The Apple A17 Pro Vs A15 Bionic Specification Comparison – These are two processors from Apple known for their exceptional performance and efficiency. Both of these processors have been designed with advanced features and capabilities to provide users with top-notch performance and speed.
Apple has taken another significant stride in the realm of mobile processing with the introduction of the A17 Pro, unveiled on September 13, 2023. This new flagship SoC represents a leap forward compared to its predecessor, the A15, which made its debut on September 14, 2021.
In this article, we will delve into a head-to-head comparison between two powerful processors. Join us as we explore the key features, performance capabilities, and technological advancements of the Apple A15 Bionic Vs A17 Pro, and examine how they stack up against each other in the fiercely competitive mobile processor landscape.”
You can also check its ranking on the Best Mobile Processor Ranking List. Additionally, you can use our Processor Comparison Tool to compare any processor to another.
One of the most notable upgrades lies in the manufacturing process. The A17 Pro boasts a cutting-edge 3nm TSMC fabrication, while the A15 was built on the 5nm process. This advancement allows the A17 Pro to house a staggering 19 billion transistors on a single chip, promising heightened performance, efficiency, and thermal management.
In the core department, the A17 Pro retains a 6-core CPU architecture but makes substantial improvements. It features two high-performance cores clocked at a remarkable 3.7 GHz, delivering a 10% boost in CPU performance. Additionally, four power-efficient cores, each running at 2.02 GHz, contribute to enhanced energy efficiency.
The GPU arena witnesses a significant transformation, with the A17 Pro’s 6-core Apple GPU clocked at 1398 MHz. This represents a 20% boost in GPU performance over the A15’s 5-core GPU, promising a remarkable gaming and graphics experience. Notably, the A17 Pro introduces hardware-accelerated ray tracing, surpassing the A16 Bionic in this department.
The A17 Pro incorporates Apple’s formidable 16-core Neural Engine, a substantial leap from the A15’s AI capabilities. It now boasts a staggering 35 trillion operations per second (TOPS), ensuring faster and more efficient machine learning performance.
In terms of memory, the A17 Pro supports LPDDR5 RAM with a frequency of 3200 MHz, offering seamless multitasking capabilities. The chip maxes out at 8 GB of RAM, with a peak bandwidth of 51.2 gigabytes per second.
Connectivity-wise, the A17 Pro incorporates the Snapdragon X70 5G modem, promising download speeds of up to 10 Gbps and support for both mmWave and sub-6 GHz bands. It’s evident that Apple has made significant strides in connectivity with this chipset.
The A17 Pro has stormed onto the scene with a commanding presence. Apple A17 Pro AnTuTu benchmark score of 1,480,302 showcases its formidable might, illustrating its ability to handle a wide range of tasks with aplomb. In the Geekbench benchmark, it impresses yet again, boasting a Single-Core Score of 2,934 and a Multi-Core Score of 7,374.
Even in the demanding Geekbench 6, it maintains a strong foothold, recording a Single-Core Score of 1,734 and a Multi-Core Score of 4,813. These scores firmly establish the A17 Pro as a performance powerhouse, capable of tackling the most demanding tasks with ease.
On the other side of the ring, we have the A15 Bionic, a chipset that has earned its stripes over time. While its AnTuTu score of 795,947 is commendable, it’s in the Geekbench arena where it truly shines. With a Single-Core Score of 1,734 and a Multi-Core Score of 4,813 in Geekbench, it proves that it still packs a punch, even in the face of newer contenders.
As the A17 Pro takes the stage, it underscores Apple’s relentless pursuit of innovation in the world of mobile processors. With a smaller manufacturing process, enhanced CPU and GPU capabilities, and a formidable AI engine. To further explore its capabilities, you can refer to the Best Mobile Processor Ranking List and utilize our Processor Comparison Tool.
“Make sure to check out our full comparison table for Apple A17 Pro Vs A15 Bionic and feel free to share your feedback or suggestions with us.
Our goal at The Miraq is to provide our readers with the most informative and reliable tech resources possible.”
If you are looking for the absolute best performance, then the A17 Pro is the better choice. However, if you are on a budget or you are not a heavy user, then the A15 Bionic is still a great option.
Manufacturer | Apple Apple |
Announced | 13 September, 2023 14 September, 2021 |
Model | A17 Pro APL1W07 |
Class | Flagship Flagship |
Size | 3nm TSMC 5nm |
Cores | 6‑core CPU 6 |
CPU Configuration |
10% faster - CPU 2x 3.7 GHz – performance and 4x 2.02 GHz efficiency cores 2x 3.24 GHz – Avalanche, 4x 2.02 GHz – Blizzard |
High Frequency | 3700 MHz 3240 MHz |
Performance Core | 2x 3.7 GHz 2x 3.24 GHz – Avalanche |
Power Efficient Core | 4x 2.02 GHz 4x 2.02 GHz – Blizzard |
Core architecture | hybrid (big.LITTLE) hybrid (big.LITTLE) |
Instruction set | ARMv9-A ARMv8.5-A |
L1 Cache | 256 KB 256 KB |
L2 cache | 16 MB 32 MB |
Thermal Design Power (TDP) | 8 W 6 W |
Storage Type | NVMe NVMe |
Extra Feature |
Transistor count 19 billion |
GPU | Apple A17 (6‑core GPU) Apple A15 5‑core GPU |
GPU frequency | 1398 MHz 1200 MHz |
GPU Architecture | Apple GPU |
FLOPS | 2147.2 Gigaflops 249.6 |
OpenCL Version | 2.0 2.0 |
DirectX Support | 12 12 |
Vulkan version | 1.1 1.1 |
Shading units | 128 640 |
Video Encoding |
H.264, H.265, VP8, VP9, Motion JPEG H.264, H.265, Motion JPEG |
Video Playback |
HEVC, H.264 and ProRes HDR with Dolby Vision, HDR10 and HLG Supported formats include HEVC, H.264 and ProRes HDR with Dolby Vision, HDR10 and HLG Up to 4K HDR AirPlay for mirroring, photos and video out to Apple TV (2nd generation or later) or AirPlay 2–enabled smart TV |
Gaming | Ray tracing |
APU / NPU / AI Proc. / Neural IP | Apple 16‑core Neural Engine Apple 16-core Neural Engine |
TOPS Speed | 35 trillion operations per second 15.8 |
Extra Feature |
20% faster GPU 4x faster ray tracing than A16 Bionic 2x faster Neural Engine |
RAM Type | LPDDR5 LPDDR4X |
RAM frequency | 3200 MHz 4266 MHz |
RAM Max | 8 GB 8 GB |
Max Bandwidth | 51.2 gigabytes / second 42.7 Gbit/s |
Bus Speed | 4x 16 Bit 2x 16 Bit |
Cellular Modem | Snapdragon X70 5G modem Snapdragon® X60 5G Modem-RF System |
Cellular Technology |
G NR (Bands n1, n2, n3, n5, n7, n8, n12, n20, n25, n26, n28, n30, n38, n40, n41, n48, n53, n66, n70, n77, n78, n79) FDD-LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 66) TD-LTE (Bands 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 53) UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz) GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz) LTE Broadcast, TD-SCDMA, sub-6 carrier aggregation (FDD-FDD), GSM/EDGE, sub-6 carrier aggregation (TDD-TDD), 5G FDD, LAA, 5G NR, LTE FDD, 5G TDD, sub-6 carrier aggregation (FDD-TDD), SA (standalone), NSA (non-standalone), CDMA 1x, NSA, mmWave-sub6 aggregation, WCDMA (DC-HSUPA), EV-DO, sub-6 GHz, WCDMA (DB-DC-HSDPA), TDD, Dynamic Spectrum Sharing (DSS), LTE, LTE TDD support for CBRS, FDD, mmWave, LTE TDD |
5G Modem | |
5G Network | 5G (sub‑6 GHz) with 4x4 MIMO5 Gigabit LTE with 4x4 MIMO and LAA5 200 MHz bandwidth (sub-6 GHz), 8 carriers (mmWave), 800 MHz bandwidth (mmWave |
5G mmWave | |
5G sub-6 GHz | |
Download Speed | Up to 10 Gbps Up to 7.5 Gbps |
Upload Speed | 3.5 Gbps Up to 3 Gbps |
Dual SIM |
wireless System | Apple wireless System Apple Wireless System |
Wi-Fi Band | Wi‑Fi 6E (802.11ax) with 2x2 MIMO6 (802.11ax) |
WiFi-5 | |
WiFi-6 | |
WiFi-6E | |
Wi-Fi 7 | |
Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.3 Bluetooth 5.0 |
GPS | Precision dual-frequency GPS (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, BeiDou and NavIC), iBeacon micro-location Built-in GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS and BeiDou |
USB | USB-C Lighting Connector and Type-c |
NFC | |
Extra Feature |
Digital compass Second-generation Ultra Wideband chip NFC with reader mode Express Cards with power reserve |
ISP | Apple ISP Apple ISP |
Single Camera | 48MP 12MP camera |
Multi Camera | 12MP + 12MP 12MP + 12MP Dual Camera System |
Video capture |
4K video recording at 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps or 60 fps 1080p HD video recording at 25 fps, 30 fps or 60 fps and 120 fps Cinematic mode up to 4K HDR at 30 fps HDR video recording with Dolby Vision up to 4K at 60 fps ProRes video recording up to 4K at 60 fps with external recording 4K video recording at 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps or 60 fps 1080p HD video recording at 25 fps, 30 fps or 60 fps 720p HD video recording at 30 fps Cinematic mode up to 4K HDR at 30 fps Action mode up to 2.8K at 60 fps HDR video recording with Dolby Vision up to 4K at 60 fps Slow‑motion video support for 1080p at 120 fps or 240 fps Time‑lapse video with stabilisation Night mode Time-lapse QuickTake video |
Video Codec | HEVC, H.264 and ProRes, ACES, H.264, H.265, VP9, Motion JPEG, Apple ProRAW |
Display Support | 2796x1290 2732 x 2048 |
Refresh Rate | 120Hz 120Hz |
Audio Playback | upported formats include AAC, MP3, Apple Lossless, FLAC, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus and Dolby Atmos Spatial Audio playback User‑configurable maximum volume limit |
Bluetooth Audio | AAC, MP3, Apple Lossless, FLAC, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus and Dolby Atmos Spatial Audio playback |
Security Features |
Face ID
Apple Face ID and Touch ID Support |
Fingerprint Sensor | |
Face Detection |
Charging Speed | 15W wireless, 25W wired Apple Macsafe Charging and lighting Charger |
AnTuTu benchmark scores | 1480302 795947 |
Geekbench scores |
Single-Core Score - 2934 Multi-Core Score - 7374 Geekbench 6 Score Single-Core Score - 1734 Multi-Core Score - 4813 |
3DMark | 3DMark Wild Life Unlimited 15,399/92fps and 3DMark Wild Life Extreme Unlimited 3,481/20fps 8739 |