Apple iPhone 16e vs iPad Air: A18 vs M3 Performance
- A detailed look at the performance of the A18 chip in the iPhone 16e versus the M3 chip in the iPad Air.
- The A18 chip, launched in September 2024, powers the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16e.
- The M3 processor, introduced in the fall of 2023, is used in a range of devices, including the MacBook, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iMac, and iPad Air.
A18 vs. M3: A Performance comparison
Table of Contents
A detailed look at the performance of the A18 chip in the iPhone 16e versus the M3 chip in the iPad Air.
The A18 chip, launched in September 2024, powers the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16e. It features six computational cores: two high-performance cores and four efficiency cores, clocked up to 4 GHz.The high-performance cores have 8 MB of L2 cache. The chip also includes four specialized graphics cores (a higher-end iPhone 16 version has five) and 16 neural engine cores. The processor is manufactured by TSMC using its second-generation 3nm process.
The M3 processor, introduced in the fall of 2023, is used in a range of devices, including the MacBook, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iMac, and iPad Air. It has eight cores, specifically four high-performance and four efficiency cores, also clocked up to 4 GHz.The CPU has 16 MB of L2 cache for the high-performance cores and 4 MB for the efficiency cores. Additionally, it features nine graphics cores (in the tablet version; laptop configurations may differ) and 16 neural cores. The M3 is produced by TSMC using its first-generation 3nm process.
The M3 is older than the A18 but boasts more computing and graphics cores, along with more memory. The A18 has a maximum thermal design power (TDP) of 9W, while the M3 has a TDP of 20W.
Test Results
Here’s a comparison of the performance test results:
| iPhone 16e A18 | iPad Air M3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 – CPU – All Cores | 8,083 | 11,761 |
| Geekbench 6 – CPU - Single Core | 3,331 | 3,023 |
| GeekBench 6 – GPU – Metal | 24,175 | 44,309 |
| GeekBench AI – CPU – Core ML | SP: 4,191 HP: 7,305 QS: 5,789 |
SP: 4,141 HP: 7,034 QS: 5,687 |
| GeekBench AI – GPU – Core ML | SP: 3,643 HP: 3,952 QS: 3,757 |
SP: 7,691 HP: 9,090 QS: 8,112 |
| Geekbench AI – NPU – Core ML | SP: 4,250 HP: 33,157 QS: 45,780 |
SP: 4,148 HP: 30,747 QS: 34,251 |
| Antutu | 1,477,375 | 2,170,887 |
| Antutu HTML5 | 91,659 | 89,108 |
| Antutu Test of Storage Speed | 90,344 | 80,458 |
| 3D Mark – Steel Nomad Light | 1,390 | 2,662 |
| 3D Mark – Solar Bay | 5,403 | 9,811 |
The M3 tablet’s test results were not as consistently and substantially higher than the A18 as anticipated. The M3 tablet performed better in tests using graphics cores, which is expected given its higher core count. The iPhone’s A18 neural engine performed surprisingly well, possibly due to intergenerational improvements or memory speed factors, as the iPad has slower storage, especially with random access.
In CPU tests, the A18 has higher single-core performance, but the M3’s higher core count allows the tablet to outperform the iPhone in tasks that utilize all cores.
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A18 vs. M3: A Performance Comparison
A detailed look at the performance of the A18 chip in the iPhone 16e versus the M3 chip in the iPad Air.
Introduction: A18 and M3 - What are they?
This article compares the performance of the A18 chip, found in the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16e, with the M3 processor, which powers various devices like the iPad Air. Both chips are designed by Apple but cater to different product lines.
What are the Key Differences Between the A18 and M3 Chip?
The A18 chip, launched in September 2024, is designed for the iPhone 16 series while the M3 processor, introduced in the fall of 2023, is used in a variety of Apple devices, including the iPad Air.
- Core Count: The A18 features six computational cores (two high-performance and four efficiency cores), while the M3 has eight cores (four high-performance and four efficiency cores).
- Graphics Cores: The A18 includes four graphics cores (five in higher-end iPhone 16 versions), while the M3 has nine graphics cores in the tablet version.
- Neural Engine: Both chips are equipped with 16 neural engine cores.
-
Cache: The A18’s high-performance cores have 8 MB of L2 cache, and the M3’s have 16 MB.
- Manufacturing Process: The A18 is manufactured using TSMC’s second-generation 3nm process, whereas the M3 uses its first-generation 3nm process.
- Thermal Design power (TDP): The A18 has a maximum TDP of 9W, while the M3 has a TDP of 20W
A18 vs.M3: Detailed Specifications
Here’s a closer look at the specifications of each chip:
| Feature | iPhone 16e (A18) | iPad Air (M3) |
|---|---|---|
| Release Date | September 2024 | Fall 2023 |
| CPU Cores | 6 (2 high-performance, 4 efficiency) | 8 (4 high-performance, 4 efficiency) |
| High-Performance Core L2 cache | 8 MB | 16 MB |
| Graphics cores | 4 (5 in higher-end models) | 9 |
| Neural Engine Cores | 16 | 16 |
| Manufacturing Process | TSMC 2nd Gen 3nm | TSMC 1st Gen 3nm |
| Maximum TDP | 9W | 20W |
How Do the A18 and M3 Perform in Benchmarks?
To assess performance, both the A18 and M3 were subjected to several benchmark tests. Here are the results:
- Geekbench 6 – CPU – all cores: The M3 (11,761) considerably outperformed the A18 (8,083).
- Geekbench 6 – CPU – Single Core: The A18 (3,331) showed a higher single-core performance compared to the M3 (3,023).
- GeekBench 6 – GPU – Metal: The M3 (44,309) had a considerable advantage over the A18 (24,175).
- geekbench AI – CPU – Core ML: The A18 showed slightly better results in the Single-point (SP) and High-Performance(HP), while both were roughly the same in the Fast-Start (QS)
- GeekBench AI – GPU – Core ML: The M3 had higher scores in the Single-Point (SP), High-Performance(HP), and Quick-Start (QS).
- Geekbench AI – NPU – Core ML: The A18 showed high scores in the Single-Point (SP), High-Performance(HP), and Quick-Start (QS).
- Antutu: The M3 (2,170,887) had a massive advantage over the A18 (1,477,375).
- Antutu HTML5: The A18 (91,659) had a slight edge over the M3 (89,108)
- Antutu Test of Storage Speed: The A18 (90,344) was slightly better against the M3 (80,458)
- 3D Mark –