Apple

iPad 10th gen – how much faster is the A14 Bionic chip?

February 14, 2024

The A14 Bionic chip is the latest generation processor designed by Apple for their mobile devices like the iPhone and iPad. With the launch of the new iPad 10th generation model in 2022, this is the first time the A14 chip is being used in an iPad. But how much of a performance boost does it provide over previous iPad chips? Let’s take a deep dive and analyze the improvements.

An Overview of the A14 Bionic Chip

The A14 Bionic is a 6-core CPU manufactured on the new 5 nanometer process technology. This means the transistors are packed even tighter, allowing for higher efficiency and performance compared to the older 7nm design.

Some key highlights of the chip:

6-core CPU design: 4 high-performance cores and 2 high-efficiency cores that can complete up to 11 trillion operations per second.
4-core GPU: Delivers up to 30% faster graphics performance over the A12 chip.
16-core Neural Engine: Next generation machine learning capabilities that can complete 11 trillion operations per second, more than double the A13 chip.
Improved image processor and ISP: Provides better computational photography, video encode/decode, and camera performance.

So in summary, the A14 brings significant generational improvements in CPU, GPU, and machine learning compute power compared to its predecessors. But how do these specifically benefit the new iPad?

CPU and GPU Performance Improvements in iPad 10th gen

The previous generation iPad used the A13 Bionic processor, which is also found in the iPhone 11 series. Here is a comparison of the CPU and GPU specs between the A13 and new A14 chip:

As you can see, while the A14 offers an improved 6-core design, the year-on-year performance jump is incremental – around 10% faster versus the A13 chip.

However, the A13 itself was already a significant leap over the A12 in terms of CPU and GPU speeds. So in actual real-world usage, the A14 Bionic will feel considerably snappier compared to the 2 year old A12 chip iPad users have been accustomed to.

Apple claims the A14 offers 40% higher CPU performance and 30% faster graphics. This should result in noticeably quicker app launches, smoother UI animations, better multitasking, faster photo editing, and superior gaming frame rates. The iPad’s LCD screen is still 60Hz, so the faster refresh rates may be more useful when connecting to external high refresh rate monitors.

Machine Learning and Neural Engine Benefits

The latest 6th generation Neural Engine on the A14 Bionic takes machine learning compute to a whole new level. With 11 trillion operations per second, it has the capacity to run advanced ML models right on the iPad itself.

This directly results in tangible improvements to the iPad experience:

Faster natural language processing – Features like dictation, voice to text, and the on-screen keyboard can tap into the A14’s machine learning capabilities to more quickly process and understand your voice and typing input.
Enhanced augmented reality – ARKit 4 lets developers create even more detailed immersive experiences powered by the Neural Engine. The new LiDAR scanner on the iPad Pro models takes this to the next level.
Smart camera features – The A14 Bionic chip gives the Neural Engine enough capacity to run real-time enhancements on the fly as you’re taking photos and videos. For example, better noise reduction, smart HDR, improved portrait mode, and faster Night mode processing.
Faster Core ML model performance – Core ML 3 can now run machine learning models up to 10x faster using the A14 Bionic’s Neural Engine. This benefits apps that rely on ML, like text and image recognition, natural language processing, recommendations, and more.

So while not directly visible in benchmark performance numbers, the A14 chip’s advanced machine learning capabilities bring tangible improvements across iPadOS through Apple’s tight integration of hardware and software.

Real-World Performance Examples

Let’s take a look at some real-world examples where reviewers have benchmarked the A14 Bionic chip in the new iPad against older models. Here are some key findings:

2x faster project exports – In Adobe Lightroom, exporting 100 RAW photos took 25 seconds on the iPad Air with A14 versus 50 seconds on the iPad Pro 2020 with A12Z chip.
Up to 3x faster video editing – Video exports in LumaFusion were significantly quicker on devices with A14. A complex 2 minute 4K project rendered in 27 seconds versus 1 minute 15 seconds on 2018 iPad Pro with A12X.
Up to 2x faster app launch times – The latest apps cold launch much quicker on the A14 Bionic. The Affinity Photo app opens in 4.2 seconds on new iPad versus 9 seconds on iPad Air 3 with A12 chip.
Better multitasking – Having more performance headroom allows you to juggle multiple apps smoothly. The A14 chip handles Slide Over and Split View multitasking faster than older iPad models.
Higher gaming frame rates – Graphics intensive games like Call of Duty Mobile run upwards of 2x faster on the iPad Air with A14 compared to the iPad 7th gen with A12 chip.

So in summary, these real-world use cases demonstrate the tangible day-to-day performance benefits of the latest A14 chip in the new 10th generation iPad. It results in much snappier workflows no matter you use your iPad for work, creativity or play.

The Impact on Battery Life

A common concern with newer faster chips is its impact on battery life. However, Apple has maintained excellent energy efficiency despite the performance gains.

Here are some key factors that result in good battery life for the A14 Bionic iPad:

New 5nm process – The smaller 5nm transistors allow for the same performance as older chips but at a much lower power draw.
Efficiency cores – The low-power cores take care of basic tasks without needing to engage the high-performance cores.
Optimized power management – Apple tightly controls the hardware and software to intelligently manage power. Quickly ramping up and down performance when needed.
Same thin design – No major changes in battery capacities on the new iPad versus older models. The power efficiencies compensate for this.

Reviews found the new iPad’s battery life to be very competitive: lasting about 10 hours on a single charge – in line with what Apple promises. Of course, intense gaming or video editing may drain the battery faster. But for most standard productivity work, the A14 Bionic does not compromise on battery life at all.

Conclusion

The A14 Bionic is a significant generational leap in performance for the iPad. The 6-core CPU design, 4-core GPU, and advanced Neural Engine bring tangible real-world speed and efficiency benefits. From much faster app launches and smoother multitasking to superior gaming capabilities and quickly exporting projects on the go. And the advanced machine learning abilities open up new immersive app experiences. All without compromising on the 10 hour battery life iPad users expect. So for existing iPad owners due for an upgrade, the 10th gen model with A14 Bionic chip will feel like a huge speed boost.