Newly leaked benchmark scores for Apple’s A17 Pro system-on-chip (SoC) have caused a stir in the tech world. These benchmarks indicate that Apple’s smartphone chip is on par with AMD and Intel processors, at least in the realm of single-core performance, as demonstrated in Geekbench 6.
Benchmark Scores and Competition In Geekbench 6’s single-core test, the A17 Pro scored an impressive 2,914 points, putting it within 10% of the scores achieved by AMD’s Ryzen 9 7950X and Intel’s Core i9-13900K processors. Notably, the Core i9-13900K scored 3,223, and the Ryzen 9 7950X scored 3,172. It’s crucial to consider that the A17 Pro operates at 3.75 GHz, while the other two processors run at significantly higher clock speeds of 6.0 GHz and 5.8 GHz, respectively.
A17 Pro’s Potential Tech enthusiasts have pointed out that the A17 Pro’s ability to challenge desktop-class processors in single-core performance is remarkable. It suggests that the A17 Pro might even compete with Raptor Cove and Zen 4 cores operating around 3.77 GHz. While this benchmark is specific and doesn’t provide a comprehensive picture, the fact that a smartphone processor can outperform Intel and AMD processors is noteworthy.
Improvements Over Its Predecessor Comparing it to its predecessor, the A16 Bionic, the A17 Pro shines. It scored 10% higher in the single-core test, showcasing Apple’s commitment to improving CPU performance. However, in multi-core scores, the A17 Pro only managed a 3% improvement over the A16. This suggests that while Apple has boosted clock speeds, it may not have introduced significant architectural changes.
The Promise of Apple Silicon The A17 Pro’s performance mirrors the efficiency of Apple Silicon, which has been exemplified by the success of the M1 and M2 series chips. These chips surpassed previous Intel processors found in MacBooks, highlighting the power of Apple’s in-house technology.
Looking Ahead to the M3 With the expected arrival of the M3 chip in 2023, the future of Apple’s processors looks even more promising. The M3 is anticipated to bring substantial enhancements and architectural changes. If a smartphone chip can already deliver such impressive performance, the M3-powered Apple MacBooks are poised to dominate the market, rivaling Intel and AMD-based desktops and laptops and potentially becoming some of the best in the industry.
