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Apple’s A20 Pro is a 2-nanometer smartphone chip with a 6-core CPU, 7-core GPU and Dual 16-core Neural Engine. In Tom’s Guide testing, the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max delivered similar CPU scores, but the Pro Max held up better in a sustained graphics test. The chip is built into those phones; Apple does not list it as a standalone consumer component.
A20 Pro specifications
Apple’s 2026 launch announcement identifies A20 Pro as built using the latest 2-nanometer process technology. Its listed configuration is:
- CPU: 6 cores, with integrated Neural Accelerators.
- GPU: 7 cores.
- Neural Engine: Dual 16-core design, or 32 Neural Engine cores in total.
Apple says A20 Pro has 50 percent more memory bandwidth than A19 Pro, a GPU that is up to 40 percent faster, and double the AI processing power. These are Apple’s comparisons; its announcement does not provide detailed independent testing methodology for those claims. It also does not state the chip’s transistor count, die area, clock speed or absolute memory bandwidth. Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max announcement
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Tom’s Guide published device tests on September 17, 2026. The CPU figures below are scores from separate Geekbench versions, so compare phones within a version rather than treating Geekbench 6 and 7 as one scale.
#1 Best Overall
- This phone is unlocked and compatible with any carrier of choice on GSM and CDMA networks (e.g. AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, US Cellular, Cricket, Metro, Tracfone, Mint Mobile, etc.).
- Please check with your carrier to verify compatibility.
- The device does not come with headphones or a SIM card. It does include a generic (Mfi certified) charging cable.
- Tested for battery health and guaranteed to have a minimum battery capacity of 80%.
| Phone | Geekbench 6 single-core | Geekbench 6 multi-core | Geekbench 7 single-core | Geekbench 7 multi-core |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 18 Pro | 4,735 | 12,800 | 4,022 | 11,543 |
| iPhone 18 Pro Max | 4,741 | 12,789 | 4,025 | 11,525 |
| iPhone 17 Pro | 3,834 | 9,988 | 3,138 | 8,692 |
In those results, the A20 Pro phones scored very similarly to each other in CPU tests. Both also scored above the iPhone 17 Pro in the listed Geekbench 6 and Geekbench 7 results. These are scores from Tom’s Guide’s tested phones, not a guarantee that every app or workload will improve by the same amount. Tom’s Guide’s iPhone 18 Pro benchmark results
Sustained graphics performance differs by phone
Peak graphics results and performance maintained through a repeated test answer different questions. In Tom’s Guide’s 3DMark Wild Life Extreme Stress Test, stability was:
Rank #2
- 6.9" LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1320x2868px at 460ppi, 1000 nits (typ), 2000 nits (HBM), 4685mAh Battery
- 1TB, 8GB RAM, Apple A18 Pro (3nm), Hexa-core (2x4.05 GHz + 4x2.42 GHz), Apple GPU 6-core, iOS 18, upgradable to iOS 18.3
- Rear camera: 48MP, f/1.8 (wide) + 12MP, f/2.8 (periscope telephoto) 5x optical zoom + 48MP, f/2.2 (ultrawide), TOF 3D LiDAR scanner (depth), Front Camera: 12MP, f/1.9 (wide)
- 2G: 850/900/1800/1900, 3G: HSDPA 850/900/1700(AWS)/1900/2100, 4G LTE: 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/14/17/18/19/20/25/26/28/29/30/32/34/38/39/40/41/42/48/53/66/71, 1/2/3/5/7/8/12/14/20/25/26/28/29/30/38/40/41/48/53/66/70/71/75/76/77/78/79/258/260/261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - Dual eSIM
- Unlocked for freedom to choose your carrier. Compatible with both GSM & CDMA networks. The phone is unlocked to work with all GSM Carriers & CDMA Carriers Including AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, Sprint., Etc.
| Phone | Stability |
|---|---|
| iPhone 18 Pro | 62.8% |
| iPhone 18 Pro Max | 79.4% |
| iPhone 17 Pro | 61.1% |
| iPhone 17 Pro Max | 65.2% |
The A20 Pro Pro Max’s measured stability was notably higher than the Pro’s in this test, while the iPhone 18 Pro result was closer to the iPhone 17 Pro result. Stability is specific to this test and these phone models; it is not a universal rating of gaming performance.
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For another graphics measure, Tom’s Guide reported 3DMark Solar Bay Unlimited results of 61.93 frames per second for iPhone 18 Pro and 67.9 fps for Pro Max. Those figures describe that workload, not sustained results across all games. Tom’s Guide’s iPhone 18 Pro graphics tests
Rank #3
- 6.1inch Super Retina XDR display. Aluminum with color-infused glass back. Ring/Silent switch
- Dynamic Island. A magical way to interact with iPhone. A16 Bionic chip with 5-core GPU
- Advanced dual-camera system. 48MP Main | Ultra Wide. Super-high-resolution photos (24MP and 48MP). Next-generation portraits with Focus and Depth Control. 4X optical zoom range
- Emergency SOS via satellite. Crash Detection. Roadside Assistance via satellite
- Up to 26 hours video playback. USB C, Supports USB 2. Face ID
What Apple says about cooling and sustained speed
Apple describes custom packaging that places the silicon die beside memory, moving memory out of the chip’s thermal path and allowing direct attachment to a redesigned vapor chamber. Apple says that vapor chamber has three times the surface area of the previous iPhone 17 Pro generation and enables up to 40 percent higher sustained performance. That is Apple’s claim, not a promise of the same gain in every workload or phone. Apple’s description of the A20 Pro thermal design
The different stability results for iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max show why sustained performance should be assessed by device as well as chip. A benchmark describes performance under its particular test conditions; it does not establish how long a phone will maintain a given frame rate in every game.
Rank #4
- This pre-owned product is not Apple certified, but has been professionally inspected, tested and cleaned by Amazon-qualified suppliers.
- There will be no visible cosmetic imperfections when held at an arm’s length.
- This product is eligible for a replacement or refund within 90 days of receipt if you are not satisfied.
- Product may come in generic Box.
What the A20 Pro benchmarks tell you
- For everyday CPU-heavy tasks: the Geekbench results show closely matched scores between the two A20 Pro phones, with higher scores than the tested iPhone 17 Pro in the listed versions.
- For demanding graphics: the Pro Max had higher Solar Bay Unlimited frame rates and substantially higher Wild Life Extreme Stress Test stability than the Pro in Tom’s Guide’s tests.
- For AI workloads: Apple claims double the AI processing power of A19 Pro, but the cited announcement does not supply an independent benchmark for that comparison.
Can you buy the A20 Pro chip by itself?
The cited Apple announcement identifies A20 Pro as the processor in iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max; it does not describe a standalone retail chip. If you want a device with A20 Pro, the relevant products are those two phones, rather than a separate component purchase. Apple’s launch announcement
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Quick Recap
Best Value
- 6.7inch Super Retina XDR display. ProMotion technology. Always-On display. Titanium with textured matte glass back. Action button
- Dynamic Island. A magical way to interact with iPhone. A17 Pro chip with 6-core GPU
- Pro camera system. 48MP Main | Ultra Wide| Telephoto. Super-high-resolution photos (24MP and 48MP). Next-generation portraits with Focus and Depth Control. Up to 10x optical zoom range
- Emergency SOS via satellite. Crash Detection. Roadside Assistance via satellite
- Up to 29 hours video playback. USB-C, Supports USB 3 for up to 20x faster transfers. Face ID
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