Early benchmarks show Apple's new chip outpacing rivals
Preliminary test results for the iPhone 18 Pro series reveal a significant performance jump over the previous generation, though comparisons with Android competitors remain complicated by inconsistent prototype data.
The new iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models have entered the benchmark scene, offering a first look at the capabilities of Apple’s latest A20 Pro chip. According to data cited by GSMArena, these devices scored 4,719 and 4,612 in single-core tests, with multi-core results of 12,677 and 11,819. These figures suggest a solid improvement for users who rely on raw processing power for tasks like video editing or complex multitasking.
When averaged against the previous generation's iPhone 17 Pro models, the new scores indicate a 21 to 23 percent increase in performance. This gain is notable because it is achieved while moving to a 2-nanometer manufacturing process, which typically aims to reduce power consumption. For the average user, this translates to potentially longer battery life during heavy workloads without sacrificing speed, a trade-off that Apple has prioritized in recent generations.
Performance gains come with caveats
While the numbers look impressive, they come from prototype units rather than final retail hardware. The devices ran iOS 27 and featured 12GB of RAM, but benchmark scores on pre-release software can fluctuate significantly. Developers often adjust performance profiles before launch, meaning these early results may not reflect the final experience. Readers should treat these figures as indicative rather than definitive until official reviews are complete.
Android rivals show mixed results
Comparisons with Android competitors are less straightforward. The MediaTek Dimensity 9600 chip scored higher in multi-core tests but trailed the A20 Pro in single-core performance. Meanwhile, data for the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 is inconsistent, with some results appearing too low to be credible. This highlights a major catch in tech reporting: cross-platform benchmark comparisons are often misleading when based on early, unverified prototype runs.
Consumers should wait for standardized testing across final hardware and software versions before drawing conclusions about which ecosystem leads in raw speed. The current gap in reliable data means that claims of one chip dominating the other are premature. As official launches for competing Android chips approach later this month, a clearer picture of the true performance hierarchy will emerge, allowing for more meaningful comparisons.
