The Apple M-series coprocessors are motion

coprocessor A coprocessor is a computer processor used to supplement the functions of the primary processor (the CPU). Operations performed by the coprocessor may be floating-point arithmetic, graphics, signal processing, string processing, cryptography or I ...

s used by Apple Inc. in their mobile devices. First released in 2013, their function is to collect sensor data from integrated

accelerometer An accelerometer is a tool that measures proper acceleration. Proper acceleration is the acceleration (the rate of change of velocity) of a body in its own instantaneous rest frame; this is different from coordinate acceleration, which is acce ...

gyroscope A gyroscope (from Ancient Greek γῦρος ''gŷros'', "round" and σκοπέω ''skopéō'', "to look") is a device used for measuring or maintaining orientation and angular velocity. It is a spinning wheel or disc in which the axis of rot ...

s and

compass A compass is a device that shows the cardinal directions used for navigation and geographic orientation. It commonly consists of a magnetized needle or other element, such as a compass card or compass rose, which can pivot to align itself with ...

es and offload the collecting and processing of sensor data from the main

central processing unit A central processing unit (CPU), also called a central processor, main processor or just processor, is the electronic circuitry that executes instructions comprising a computer program. The CPU performs basic arithmetic, logic, controlling, a ...

(CPU). The first coprocessor of the series is the M7 (codename ''Oscar''), which was introduced in September 2013 as part of the

iPhone 5S The iPhone 5S (stylized and marketed as iPhone 5s) is a smartphone that was designed and marketed by Apple Inc. It is the seventh generation of the iPhone, succeeding the iPhone 5, and unveiled in September 2013, alongside the iPhone 5C. ...

. Chipworks found that the M7 most likely is a

NXP NXP Semiconductors N.V. (NXP) is a Dutch semiconductor designer and manufacturer with headquarters in Eindhoven, Netherlands. The company employs approximately 31,000 people in more than 30 countries. NXP reported revenue of $11.06 billion in 2 ...

LPC1800 based

microcontroller A microcontroller (MCU for ''microcontroller unit'', often also MC, UC, or μC) is a small computer on a single VLSI integrated circuit (IC) chip. A microcontroller contains one or more CPUs ( processor cores) along with memory and programmabl ...

called LPC18A1. It uses an

ARM Cortex-M3 The ARM Cortex-M is a group of 32-bit RISC ARM processor cores licensed by Arm Holdings. These cores are optimized for low-cost and energy-efficient integrated circuits, which have been embedded in tens of billions of consumer devices. Though ...

core with a customised packaging and naming scheme indicating that it is for an Apple customized part. The updated version M8 was introduced in September 2014 with the iPhone 6 and also processes data from the

barometer A barometer is a scientific instrument that is used to measure air pressure in a certain environment. Pressure tendency can forecast short term changes in the weather. Many measurements of air pressure are used within surface weather analysis ...

that is included in the iPhone 6 and iPad Air 2. iFixit have identified the M8 in the iPhone 6 to be an NXP device with a very similar name, the LPC18B1. The later coprocessors are embedded into the A-series SoCs. September 2015 brought the M9 motion coprocessor embedded within the A9 chip found in the iPhone 6S, iPhone 6S Plus, first-generation iPhone SE and within the A9X chip found in the first-generation iPad Pro. The iPhone 7,

iPhone 7 Plus The iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus are smartphones that were designed, developed, and marketed by Apple Inc. They are the tenth generation of the iPhone. They were announced on September 7, 2016, at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Fran ...

, second-generation iPad Pro feature the M10 motion coprocessor, embedded within the A10 Fusion and the A10X Fusion chips. Apple included the M11 in the iPhone 8, 8 Plus and iPhone X, embedded within the A11 Bionic SoC. Starting with the

A12 Bionic The Apple A12 Bionic is a 64-bit ARM-based system on a chip (SoC) designed by Apple Inc. It first appeared in the iPhone XS and XS Max, iPhone XR, iPad Air (3rd generation), iPad Mini (5th generation), 8th generation iPad and Apple TV 4K (2n ...

SoC, Apple has stopped distinguishing the motion coprocessor from the rest of the SoC, and has abandoned the corresponding M-series nomenclature. The M-series nomenclature was reintroduced in 2020 for ARM-based SoCs used in Mac computers and iPad tablets (starting from the 5th generation iPad Pro).

Usage

The Apple M-series coprocessors collect, process, and store sensor data even if the device is asleep, and applications can retrieve data when the device is powered up again. This reduces power draw of the device and saves battery life. In addition to servicing the

, and in M8 and later coprocessors,

, the M9 coprocessor can recognize Siri voice commands from the built in microphones of the device. The M-series motion coprocessors are accessible to applications through the ''Core Motion'' API introduced in iOS 7, so they do, for example, allow fitness apps that track physical activity and access data from the M processors without constantly engaging the main application processor. They enable applications to be aware of what type of movement the user is experiencing, such as driving, walking, running, or sleeping. Another application could be the ability to do indoor tracking and mapping. In iOS 10, the motion coprocessor is used to implement raise-to-wake functionality, reducing idle energy usage.

Products

Gallery

File:NXP LPC18A1.jpg, The LPC18A1, also known as the Apple M7. Manufactured week 29 in 2013. File:LPC18A1-and-A7.jpg, The size difference between the A7 and the smaller LPC18A1 File:NXP LPC18B1.jpg, The LPC18B1, also known as the Apple M8. Manufactured week 28 in 2014. File:LPC18B1-and-A8.jpg, The size difference between the A8 and the smaller LPC18B1 File:LPC18B1 and A8X.png, The size difference between the A8X and the smaller LPC18B1 File:Apple A9 APL1022.jpg, The Apple A9 which has the on-die M9 coprocessor File:Apple A9X.jpg, The Apple A9X which has the on-die M9 coprocessor File:Apple A10 Fusion APL1W24.jpg, Apple A10 Fusion with on-die M10 coprocessor File:Apple A10X Fusion.jpg, Apple A10X with on-die M10 motion co-processor File:Apple A11.jpg, Apple A11 Bionic with on-die M11 motion co-processor

References

{{Apple Inc. Motion coprocessors Coprocessors Products introduced in 2013

Usage

Products

Gallery

See also

References