR-400 dual-channel 32-bit @200MHz (3.2GB/s)	APL0398 S5L8930X	"45 nm" Samsung	2010/04
Model	CPU	GPU	NPU	RAM	Catalog name	Lithography	Release date

Tablet processors

Model	CPU	GPU	NPU	ISP	RAM	Modem	Catalog number	Lithography	Release date
Apple A12X	4x Apple Vortex @ 2.49 GHz 4x Apple Tempest	(1200 GFLOPs) Proprietary (hexa/octa-core)	(6 TOPS) 8x Neural Engine		LPDDR4X-4266 dual-channel 64-bit @ 2133 MHz (68.2 GB/s)	not available	APL1083	"7 nm" TSMC N7	2018/10
Apple A10X	3x Apple Hurricane @ 2.36 GHz 3x Apple Zephyr	(768 GFLOPs) 12x PowerVR GT7500 Plus @ 900 MHz			LPDDR4-3200 dual-channel 64-bit @ 1600 MHz (51.2 GB/s)	not available	APL1071	"10 nm" TSMC 10FF	2017/06
Apple A9X	2x Apple Twister @ 2.26 GHz	(345.6 GFLOPs) 12x PowerVR GTA7850 @ 650 MHz			LPDDR4-3200 dual-channel 64-bit @ 1600 MHz (51.2 GB/s)	not available	APL1021	"16 nm" TSMC 16FF	2015/11
Apple A8X	3x Apple Typhoon @ 1.5 GHz	(230.4 GFLOPs) 8x PowerVR GXA6850 @ 450 MHz			LPDDR3-1600 dual-channel 64-bit @ 800 MHz (25.6 GB/s)	not available	APL1012	"20 nm" TSMC 20	2014/10
Apple A6X	2x Apple Swift @ 1.4 GHz	(68.1 GFLOPs) 4x PowerVR SGX554 @ 266 MHz			LPDDR2-1066 quad-channel 32-bit @ 533 MHz (17.1 GB/s)	not available	APL5598	"32 nm" Samsung 32 HKMG	2012/10
Apple A5X	2x ARM Cortex-A9 @ 1.0 GHz	(25 GFLOPs) 4x PowerVR SGX543 @ 200 MHz			LPDDR2-800 quad-channel 32-bit @ 400 MHz (12.8 GB/s)	not available	APL5498	"45 nm" Samsung 45	2012/03
Model	CPU	GPU	NPU	ISP	RAM	Modem	Catalog name	Lithography	Release date

PC processors

Model	CPU	GPU	NPU	ISP	RAM	Modem	Catalog number	Lithography	Release date
Apple M4	4x Apple Everest @ 4.4 GHz 6x Apple Sawtooth @ 2.85 GHz	(3.7 TFLOPS) Proprietary (10 cores)	(38 TOPS) 16x Neural Engine		LPDDR5x-7500 128-bit @ 3750 MHz (120 GB/s)	not available	APL1206	"3 nm" TSMC N3E	2024/05
Apple M3 Max	14x or 16x Apple Everest @ 4.05 GHz 4x Apple Sawtooth @ 2.75 GHz	(10.6 or 14.1 TFLOPS) Proprietary (30 or 40 cores)	(18 TOPS) 16x Neural Engine		LPDDR5-6400 384-bit or 512-bit @ 3200 MHz (307.2 or 409.6 GB/s)	not available	APL1201	"3 nm" TSMC N3B	2023/10
Apple M3 Pro	5x or 6x Apple Everest @ 4.05 GHz 6x Apple Sawtooth @ 2.75 GHz	(4.9 or 6.4 TFLOPS) Proprietary (14 or 18 cores)	(18 TOPS) 16x Neural Engine		LPDDR5-6400 192-bit @ 3200 MHz (153.6 GB/s)	not available	APL1201	"3 nm" TSMC N3B	2023/10
Apple M3	4x Apple Everest @ 4.05 GHz 4x Apple Sawtooth @ 2.75 GHz	(2.8 TFLOPS) Proprietary (8 or 10 cores)	(18 TOPS) 16x Neural Engine		LPDDR5-6400 128-bit @ 3200 MHz (102.4 GB/s)	not available	APL1201	"3 nm" TSMC N3B	2023/10
Apple M2 Ultra	16x Apple Avalanche 8x Apple Blizzard	(27.19 TFLOPS) Proprietary (60/76 cores)	(31.6 TOPS) 32x Neural Engine		LPDDR5-6400 1024-bit @ 3200 MHz (800 GB/s)	not available		"5 nm" TSMC N5P	2023/06
Apple M2 Max	8x Apple Avalanche 4x Apple Blizzard	(13.59 TFLOPS) Proprietary (38 cores)	(15.8 TOPS) 16x Neural Engine		LPDDR5-6400 512-bit @ 3200 MHz (400 GB/s)	not available	T6021	"5 nm" TSMC N5P	2023/01
Apple M2 Pro	8x Apple Avalanche 4x Apple Blizzard	(6.79 TFLOPS) Proprietary (19 cores)	(15.8 TOPS) 16x Neural Engine		LPDDR5-6400 256-bit @ 3200 MHz (200 GB/s)	not available	T6020	"5 nm" TSMC N5P	2023/01
Apple M2	4x Apple Avalanche 4x Apple Blizzard	(3.6 TFLOPs) Proprietary (10 cores)	(15.8 TOPS) 16x Neural Engine		LPDDR5-6400 128-bit @ 3200 MHz (100 GB/s)	not available	APL1109	"5 nm" TSMC N5P	2022/06
Apple M1 Ultra	16x Apple Firestorm 4x Apple Icestorm	(21 TFLOPs) Proprietary (64 cores)	(22 TOPS) 32x Neural Engine		LPDDR5-6400 1024-bit @ 3200 MHz (800 GB/s)	not available	APL1W06	"5 nm" TSMC N5	2022/03
Apple M1 Max	8x Apple Firestorm 2x Apple Icestorm	(10.4 TFLOPs) Proprietary (32 cores)	(11 TOPS) 16x Neural Engine		LPDDR5-6400 512-bit @ 3200 MHz (400 GB/s)	not available	APL1105	"5 nm" TSMC N5	2021/10
Apple M1 Pro	8x Apple Firestorm 2x Apple Icestorm	(5.2 TFLOPs) Proprietary (16 cores)	(11 TOPS) 16x Neural Engine		LPDDR5-6400 256-bit @ 3200 MHz (200 GB/s)	not available	APL1103	"5 nm" TSMC N5	2021/10
Apple M1	4x Apple Firestorm @ 3.2 GHz 4x Apple Icestorm	(2.6 TFLOPs) Proprietary (octa-core)	(11 TOPS) 16x Neural Engine		LPDDR4X-4266 dual-channel 64-bit @ 2133 MHz (68.2 GB/s)	not available	APL1102	"5 nm" TSMC N5	2020/11
Model	CPU	GPU	NPU	ISP	RAM	Modem	Catalog name	Lithography	Release date

designer	Apple + and ARM Holdings +
full page name	apple/ax +
instance of	system on a chip family +
instruction set architecture	ARM +
main designer	Apple +
manufacturer	Samsung + and TSMC +
name	Apple Ax +
process	45 nm (0.045 μm, 4.5e-5 mm) +, 32 nm (0.032 μm, 3.2e-5 mm) +, 28 nm (0.028 μm, 2.8e-5 mm) +, 20 nm (0.02 μm, 2.0e-5 mm) +, 16 nm (0.016 μm, 1.6e-5 mm) +, 14 nm (0.014 μm, 1.4e-5 mm) +, 10 nm (0.01 μm, 1.0e-5 mm) +, 7 nm (0.007 μm, 7.0e-6 mm) + and 5 nm (0.005 μm, 5.0e-6 mm) +
technology	CMOS +
word size	32 bit (4 octets, 8 nibbles) + and 64 bit (8 octets, 16 nibbles) +

WikiChip

The Fuse Coverage

Social Media

Companies

Microarchitectures

Technology Nodes

Intel

AMD

ARM

Cavium

Samsung

Intel

AMD

Ampere

Apple

Cavium

HiSilicon

MediaTek

NXP

Qualcomm

Renesas