Processor Used by Each iPad Model: These are all the processors Apple has included in its iPad lineup, starting with the original iPad’s A4 chip.
The iPad chip is usually a more powerful variant of the iPhone’s processor although 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.
We review the processor that each iPad model has built-in
The Processor used by Each iPad Model
Out of curiosity, all iPad models have had a chip developed by Apple, since the first integrated the A4, the first processor designed by the company. In the following table, you have compiled all iPad models and the processor they equipped as well as processor cores.
In parentheses, you can see the arrangement of these nuclei, showing first the number of high-performance cores, and then a 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 |
| ipadmini2 | A7 | 2 cores |
| iPad Air 2 | A8X | 3 hearts |
| ipadmini3 | AT 8 | 2 cores |
| iPad Pro 12.9″ | A9X | 2 cores |
| iPad Pro 9.7″ | A9X | 2 cores |
| iPad (5th generation) | A9 | 2 cores |
| iPad Pro 12.9″ (2nd generation) | A10X Fusion | 6 hearts (3+3) |
| iPad Pro 10.5″ | A10X Fusion | 6 hearts (3+3) |
| iPad (6th generation) | A10 Fusion | 4 hearts (2+2) |
| iPad Pro 11 | A12X Bionic | 8 hearts (4+4) |
| iPad Pro 12.9″ (3rd generation) | A12X Bionic | 8 hearts (4+4) |
| iPad Air (3rd generation) | A12 bionic | 6 hearts (2+4) |
| iPad mini (5th generation) | A12 bionic | 6 hearts (2+4) |
| iPad (7th generation) | A10 Fusion | 4 hearts (2+2) |
| iPad Pro 11″ (2nd generation) | A12Z bionic | 8 hearts (4+4) |
| iPad Pro 12.9″ (4th generation) | A12Z bionic | 8 hearts (4+4) |
| iPad (8th generation) | A12 bionic | 6 hearts (2+4) |
| iPad Air (4th generation) | A14 bionic | 6 hearts (2+4) |
| iPad (9th generation) | A13 bionic | 6 hearts (2+4) |
| iPad mini (6th generation) | A15 bionic | 6 hearts (2+4) |
| iPad Air (5th generation) | M1 | 8 hearts (4+4) |
| iPad Pro 11″ (3rd generation) | M1 | 8 hearts (4+4) |
| iPad Pro 12.9″ (5th generation) | 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 labelled “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.
