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A12X Bionic
General Info
Designer	Apple
Manufacturer	TSMC
Model Number	A12X Bionic
Part Number	TBD
Market	Mobile, Embedded
Introduction	October 30, 2018 (announced) November 7, 2018 (launched)
General Specs
Family	Ax
Frequency	N/A
Microarchitecture
ISA	ARMv8.3 (ARM)
Microarchitecture	Vortex, Tempest
Core Name	Vortex, Tempest
Process	7 nm
Transistors	> 10,000,000,000
Technology	CMOS
Die	122 mm² (estimate) N/A × N/A mm
Word Size	64 bit
Cores	8
Threads	8
Multiprocessing
Max SMP	1-Way (Uniprocessor)
Succession
A10X Fusion

A12X Bionic is a 64-bit octa-core ARM mobile system on a chip introduced by Apple in late 2018 as a successor to the A10X.

Overview

Fabricated on TSMC 7 nm process and integrating over 10 billion transistors, the A12X features four big Vortex cores along with four little Tempest high-efficiency cores. Apple claims that single-core performance is 35% faster than the A10X, while the increased core count grows multi-core performance by up to 90%. All eight cores can operate concurrently.

The A12X features an Apple-designed graphics processor that is said to deliver twice the performance of the A10X, and Apple's neural processor makes its first appearance in an A_X-series chip.

ISP

The A12 incorporates Apple's image signal processor (ISP), codename Petra, for camera related applications. The ISP is said to deliver faster depth engine and an improved video processor.

Integrated Graphics

The A12 incorporates an Apple-designed graphics processor which features tessellation, multi-layer rendering, and lossless memory compression. The GPU is a seven-core design and is said to deliver twice the performance of the A10X. Apple characterizes this as "XBox One S-class graphics performance".

Neural Engine

The A12X chip features a neural engine codenamed Quin. Apple states this is an 8-core design, an increase from the A11's dual-core NPU. The new engine is capable of processing 5 trillion 8-bit operations per second (up from 600 billion), which is identical performance to the A12.

Utilizing devices

• iPad Pro 11"
• iPad Pro 12.9" (3rd gen)

Bibliography

• Apple Keynote. (October 30, 2018). Apple Special Event.