Apple motion coprocessors


The Apple M-series coprocessors are motion coprocessors used by Apple Inc. in their mobile devices. First released in 2013, their function is to collect sensor data from integrated accelerometers, gyroscopes and compasses and offload the collecting and processing of sensor data from the main central processing unit.
, the M-series coprocessors so far released have been the M7, the M8, the M9, the M10, the M11, the M12, and the M13. The M7 was introduced in September 2013 with the iPhone 5S and the updated version, M8 was introduced in September 2014 with the iPhone 6 and also processes data from the barometer that is included in the iPhone 6 and iPad Air 2. 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 iPad Pro. The iPhone 7, iPad Pro 10.5-inch and 12.9-inch feature the M10 motion coprocessor. Apple included the M11 in the iPhone 8, 8 Plus and iPhone X. The most recent addition to the M-series processor line is the M13, which first appeared embedded into the A13 Bionic processor found in the iPhone 11, 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max.
Chipworks found that the M7 most likely is a NXP LPC1800 based microcontroller called LPC18A1. It uses an ARM Cortex-M3 core with a customised packaging and naming scheme indicating that it is for an Apple customized part. 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.

Usage

The Apple M7, M8, M9, M10, M11, M12 and M13 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 accelerometer, gyroscope, compass, and in M8 and later coprocessors, barometer, 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

CoprocessorProcessorLaunchedDiscontinuediPhoneiPadOther
Apple M7
Apple A7September 20, 2013March 21, 2017iPhone 5SiPad Air
iPad mini 2
iPad mini 3
Apple M8
Apple A8September 9, 2014May 28, 2019iPhone 6
iPhone 6 Plus		iPad Mini 4iPod Touch
Apple M8
'''		Apple A8XOctober 16, 2014March 21, 2017iPad Air 2
Apple M9Apple A9September 9, 2015September 12, 2018iPhone 6S
iPhone 6S Plus
iPhone SE 		iPad
Apple M9Apple A9XSeptember 9, 2015June 5, 2017iPad Pro 9.7"
iPad Pro 12.9"
Apple M10Apple A10 FusionSeptember 7, 2016PresentiPhone 7
iPhone 7 Plus		iPad
iPad 		Apple TV 4K
iPod Touch
Apple M10Apple A10X FusionJune 16, 2017October 30, 2018
March 18, 2019 		iPad Pro 10.5"
iPad Pro 12.9"
Apple M11Apple A11 BionicSeptember 12, 2017April 15, 2020iPhone 8
iPhone 8 Plus
iPhone X
Apple M12Apple A12 BionicSeptember 12, 2018PresentiPhone XS
iPhone XS Max
iPhone XR		iPad Air
iPad mini
Apple M12Apple A12X BionicOctober 30, 2018March 18, 2020iPad Pro 11"
iPad Pro 12.9"
Apple M12Apple A12Z BionicMarch 18, 2020PresentiPad Pro 11"
iPad Pro 12.9" 		Developer Transition Kit
Apple M13Apple A13 BionicSeptember 10, 2019PresentiPhone 11
iPhone 11 Pro
iPhone 11 Pro Max
iPhone SE

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