Apple motion coprocessors

The Apple M-series coprocessors are motion s used by Apple in their mobile devices. First released with the Apple M7 in 2013, their function is to collect sensor data from integrated s, s and es and offload the collecting and processing of sensor data from the main central processing unit (CPU). They were later integrated into the , starting with the Apple A9 in 2015, and eventually were no longer separately identified, starting with the Apple A12 in 2018.
== 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 s 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.
==History==
The first coprocessor of the series is the M7 (codename Oscar), which was introduced in September 2013 as part of the iPhone 5S. Chipworks found that the M7 most likely is a based microcontroller called LPC18A1. It uses an 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 that is included in the iPhone 6 and iPad Air 2. has identified the M8 in the iPhone 6 to be an NXP device with a very similar name, the LPC18B1. 
The later coprocessors were 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, 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 release of the A12 Bionic SoC in 2018, Apple stopped distinguishing the motion coprocessor from the rest of the SoC, and abandoned the corresponding M-series nomenclature.
===Releases===
Coprocessor 	Processor 	Launched 	Discontinued 	iPhone 	iPad 	Other 	Ref
Apple M7(LPC18A1)	Apple A7 	September 20, 2013	March 21, 2017 	iPhone 5S 	iPad AiriPad mini 2iPad mini 3	(none) 	
Apple M8(LPC18B1)	Apple A8 	September 9, 2014 	May 28, 2019 	iPhone 6iPhone 6 Plus 	iPad Mini 4 	iPod touch (6th generation) 	
Apple M8(LPC18B1)	Apple A8X 	October 16, 2014 	March 21, 2017 	(none) 	iPad Air 2 	(none) 	
Apple M9 	Apple A9 	September 9, 2015 	September 12, 2018	iPhone 6SiPhone 6S PlusiPhone SE (1st generation)	iPad (5th generation) 	(none) 	
Apple M9 	Apple A9X 	September 9, 2015 	June 5, 2017 	(none) 	iPad Pro (1st generation) 	(none) 	
Apple M10 	Apple A10 Fusion 	September 7, 2016 	Present 	iPhone 7iPhone 7 Plus 	iPad (6th generation)
iPad (7th generation)	iPod touch (7th generation) 	
Apple M10 	Apple A10X Fusion	June 13, 2017 	April 20, 2021 	(none) 	iPad Pro (2nd generation) 	Apple TV 4K (1st generation)	
Apple M11 	Apple A11 Bionic 	September 12, 2017	April 15, 2020 	iPhone 8iPhone 8 PlusiPhone X 	(none) 	(none) 	
== References ==
==External links==
* at Wikipedia
Category:Lists
Category:2013 introductions