These are all the processors Apple has included in its iPad lineup, starting with the original iPad’s A4 chip.
The evolution of Apple processors has been linked to the evolution of the iPad. The more powerful the chips of the Cupertino company acquired, the more options the iPad had. So, the iPad processor is and has been fundamental in the history of the Apple tablet.
The iPad chip is usually a more powerful variant of the iPhone’s processoralthough with the latest models Apple’s strategy has changed, opting for the same iPhone chip in some models and for the M-series chips in the most powerful ones.
The processor used by each iPad model
Out of curiosity, all iPad models have had a chip developed by Apple, since the first has integrated the A4, the first processor designed by the company. In the following table you have compiled all iPad models and the processor they equippedas well as processor cores.
In parentheses you can see the arrangement of these nuclei, showing first the number of high performance cores, then number of high efficiency cores. Something common in the latest Apple chips.
Model | Processor | cores |
---|---|---|
Original iPad | A4 | 1 core |
ipad 2 | AT 5 | 2 cores |
iPad 3 | A5X | 2 cores |
iPad 4 | A6X | 2 cores |
ipad mini | AT 5 | 2 cores |
ipad air | A7 | 2 cores |
iPad mini 2 | A7 | 2 cores |
iPad Air 2 | A8X | 3 hearts |
iPad mini 3 | AT 8 | 2 cores |
iPad Pro 12.9″ | A9X | 2 cores |
iPad Pro 9.7″ | A9X | 2 cores |
iPad (5ª gen.) | A9 | 2 cores |
iPad Pro 12.9″ (2ª gen.) | A10X Fusion | 6 hearts (3+3) |
iPad Pro 10.5″ | A10X Fusion | 6 hearts (3+3) |
iPad (6ª gen.) | A10 Fusion | 4 hearts (2+2) |
iPad Pro 11 | A12X Bionic | 8 hearts (4+4) |
iPad Pro 12.9″ (3ª gen.) | A12X Bionic | 8 hearts (4+4) |
iPad Air (3ª gen.) | A12 bionic | 6 hearts (2+4) |
iPad mini (5ª gen.) | A12 bionic | 6 hearts (2+4) |
iPad (7ª gen.) | A10 Fusion | 4 hearts (2+2) |
iPad Pro 11″ (2ª gen.) | A12Z bionic | 8 hearts (4+4) |
iPad Pro 12.9″ (4ª gen.) | A12Z bionic | 8 hearts (4+4) |
iPad (8ª gen.) | A12 bionic | 6 hearts (2+4) |
iPad Air (4ª gen.) | A14 bionic | 6 hearts (2+4) |
iPad (9ª gen.) | A13 bionic | 6 hearts (2+4) |
iPad mini (6ª gen.) | A15 bionic | 6 hearts (2+4) |
iPad Air (5ª gen.) | M1 | 8 hearts (4+4) |
iPad Pro 11″ (3ª gen.) | M1 | 8 hearts (4+4) |
iPad Pro 12.9″ (5ª gen.) | M1 | 8 hearts (4+4) |
You can see a constant evolution of each new chip integrated into the iPad range. For a long time, Apple chose to include chips labeled “X” which were more powerful than their counterparts in the iPhone. But lately, the company has opted for another strategy, incorporating Mac chips into its most powerful iPads.