The newest iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max are powered by Apple’s A18 Pro processor. It offers modest improvements in the GPU and NPU domains together with strong CPU performance guarantees. However, what is the A18 Pro’s comparison to the forthcoming Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 chipset? We have conducted a thorough comparison between the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 vs A18 Pro in order to determine the differences in performance and efficiency.
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Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 vs A18 pro: CPU
The 3nm (N3E) process node used by TSMC to make the Apple A18 Pro is also apparently used to build the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4. Apple has stuck with its standard six-core configuration, which consists of two performance cores and four efficiency cores. At 4.04GHz, the performance core is quite fast for a mobile chipset in a passively cooled device.
The Oryon CPU cores, created by Nuvia, are finally available on the Snapdragon X series of laptops running Windows. Qualcomm, on the other hand, is anticipated to include eight CPU cores on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4. According to recent rumors, the six Oryon cores on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 are clocked at 3.53GHz, while the two Oryon cores on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 exceed 4GHz and go as high as 4.32GHz. It shares the same lack of efficiency cores as the Snapdragon X Elite.
Apple’s use of the Armv9.2a architecture for the A18 Pro, which supports SME (Scalable Matrix Extension) and provides higher AI performance via the CPU, is one obvious distinction. On the other hand, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 continues to use the outdated Armv8 architecture, which is not compatible with high-computing extensions. It implies that A18 Pro will probably do better on AI/ML jobs.
Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 VS A18 Pro: GPU
With regards to the GPU, Apple has not made any significant modifications to its 6-core GPU on the A18 Pro. Apple has increased the GPU clock speed, but the architecture is still the same. Furthermore, the A18 Pro GPU outperforms the A17 Pro GPU from the previous year by 20% thanks to 17% quicker memory and a graphite substructure.
Conversely, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 is expected to use Qualcomm’s new 8-series Adreno 830 GPU, which is said to offer exceptional graphics. The Adreno 750 GPU on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 trounced the A17 Pro’s GPU last year, and it looks like the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 will do the same this year. In addition, hardware-accelerated Ray Tracing is supported by both GPUs. Regardless of the assertions, we will test both GPUs’ performance with a variety of graphic benchmarks and demanding games. So continue to follow us.
Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 VS A18 Pro: NPU
The A18 Pro from last year has the same 16-core Neural Engine installed by Apple. Depending on the INT8 data type, it can give AI performance up to 35 TOPS. But the Neural Engine can perform even better if it has quicker memory built in. It can effectively handle AI workloads and power the device’s Apple Intelligence features. The nicest thing is that a large number of developers support and optimize Apple’s Core ML framework.
Regarding the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4, we are presently unaware of the precise capabilities of the Hexagon NPU. But based on NPU performance from the previous year, the new AI engine ought to be able to execute on-device AI models with ease. Nevertheless, Qualcomm needs to work hard to make improvements to its foundation for Android and other platforms.
Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 VS A18 Pro: Connectivity
When it comes to mobile connectivity, Apple most likely included Qualcomm’s most recent Snapdragon X75 5G modem in the iPhone 16 series as well. Also, Qualcomm will use the most recent Snapdragon X80 5G modem for the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4. Both modems have the same peak download/upload speed.
But with the aid of an AI co-processor, the new X80 5G modem promises better coverage, efficiency, and data throughput. Regarding local connectivity, both SoCs support Wi-Fi 7, However, the A18 Pro and Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 have Bluetooth 5.3 and 5.4, respectively.
Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 VS A18 Pro: Closing Thoughts
In summary, the Armv9.2 implementation enables Apple’s A18 Pro, which powers the iPhone 16 Pro series, to deliver remarkable CPU performance. But thanks to an extra two cores, the Oryon-powered Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 outperforms the A18 Pro in multi-core performance.
Despite utilizing the outdated Armv8 architecture without the advantage of SME, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 closely matches the A18 Pro in single-core workloads. However, compared to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 (4.32GHz), the A18 Pro appears to perform better per watt, reaching a lower frequency of 4.04GHz.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 is probably going to beat the A18 Pro GPU in terms of performance because Apple hasn’t changed the GPU this year other than raising the clock speed. Naturally, as soon as we get our hands on the Xiaomi 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro/Pro Max—likely the first phones to feature the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4—we will run a number of benchmarks to come to a firm conclusion.
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