Apple A9 Review: Benchmark Performance and Specs
The Apple A9 is a mobile processor that was launched in September 2015 and announced by the device maker of several smartphone brands. This chip features Two 1.85GHz Twister cores. The SoC is designed in-house by Apple and manufactured by TSMC using a 16 nm process technology. The A9 integrates the Apple 3 Cores GPU running at 650 MHz and supports 4GB of LPDDR4 memory. It can be configured with the company’s Apple modem, offering peak download speeds of up to 150 Mbps.
Apple A9: Benchmark Performance
In terms of AnTuTu performance, the Apple A9 scores over 173833 points. In the Geekbench test, it records 556 points in the single-core test and 1022 points in the multi-core test. It also achieved a combined score of 1983 on Passmark. Additionally, it holds a solid 3DMark score, which is a benchmark designed to measure the graphics performance of smartphones and tablets. The average A9 score is around . This positions it comparably with other mobile chipsets, such as the Samsung Exynos 9610 and the Qualcomm Snapdragon 660, in the ranking.
| Benchmark | Apple A9 Score |
|---|---|
| AnTuTu | 173833 |
| Geekbench (Multi Core) | 1022 |
| Geekbench (Single Core) | 556 |
| Passmark | 1983 |
Equivalent List for Apple A9
The Apple A9 is equal to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 660 in benchmark scores.
Compared to the Mediatek, it is a similar value to the Helio P23 in terms of CPU performance.
| Equivalent Model to Apple A9 | Antutu Score |
|---|---|
| Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 | 176477 |
| Samsung Exynos 9610 | 174773 |
| Apple A9 | 173833 |
| Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 | 169884 |
| Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 | 162854 |
Apple A9 Gaming Performance
The gaming performance test for Apple A9 on PUBG Mobile shows a result of 49 FPS. When handling demanding games like COD, the chip operates at frame rates of 48 FPS. Other benchmarks include popular choices among mobile gamers such as Genshin Impact, Mobile Legends, Fortnite, and War Thunder. Its Apple 3 Cores class graphics processor is capable of boosting up to 650 MHz, ensuring improved peak performance and highly responsive gameplay. This SoC supports a high-powered Apple modem for a fast gaming experience. Speeds of up to up to 150 Mbps allow for seamless streaming from the cloud, while global support enables gamers around the world to engage in battles simultaneously in real time.
| Games | Apple A9 frame rates | Graphics settings |
|---|---|---|
| PUBG: Mobile | 49 FPS | |
| PUBG: New State | 37 FPS | |
| Call of Duty: Mobile | 48 FPS | |
| Fortnite | 25 FPS | |
| Genshin Impact | 35 FPS | |
| Mobile Legends: Bang Bang | 50 FPS |
Apple A9 Specification
| Apple A9 Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Designed by | Apple |
| Model | A9 |
| Manufacturer | TSMC |
| Launch date | September 2015 |
| Architecture | ARMv8-A |
| Bit width | 64-bit support |
| Architecture | Dual-core: 2x 1.85GHz Twister |
| Number of Cores / Threads | 2 |
| Clock Speed | up to 1.85 GHz |
| Big | Two 1.85GHz Twister |
| Level 1 Cache | 64 KB |
| Level 2 Cache | 3 MB |
| Level 3 Cache | 4 MB |
| Transistor Count | 2 Million |
| Integrated GPU | Apple 3 Cores |
| GPU Cores | 6 |
| GPU frequency | 650 MHz |
| Shading units | 32 |
| Total shaders | 192 |
| Vulkan | 1.1 |
| OpenCL | 1.2 |
| AI processor (machine learning) | Apple M9 |
| Max display resolution | 2048 x 1536 |
| Max camera resolution | 1x 32MP, 2x 12MP |
| Video capture | 4K at 30FPS |
| Video playback | 4K at 30FPS |
| Video codecs | H.264, H.265 |
| Audio codecs | AAC, AIFF, CAF, MP3, MP4, WAV |
| Max Memory | 4GB |
| RAM Type | LPDDR4 |
| Maximum bandwidth | 14.9 Gbps |
| Bus | 2x 16 Bit |
| Storage | NVMe |
| Technology Process | 16 nm |
| Wattage (peak TDP) | 5W |
| Features | Apple modem up to 150 Mbps |
| 4G Modes | LTE Cat. 6 |
| 5G support | No |
| Wi-Fi version | 5 |
| Bluetooth version | 4.2 |
| Navigation | GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo |