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A12Z Bionic
General Info
Designer	Apple
Manufacturer	TSMC
Model Number	A12Z Bionic
Part Number	TBD
Market	Mobile
Introduction	March 18, 2020 (announced) March 25, 2020 (launched)
General Specs
Family	Ax
Frequency	TBD MHz (big), TBD MHz (little)
Microarchitecture
ISA	TBD (ARM)
Core Name	Vortex, Tempest, TBD
Process	7 nm
Transistors	TBD
Technology	CMOS
Die	TBD mm² N/A × N/A
Word Size	64 bit
Cores	8
Threads	8
Multiprocessing
Max SMP	1-Way (Uniprocessor)
Succession
A12X
Contemporary
A13

A12Z Bionic is a 64-bit octa-core ARM mobile system on a chip introduced by Apple in early 2020 as a successor to the A12X.

Overview

Likely fabricated on TSMC 7 nm process and integrating (at least) 10 billion transistors, the A12Z features four big Vortex cores along with four little Tempest high-efficiency cores. It is highly likely that all CPU cores can operate concurrently, as they do on the A12X.

The A12Z features an Apple-designed graphics processor, and Apple's neural processor makes its second appearance in an A_>W-series chip.

ISP

The A12Z likely incorporates an Apple image signal processor with depth engine – something has to be processing all that LiDAR data.

Integrated Graphics

The A12Z's Apple-designed graphics processor is an eight-core design, an increase over the A12X's seven-core GPU.

Neural Engine

Bearing the 'Bionic' namesake, the A12Z chip likely features a neural engine, presumably similar to that on the A12X.

Utilizing devices

• iPad Pro 11" (2nd gen)
• iPad Pro 12.9" (4th gen)

Bibliography

• Apple Website, March 18, 2020.
• Anandtech article, March 18, 2020.