Fantastic A19 Pro Benchmarks Hint Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Might Not Be the King After All
Apple's dominance in smartphone chip performance appears to be continuing, as the new Geekbench listing of the iPhone 17 Pro Max powered by the A19 Pro processor reveals amazing results. The benchmark results indicate that Qualcomm's upcoming Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, which was widely expected to threaten Apple's silicon supremacy, may not outperform its competitor after all. This development has piqued the interest of customers and industry experts alike as we approach the next smartphone season.
According to the recent benchmark leak, the A19 Pro secured a single-core score of 4,019 and a multi-core score of 11,154. This marks roughly a 20% improvement over the A18 Pro, which already set a high standard in last year’s testing. More crucially, these data pit Apple’s flagship processor neck-and-neck with Qualcomm’s anticipated Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, which insiders estimate will achieve similar numbers around 4,000 in single-core and 11,000 in multi-core results. The analysis suggests that Qualcomm may finally rival Apple in raw performance but not overtake it, making the competition tighter than ever.
The result is significant because Apple has always maintained a strong edge in single-core performance, which is critical for everyday user experiences like app launches, responsiveness, and system smoothness. Qualcomm's multi-core drive has helped Android flagships close the gap, but new data shows the A19 Pro is still formidable, especially under optimal conditions. That yet, experts caution that the abnormally high scores from this Geekbench run may have benefited from regulated, cooler testing circumstances designed to avoid throttling. Other listings for the same chip show multi-core figures closer to 9,700, which would still represent significant gains but not as dramatic.
The bigger question is whether Qualcomm can use savings and GPU improvements to create a stronger overall package for gaming and AI-intensive applications. Apple's CPUs remain closely integrated with iOS, enabling for performance optimization that Qualcomm, working with many Android OEMs, frequently fails to achieve. Snapdragon smartphones, on the other hand, typically provide more RAM options, faster charging, and aggressive thermal designs, providing them an advantage in terms of versatility. As a result, the fight between the A19 Pro and the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 may extend beyond raw test statistics to actual use.
For smartphone buyers, these early scores underline Apple's unrivaled performance superiority, at least in CPU tasks. However, with Qualcomm finally catching up in the numbers game, the 2025-2026 flagship cycle looks to be one of the most competitive in years. Whether you're looking at the iPhone 17 Pro Max or an impending Android flagship, one thing is certain: the silicon competition is heating up, and consumers will benefit from the constant innovation.
📌Source: Geekbench Listings, Digital Chat Station (via Weibo), Industry Reports
📌Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for general guidance only and is not intended to serve as financial, legal, or professional advice. Technology leaks, benchmarks, and insider reports are subject to change, and official confirmation should always be taken from the manufacturer. Readers are advised to treat all rumors with caution until verified by Apple or Qualcomm.