The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
Short answer: A20 Pro is a meaningful upgrade over A19 Pro, but the benefit depends on what you do. Independent tests show roughly 21% higher single-core and 29% higher multi-core CPU results, substantially faster graphics, much better long-run gaming stability, and a large on-device AI score increase. Messaging, browsing and ordinary social apps will still feel much the same because A19 Pro is already a flagship-class chip. The difference is easiest to see in demanding games, video exports, computational photography and sustained AI workloads.
What the benchmark results actually show
A20 Pro powers the iPhone 18 Pro generation, while A19 Pro powers the iPhone 17 Pro generation. The clearest independent comparisons come from Tom’s Guide and Beebom Gadgets in 2026. Their results point to a generational upgrade rather than a minor clock-speed bump, especially on the GPU and in workloads that run for several minutes instead of several seconds.
| Test | iPhone 18 Pro / A20 Pro | iPhone 17 Pro / A19 Pro | What it indicates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 single-core | 4,735 | 3,834 | Short, lightly threaded tasks such as opening an app or processing a single operation |
| Geekbench 6 multi-core | 12,800 | 9,988 | Parallel CPU work such as exports, batch processing and complex calculations |
| Geekbench 7 single-core | 4,022 | 3,138 | Single-threaded performance on a newer benchmark version |
| Geekbench 7 multi-core | 11,543 | 8,692 | Multi-threaded performance on Geekbench 7 |
| 3DMark Solar Bay | 16,288 points; 61.93 fps | 12,208 points; 46.4 fps | Ray-traced and graphics-heavy performance |
| 3DMark Wild Life Extreme stability | 80% | 59.5% | How consistently a phone maintains performance during a long graphics loop |
| Geekbench AI 1.7 | 69,245 | 49,050 | On-device machine-learning and inference throughput |
Tom’s Guide measured the CPU and graphics scores on an iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro. Beebom’s CPU comparison used an iPhone 18 Pro Max for its A20 Pro result and described the gain as about 21% in Geekbench 6 single-core and 29% in multi-core performance. Because phone model, temperature and test run can affect a score, treat the percentages as a practical range rather than a promise that every app will run exactly that much faster.
How much faster is A20 Pro’s CPU?
Single-core performance
In Tom’s Guide’s Geekbench 6 run, iPhone 18 Pro scored 4,735 in single-core against 3,834 for iPhone 17 Pro. That is approximately a 23.5% advantage for A20 Pro in that test. The same devices scored 4,022 and 3,138 respectively in Geekbench 7, a roughly 28% difference.
#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.
- When you receive the phone, insert a SIM card from a compatible carrier. Then, turn it on, connect to Wi-Fi, and follow the on screen prompts to activate service.
- The device does not come with headphones or a SIM card. It does include a generic (Mfi certified) charger and charging cable.
- Tested for battery health and guaranteed to have a minimum battery capacity of 80%.
Single-core results matter for the many short operations that make a phone feel responsive: launching an app, applying a small photo adjustment, calculating a webpage layout or running one demanding thread inside an app. A higher score gives A20 Pro more headroom, but it does not make every tap 23% faster. App startup often depends on storage, network access, animations and the app’s own code, not only on the processor.
Multi-core performance
Multi-core performance is where A20 Pro’s advantage becomes more useful for creator workflows. Tom’s Guide recorded 12,800 in Geekbench 6 multi-core for iPhone 18 Pro versus 9,988 for iPhone 17 Pro, a gain of about 28%. In Geekbench 7, the results were 11,543 and 8,692, about 33% apart. Beebom’s iPhone 18 Pro Max result was 12,598 in Geekbench 6, close to Tom’s Guide’s Pro score.
These numbers describe parallel CPU capacity, not a guaranteed export-time reduction. A video editor may use the CPU, GPU, media engines, storage and thermal system together. A workload that scales well across cores can approach the benchmark advantage; a lightly threaded task will be closer to the single-core result.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Do not mix Geekbench 6 and Geekbench 7 scores
Geekbench 6 and Geekbench 7 are different benchmark versions with different workloads and scoring behavior. Beebom explicitly cautions that their scores are not directly comparable. Compare A20 Pro with A19 Pro within the same version, as in the table above, rather than treating 4,735 in Geekbench 6 as a target that should match 4,022 in Geekbench 7.
Why the GPU results are the most noticeable upgrade
Graphics testing shows a larger practical separation than ordinary CPU tests. Tom’s Guide measured 16,288 points and 61.93 frames per second in 3DMark Solar Bay on iPhone 18 Pro, compared with 12,208 points and 46.4 fps on iPhone 17 Pro. The frame-rate results are about 33% higher for A20 Pro, while the points are about 33% apart as well.
Rank #2
- 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.
- When you receive the phone, insert a SIM card from a compatible carrier. Then, turn it on, connect to Wi-Fi, and follow the on screen prompts to activate service.
- The device does not come with headphones or a SIM card. It does include a generic (Mfi certified) charger and charging cable.
- Tested for battery health and guaranteed to have a minimum battery capacity of 80%.
Beebom’s 3DMark Wild Life Extreme stress test adds an important detail: A20 Pro maintained 80% of its peak performance through the loop, while A19 Pro maintained 59.5%. A peak benchmark tells you how fast a phone can be for a short burst; a stability score tells you how much of that speed remains after the device heats up. That distinction matters in a long game, a prolonged 4K export or repeated computational-photography processing.
What this means in games
- Demanding 3D games have more rendering headroom on A20 Pro, so the phone is better positioned for high-quality effects, higher frame-rate targets or less aggressive resolution scaling.
- A20 Pro’s higher stress-test stability should make frame delivery more consistent after an extended session, although the game’s engine, graphics settings, room temperature and phone model still matter.
- A19 Pro remains capable of running current flagship games. The upgrade is most visible when a title already pushes the iPhone 17 Pro near its thermal or graphics limits.
- Neither benchmark establishes that every game will run at a specific frame rate. Developers can cap frame rates, and some games are limited by network or software rather than the GPU.
On-device AI: a large benchmark gain with a narrower real-world effect
Tom’s Guide measured 69,245 in Geekbench AI 1.7 on iPhone 18 Pro and 49,050 on iPhone 17 Pro. That is approximately a 41% advantage for A20 Pro in this test. The result indicates substantially more throughput for machine-learning operations executed on the phone instead of sent to a server.
That extra capacity can help with image segmentation, object recognition, transcription, summarization, language features and other on-device inference. The visible benefit depends on whether an app supports the relevant iOS frameworks and whether it is limited by the neural processor, memory, storage or network latency. A benchmark score is not proof that A20 Pro is the fastest AI phone overall: Tom’s Guide found a competing Samsung device ahead in its cross-platform AI test, and cross-platform results can vary with software and benchmark implementation.
For someone who uses on-device AI occasionally, A19 Pro is still adequate. For frequent local transcription, photo search, generative image features or future iOS features that run models locally, A20 Pro provides more margin before a task becomes slow or falls back to cloud processing.
Sustained performance depends on the phone, not just the chip
Tom’s Guide measured sustained-performance stability of 62.8% on the Pro models and 61.1% on the previous Pro models. In its Pro Max results, stability was 79.4% for the A20 Pro phone and 65.2% for the A19 Pro phone. The large difference between Pro and Pro Max results shows why a chip specification cannot predict every long-run result: chassis size, heat spreaders, software controls and ambient temperature all influence how long performance can be maintained.
Rank #3
- 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.
- When you receive the phone, insert a SIM card from a compatible carrier. Then, turn it on, connect to Wi-Fi, and follow the on screen prompts to activate service.
- The device does not come with headphones or a SIM card. It does include a generic (Mfi certified) charger and charging cable.
- Tested for battery health and guaranteed to have a minimum battery capacity of 80%.
A20 Pro therefore does not guarantee the same sustained score in every iPhone 18 model. A larger Pro Max may dissipate heat more effectively than a smaller Pro, while a case, direct sunlight or a warm room can reduce performance on either generation. Use the specific model’s stress-test behavior when sustained gaming or repeated exports are central to your decision.
Architecture and bandwidth changes behind A20 Pro
MacRumors, reporting Apple’s specifications and claims, says A20 Pro uses a 2-nanometer process and a six-core CPU with integrated Neural Accelerators. Apple claims up to 20% faster CPU performance than A19 Pro, a new seven-core GPU up to 40% faster, up to 50% more memory bandwidth and up to 40% better sustained performance. Those are Apple’s “up to” claims, not independent averages; the measured results above are the better guide to what a particular test showed.
NanoReview lists memory bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s for A20 Pro versus 76.8 GB/s for A19 Pro. It also reports AnTuTu 11 totals of about 3.434 million and 2.538 million respectively. AnTuTu is useful for a broad, same-version comparison, but keep the comparison within the same platform and version: its iOS and Android implementations are not directly comparable.
More bandwidth helps when the CPU and GPU move large data sets, such as high-resolution images, video frames or complex game assets. It does not make a weak network connection faster and does not by itself determine battery life. The 2-nanometer process may contribute to efficiency and transistor density, but the cited tests do not provide a controlled battery comparison, so no specific battery-life improvement can be promised.
What you will notice in everyday iPhone use
Messaging, email and social apps
For messages, email, calendar work, web browsing and ordinary social apps, both chips are fast. A19 Pro already has enough performance that most people will not perceive the benchmark gap as a proportional increase in responsiveness. Network delays, app servers and animation timing often dominate these tasks.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsRank #4
- BIGGER, YET SLIMMER THAN EVER: Who would’ve guessed that wider could also be lighter? The design of Galaxy Z Fold7 is refined to feel like a traditional smartphone with its expanded cover display.
- BEST CAMERA ON A FOLD YET: You asked for more – now you can have the most. Galaxy Z Fold7 now boasts an ultra-premium 200MP camera with Pro-Visual Engine so you can effortlessly take incredibly detailed pics.
- SCREENSHARE FOR STREAMLINED ASSISTANCE: Intrigued by something you see? Go Live with Google Gemini, then screenshare or point your camera at it for additional info or assistance on the fly.¹
- DO AND VIEW MORE, ALL AT ONCE: With an 8” screen that allows you to view up to three windows at once, Galaxy Z Fold7 is the ultimate device for seeing and doing more.²
- ALL THE POWER AND SPEED YOU NEED Smoothly run your day with the power and speed of Galaxy Z Fold7. With its customized Snapdragon 8 Elite processor for Galaxy, you can stream your favorite shows, edit photos, scroll social feeds and more with ease.³
Camera processing and photo editing
A20 Pro has more CPU, GPU and AI headroom for computational photography. Effects that analyze multiple frames, remove objects, segment subjects or create HDR output can complete with less waiting, particularly when processing a large batch. The benchmarks do not establish a universal time saving for a particular camera mode, and image quality also depends on camera sensors, software and Apple’s image pipeline.
Video capture and export
Multi-core CPU and GPU gains are relevant to timeline playback, color effects, stabilization and export. A20 Pro is the stronger choice for frequent high-resolution editing or repeated exports. The exact improvement varies by codec, resolution, effect stack and whether the app uses hardware media engines; do not convert the Geekbench percentage directly into an export-time percentage.
Gaming
Gaming is the clearest everyday reason to choose A20 Pro. The Solar Bay frame-rate result and Wild Life Extreme stability result indicate both a higher peak and better retention under load. If you play lighter titles, use modest settings or short sessions, A19 Pro may already deliver the experience you want.
On-device AI features
The Geekbench AI result gives A20 Pro the largest measured advantage of the workloads in this comparison. You are most likely to notice it in features that run locally and process substantial data. Cloud-based features remain constrained by connectivity and server response time, so a faster neural engine cannot eliminate those delays.
Recommended Free Tools
Battery life
There is no controlled battery comparison in the cited evidence. A newer process and better performance per watt could help in some workloads, but screen brightness, modem use, game settings, battery capacity and software updates can outweigh the chip difference. Buy A20 Pro for performance headroom, not on the assumption of a specific extra number of hours.
Best Value
- 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.
- When you receive the phone, insert a SIM card from a compatible carrier. Then, turn it on, connect to Wi-Fi, and follow the on screen prompts to activate service.
- The device does not come with headphones or a SIM card. It does include a generic (Mfi certified) charger and charging cable.
- Tested for battery health and guaranteed to have a minimum battery capacity of 80%.
A20 Pro vs A19 Pro for different buyers
| Your workload | Better fit | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Messages, email, browsing and streaming | A19 Pro is sufficient | The older chip is already fast, and these tasks rarely use the additional CPU or GPU headroom continuously. |
| Competitive or graphically demanding gaming | A20 Pro | Higher Solar Bay performance and 80% versus 59.5% stress-test stability favor higher and more consistent frame rates. |
| Frequent video editing and export | A20 Pro | Higher multi-core, graphics and sustained-performance results provide more margin for long workloads. |
| Heavy local AI use | A20 Pro | Geekbench AI 1.7 was 69,245 versus 49,050, although app support determines whether you see that gain. |
| Occasional photos and short clips | Either | A19 Pro remains capable; A20 Pro mainly reduces waiting in heavier processing. |
| Keeping the phone for many demanding iOS updates | A20 Pro | The newer chip starts with more performance margin, but no source establishes a precise number of additional usable years. |
Should an iPhone 17 Pro owner upgrade?
Upgrade when the performance is part of your routine
Move to iPhone 18 Pro if you regularly play demanding 3D games, edit high-resolution video, process large photo libraries, or use local AI features heavily. In those cases, the GPU, stress-test and AI results represent benefits you can encounter repeatedly rather than only in a benchmark app. The A20 Pro generation also gives you the largest performance cushion for future software that makes greater use of local models or advanced graphics.
Keep A19 Pro when your use is mostly light
Keep an iPhone 17 Pro if your day consists mainly of messaging, browsing, email, streaming, navigation and occasional photography. A19 Pro is still a high-end processor, and the cited results do not show that everyday apps become unusable or slow on it. An upgrade made solely for faster app launches is unlikely to feel proportional to the cost.
Check the model size and condition
If you are choosing between an iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, consider sustained performance as well as the chip name. Tom’s Guide’s 79.4% Pro Max stability result versus 62.8% for the Pro illustrates the possible effect of the larger chassis. Your current phone’s battery health, storage, display preference and trade-in value may matter more than a benchmark gap for light workloads.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
How to interpret these benchmarks without being misled
- Match the benchmark version. Compare Geekbench 6 with Geekbench 6 and Geekbench 7 with Geekbench 7. Do not combine their scores into one ranking.
- Use the right test for the question. Single-core is a guide to short interactive work; multi-core is more relevant to parallel CPU tasks; 3DMark and Metal-style graphics tests address games; Geekbench AI addresses local inference; stress tests address performance after heat builds.
- Check the exact phone. An iPhone 18 Pro and an iPhone 18 Pro Max can sustain different speeds even with the same A20 Pro chip. The same applies across iPhone 17 Pro models.
- Expect run-to-run variation. Temperature, battery state, background processes, iOS version and test settings can move a score. Treat a single run as evidence, not a guarantee.
- Separate peak speed from sustained speed. A short score describes a burst. Stability results are more informative for a 30-minute game, long export or repeated AI operation.
- Keep platform comparisons honest. AnTuTu totals should be compared within the same platform and version. A score from an iPhone cannot be directly ranked against an Android score from a different implementation.
What the evidence does not establish
- It does not establish a precise battery-life increase for A20 Pro.
- It does not prove that every app is 20%, 30% or 40% faster; software workload and optimization determine the realized gain.
- It does not establish that A20 Pro is the fastest mobile AI chip in every cross-platform test.
- It does not assign a guaranteed number of additional years of iOS support or useful performance.
- It does not guarantee a particular frame rate in a named game, because settings, engine limits and thermal conditions vary.
Verdict: which chip is better?
A20 Pro is the better chip by a clear margin. Its independent results combine roughly 21% higher single-core and 29% higher multi-core performance in the reported Geekbench 6 comparison with a much stronger graphics result, better long-run stability and a 41% higher Geekbench AI 1.7 score in Tom’s Guide’s runs. The architecture also brings Apple-claimed increases in CPU, GPU, sustained performance and memory bandwidth.
A19 Pro is not obsolete. For ordinary iPhone use it remains fast enough that the difference may be difficult to feel, and it is a sensible choice for an existing iPhone 17 Pro owner who does not game heavily, edit video or rely on local AI. Choose A20 Pro when those demanding workloads are central to your phone use or when you want maximum performance headroom; otherwise, the practical upgrade is optional rather than necessary.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
