Apple A17 Bionic vs Google Tensor

Comparisons   09-03-2023
   Comprehensive compare data of Apple A17 Bionic vs Google Tensor, testing of graphics chips (GPU). A step-by-step analysis of all the specifications, to make it easier to understand, is made by the table. From the comparison video, you can get the results of joint testing in special test applications such as Vellamo, GFXBench, Neocore, PassMark, Quadrant, AnTuTu, PCMark, 3DMark, Geekbench, even the gaming performance of SoCs in GTA, PUBG, Call of Duty, Asphalt 9, Fortnite, Madout2, Minecraft etc.
   After looking at the data these tests and videos, you can already make an briefed decision about which CPU is better to buy A17 Bionic or Tensor.

Summary benchmark results

As a percentage of the maximum value based on a sample from the entire base of all processors
CPU Benchmark
Based on Antutu and Geekbench score

A17 Bionic

91%

Tensor

57%

Battery life test
Power Consumption efficiency (how quickly the processor reduces the battery charge)

A17 Bionic

87%

Tensor

81%

Gaming performance
Which CPU is better for gaming

A17 Bionic

88%

Tensor

56%

Antutu v10, 9

Antutu benchmark separately tests the performance of the CPU, GPU, and memory speed

	A17 Bionic	Tensor
Total score	1272718	798643
CPU	356360	223623
GPU	483633	303478
MEM	203638	127772
UX	229097	143757

GeekBench 6, 5.2

This benchmark shows Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	A17 Bionic	Tensor
Single-Core	2435	1045
Multi-Core	7152	2869

Comparison of specifications

CPU and Memory

	A17 Bionic	Tensor
Frequency	3640 MHz	2800 MHz
Cores	6	8
Bit	64	64
Lithography	3 nm	5 nm
Transistors count	22000 millions
Core configuration	2x3.64 GHz ARM 4x2.42 GHz ARM	2x2.8 GHz Cortex-X1 2x2.26 GHz Cortex-A76 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55
Power consumption (TDP)	4 W	10 W
Memory type	LPDDR5	LPDDR5 (Quad Channel)
Max. Memory	32 Gb	16 Gb
Memory Frequency	4266	3200
Memory bandwidth	128	51.2
Neural Processor (NPU)	Yes	Yes
L1 cache	3 MB	1 MB
L2 cache	12 MB	2 MB
L3 cache	96 MB	8 MB
Instruction set architecture (ISA)	ARMv9	ARMv8.2-A

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here A17 Bionic is 23% better than Tensor in terms of CPU frequency. Another difference is that A17 Bionic has 2 more core than Tensor. Also keep in mind that high CPU frequency affects battery life through power consumption.

GPU and Media

GPU	Apple A17 Bionic	Mali-G78 MP22
GPU Frequency	3640 MHz	650 MHz
GFloPS	3425	986
# of Cores	6	22
# of Shader Units
Display	2796 x 1290 pixels	4096 x 2160 pixels

The frequency of the GPU does not always directly indicate its performance. To fully evaluate all the capabilities of a graphics chip, you should take into account the number of Shader Units and Cores, as well as how many GFlops it has.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite Mobile	48.5	31.4
PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG Mobile)	151.2	94.7
Garena Free Fire - The Cobra	90.2	56.1
Call of Duty: Mobile	83.2	52.6
Grand Theft Auto V (GTA 5 Mobile)	128.7	80.6
Minecraft: Pocket Edition	185.7	116.7
Real Racing 3	181.6	113.9
Sniper 3D	199.6	124.5
Need for Speed No Limits	125.9	79.3
Mortal Kombat X	130.6	82.4
CSR Racing 2	108.1	68.3

The numbers in this table indicate the maximum FPS that was received on the device with the corresponding processor. Depending on the configuration of the gadget and graphics quality settings (Ultra, Medium, Normal), the results may differ quite significantly. We recommend that you better study the results of the Antutu v10, 9 and GeekBench 6, 5.2 becnmarks.

Cameras

Camera resolution	64 MP	240 MP
Dual Camera resolution	32 MP	48 MP
Image Signal Processor (ISP)	Apple ISP	Hybrid Exynos + Google ISP
Video Encoding FPS	120	60
Video Encoding resolution	8K, 4K (Ultra HD), 2K, FullHD	8K, 4K (Ultra HD), 2K, FullHD
Codec support	Dolby Vision, H.264/AVC, H.265/HEVC, HDR10+, HLG, HDR10	Dolby Vision, H.264/AVC, H.265/HEVC, HDR10+, HLG, HDR10

Networks and Navigation

Modem	5G Modem	Exynos Modem 5123
Download speed	12000 MBit/s.	7350 MBit/s.
Upload speed	9000 MBit/s.	3670 MBit/s.
Navigation	GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, Dual frequency GNSS, GNSS, SBAS, GPS, NavIC, Beidou, NavIC enabled	Beidou, NavIC, GNSS, GPS, NavIC enabled, QZSS, Dual frequency GNSS, SBAS, GLONASS, Galileo
NFC support	No	Yes
5G support	Yes	Yes

Result:
The number of parameters for which Apple A17 Bionic is better: 33
The number of parameters for which Google Tensor is better: 9
You need to understand that you should not sightlessly trust the automatic comparison of the table. It is better to just watch the full video of parallel testing and hear what those who really appreciated the capabilities of both chipsets think, and also read the test results on the links under the article.

A17 Bionic SoC - all data

• Devices lists
• Benchmarks
• PUBG mobile
• Fortnite Mobile
• Antutu v10
• 3DMark
• GeekBench 6, 5 mobile

• A17 Bionic specs and review.

Tensor SoC - all data

• Devices lists
• Benchmarks
• PUBG mobile
• Fortnite Mobile
• Antutu v10
• 3DMark
• GeekBench 6, 5 mobile

• Tensor specs and review.