- Snapdragon 8 Elite (Gen 4) and A18 Pro lead in power and efficiency
- Dimensity 9400+ stands out for its thermal stability during long sessions.
- AnTuTu and Geekbench measure different things: interpret their numbers in context.
If you're lost in a sea of chip names and synthetic benchmark scores, this is the place for you. Here, we've gathered everything you need to know about the best mobile processors according to AnTuTu and Geekbench in a single article, with clear context and no fluff.
In addition to ranking and comparing, we explain why a mobile SoC is special, what changes compared to a PC processor, and how to interpret these benchmarks without falling into common pitfalls. The goal is that, after reading, you'll have a clear understanding of what to choose for gaming, AI, battery life, or sustained performance.
Why a mobile processor isn't like the one in your PC
In mobile technology, everything revolves around two priorities: energy efficiency and immediate response . This necessitates the design of chips that instantly wake the screen, process photos and video in real time, and manage sensors and networks without drastically increasing power consumption.
While a PC is geared towards general-purpose tasks, a smartphone distributes the workload between high-performance cores and more energy-efficient ones, resulting in a very agile system for specific tasks even though its wattage is limited.
For battery life and heat dissipation reasons, mobile SoCs are opting for Arm architectures instead of x86. This allows for designs with a reduced instruction set and high efficiency, exactly what a pocket device needs.
Arm architecture and big.LITTLE schematics
Mobile SoCs use Arm architecture with combinations of powerful and efficient cores, which many call big.LITTLE in multi-core processors . The system assigns heavy-duty tasks to the larger cores and light-duty tasks to the smaller ones to extend battery life.
Arm doesn't manufacture chips; it designs cores that are then integrated by companies like Qualcomm, MediaTek, Apple, and Google, and ultimately produced by foundries like TSMC and Samsung . This separation speeds up innovation and availability.
What is a SoC and what does it integrate?
A SoC is literally a ' system on a chip ': it combines CPU, GPU, modem, camera ISP, AI NPU, security, sensor controllers and often memory on the same silicon.
This approach compacts functions that were previously spread across multiple chips on the board, reducing latency and improving power consumption. In today's mobile phones, everything is integrated to maximize every milliwatt and every millimeter.
How to read AnTuTu and Geekbench without making mistakes
AnTuTu measures a little bit of everything (CPU, GPU, memory, user experience) and offers an overall score . Geekbench separates single-core and multi-core workloads and simulates more everyday tasks, such as video filters or blurring in video calls.
Keep these points in mind when comparing: metrics are not identical across platforms (Metal on iOS, Vulkan on Android), listings show only popular models updated monthly, scores are averages of real devices, and the global ranking usually excludes China.
The current podium in raw performance
Among top Android devices, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite (Gen 4) scores very high figures in AnTuTu v10 (around 2.743.000) and Geekbench 6 (around 3.155 single-core and 9.723 multi-core), with a good speed/temperature balance, although stability can drop to 49% under prolonged stress.
Within the Apple ecosystem, the A18 Pro stands out as the benchmark for power and efficiency, boasting CPU and GPU improvements over the A17 Pro and more modest power consumption. In representative Geekbench 6 benchmarks, it scores over 3.400 in single-core and 8.500 in multi-core, and in AnTuTu it easily surpasses 1,8 million.
MediaTek has taken a leap forward with the Dimensity 9400 and 9400+ (3 nm), combining Cortex X925/X4 and A720 cores, achieving Geekbench 6 scores around 2.9K/9K (single/multi) and AnTuTu scores above 2,87 million. The 9400+ stands out for maintaining better thermal stability (≈58%) during long sessions.
Samsung with Exynos 2400 scores ≈1.769.000 in AnTuTu and around 2.193/6.895 (mono/multi) in Geekbench 6, behind the 8 Elite in CPU and GPU, but with a good balance of power consumption.
Google prioritizes AI and computational photography with Tensor G4 (≈1.291.000 on AnTuTu and Geekbench and GPU scores lower than top-of-the-range models), focusing on efficiency, experience, and proprietary features rather than synthetic records.
The latest in mobile gaming
If you want maximum FPS in titles like PUBG or Genshin, the winning trio that appears in 3DMark comparisons places the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 as the best option , followed by Snapdragon 8 Elite (Gen 4) and a surprising Xiaomi Xring O1 as the third alternative.
The Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 boasts an Adreno 840 GPU, frequencies up to 5 GHz, a modem with peak speeds of 5.000 Mbps, and memory support up to 32 GB, a package designed for demanding games without bottlenecks.
The best Android processor right now
In terms of pure Android performance and maturity, the top three are divided between Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 as the benchmark, Snapdragon 8 Elite (Gen 4) as second due to similar specifications, and MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ for balance and sustained stability.
They all score very high on AnTuTu/Geekbench, with differences in heat dissipation and consistency under stress. With the same phone's thermal design, you'll see that the 9400+ and 8 Elite (Gen 4) handle long sessions better than other very aggressive chips.
Snapdragon and MediaTek: How their rankings look
Qualcomm maintains its historical leadership among Android manufacturers. If you're looking for the most powerful processor in its lineup, the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 tops the list in terms of GPU, modem, and clock speeds.
MediaTek has gone from 'alternative' to premium option. At MediaTek, the Dimensity 9400+ ranks number one in terms of scores, 3nm efficiency, and thermal stability, which is unusual at such high specifications.
Data sheet and comparisons of specific chips
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen3
Eight cores on TSMC's 4nm process with one 'Prime' core at 3,3 GHz, five performance cores at 3,0–3,2 GHz, and two efficient cores at 2,3 GHz. It integrates a Hexagon NPU for AI, an Adreno GPU for 8K gaming and up to 240 FPS , a 5G modem of up to 10 Gbps, and the Snapdragon Sight suite for computational photography.
It's not number one in all benchmarks, but as a complete SoC for top-of-the-range Android (S24 Ultra, ROG Phone 8 Pro) it's very well-rounded and has great developer support.
Apple A17 Pro
Manufactured at 3nm by TSMC with two performance cores at 3,78 GHz and four efficiency cores at 2,11 GHz. In Geekbench it usually outperforms the 8 Gen 3 in CPU , although in AnTuTu it lags behind due to how the test weights GPU/memory.
The NPU (Neural Engine) accelerates AI functions, Face ID, and photography. It uses Qualcomm's X70 modem, which is a step down from the X75 that accompanies the 8 Gen 3 for 5G connectivity.
Apple A16 Bionic
Built on a 4nm process and featuring the Everest/Sawtooth chipset, it maintains raw performance close to the A17 Pro. It offers improvements in cache and LPDDR5 memory compared to the A15, while preserving the excellent power-to-consumption balance of its predecessor.
MediaTek Dimensity 9300
The design features four Cortex X4 cores at 3,25 GHz and four A720 cores at 2,0 GHz, a 4nm TSMC process, a 12-core GPU, and an NPU capable of handling generative models with 33 billion parameters. It shines in peak performance tests, but thermal throttling appears sooner than on the 8 Gen 3, so sustained performance generally favors Qualcomm.
Google Tensor G3
Focused on AI and photography for the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro, with a proprietary TPU and a design prioritizing experiences over top performance. It performs wonderfully for Google apps and computational photography ; however, it does overheat in demanding games and doesn't compete with the top performers in benchmarks.
2025 Selection: Elite, A18, Exynos, Dimensity and Tensor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite (4th Gen): Two high-performance Oryon cores at 4,32 GHz and six efficient Oryon cores at 3,53 GHz. It scores over 2,74 million on AnTuTu 10 and around 3.155/9.723 on Geekbench 6. It delivers top-tier Android performance with careful handling under prolonged stress.
Apple A18 and A18 Pro: The A18 boasts a 30% CPU performance boost over its predecessors with lower power consumption and a GPU up to 40% faster than the A16. The A18 Pro (≈3.582/8.500 in Geekbench 6) leads in efficiency and smoothness for gaming, photography, and battery life.
Samsung Exynos 2400: X4 at 3,21 GHz within a ten-core CPU. AnTuTu ≈1.769.000 and Geekbench 6 ≈2.193/6.895. Behind the 8 Elite in raw performance, but with good overall balance and solid value.
MediaTek Dimensity 9400/9400+: X925 cores at 3,73 GHz, three X4 cores at 3,3 GHz, and four A720 cores at 2,4 GHz on a 3 nm process. Geekbench 6 scores approximately 2.878/8.969 and up to approximately 2.927/9.000; AnTuTu 10 scores over 2,87 million. The 9400+ maintains better stability than the 8 Elite under stress.
Google Tensor G4: X4 at 3,1 GHz with A720 and A520, focused on efficiency and AI for the Pixel 9. AnTuTu scores approximately 1,29 million, and Geekbench multicore scores fall below the top. It's not aiming for records , but rather for camera experiences and on-device features.
Top mobiles by Geekbench: who leads
In recent Geekbench rankings, the ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra comes out on top in both single and multi-core performance, a truly powerful device.
The Galaxy S24 Ultra remains among the best of 2024 for performance and a polished One UI; the S24+ alternates between better single-core results with Snapdragon and multi-core with Exynos, a curiosity of those combinations.
The Xiaomi 14 Pro enters the market strongly with CPU scores that already compete with desktop benchmarks, and the Vivo X90 Pro+ appears further down with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, illustrating how much the high-end range has evolved .
Key Notes on Comparisons and Lists
Keep in mind that AnTuTu and Geekbench are not identical across platforms (Metal vs. Vulkan), they show popular models, and the scores are actual averages , not the absolute peak. Global rankings usually exclude China to maintain consistency.
The evolution of the Apple A-series (A10 to A18 Pro)
A10 Fusion (2016): four cores with a big.LITTLE focus (Hurricane and Zephyr), TSMC's 16nm process, and approximately 3,28 billion transistors. In Geekbench 6 it scores around 878/1.319 and in AnTuTu 10 around 398.082, modest figures by today's standards but still functional for basic tasks. For context on processor generations, see processor generations.
A11 Bionic (2017): six cores (Monsoon/Mistral) and the first Neural Engine. Up to 25% improvement in single-core performance over the A10 and a significant leap in multi-core performance. In 2025, scores of approximately 1.087/2.346 are expected in Geekbench 6 and approximately 486.501 in AnTuTu 10, making casual gaming viable.
A12 Bionic (2018): first 7nm chip, 6,9 billion transistors, Vortex/Tempest and eight-core NE. In current tests, it scores approximately 700.191 on AnTuTu 10 and 1.292/2.837 on Geekbench 6. Notable improvement in AI and efficiency.
A13 Bionic (2019): 7nm N7P, 8,5 billion transistors, Lightning/Thunder cores, and a more efficient GPU. Boosts graphics and machine learning with AMX blocks, while maintaining a smooth experience in modern apps.
A14 Bionic (2020): first 5nm, 11,8 billion transistors, Firestorm/Icestorm and 16-core NE (11 TOPS). Geekbench 6 scores around 2.171 single and 5.064 multi, with 5G support and a significant GPU leap.
A15 Bionic (2021): 5nm N5P, 15 billion transistors, Avalanche/Blizzard and larger caches. Scores ≈1,299M on AnTuTu 10 and ≈2.332/5.736 on Geekbench 6; 16-core NE at 15,8 TOPS and high efficiency.
A16 Bionic (2022): 4 nm N4P, 16 billion transistors, Everest/Sawtooth, LPDDR5, and GPU/NE improvements (17 TOPS). Very solid battery life and with better memory bandwidth .
A17 Pro (2023): first 3nm, 19 billion transistors, hardware ray tracing, NE at 35 TOPS and ≈1,533M in AnTuTu 10; Geekbench 6 ≈2.953/7.441. It represents a leap in graphics and connectivity (USB 3.2).
A18 Pro (2024): Six cores with peaks of 4,05 GHz, 15% more CPU vs A17 Pro and 20% less power consumption, GPU 40% faster with accelerated RT and Geekbench 6 around 3.461/8.546. Current benchmark in power and efficiency.
Recommendations by usage profile
Competitive gaming: Look for the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 or 8 Elite (Gen 4) for its GPU and peak FPS, or a Dimensity 9400+ if you prioritize sustained long-term stability in intense sessions.
Photo, video, and AI: The A18 Pro and A17 Pro are safe bets thanks to their NE and imaging pipelines; on Android, the Tensor G4 stands out if you prioritize camera experiences and on-device features.
Performance/battery balance: The Exynos 2400 and Dimensity 9400 perform outstandingly; if you want ecosystem and third-party support, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is still very complete.
Budget and lifespan: On iPhone, from A12 to A15 you'll find a good compromise between price, performance, and years of support; on Android, high-end models from 2023–2024 with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2/3 are still a smart buy.
With all of the above in mind, you can now choose wisely: if you're looking for pure record-breaking performance, look at the Elite/A18 Pro; if you prioritize long sessions, focus on the 9400+; if you value photography/AI and ecosystem, go for the A18 Pro or Tensor; and if you want an 'all-rounder' Android, the 8 Gen 3 remains a safe bet.
