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iPhone 16 Geekbench scores might not be what you’re expecting

We’re all wondering how the iPhone 16’s horsepower will stack up, and now an early Geekbench has many users questioning Apple’s claims.

iPhone 16 benchmark: An image of the iPhone 16's rear facing camera.

Making that move over to a new Apple smartphone is a costly decision, but the results of an early iPhone 16 Geekbench might be able to make that choice easier. Following the recent Apple Event on September 9, 2024, we now have an indication of the iPhone 16’s capabilities under the hood. However, the results could differ from your expectations.

According to a newly published benchmark test from Geekbench, the initial iPhone 16 results are, well, slightly underwhelming. That’s if you’re comparing it to Apple’s hefty promises from this month’s iPhone 16 launch event. In a general performance test against the best Samsung phones and best Google Pixel phones out there, the iPhone 16 barely manages to muster an impressive result over the Galaxy S24, with only a 4% rise for single-core performance. However, with the Galaxy S25 on the horizon for early 2025, these early results are only relevant for a few months.

What has surprised us, though, is just how minimal the improvements are over previous models like the iPhone 15 Pro. Although the new iPhone manages to overcome the iPhone 15 Pro’s single-core result by 8%, the disappointment lies in the multi-core performance. It’s actually behind the iPhone 15 Pro. Considering that Apple claimed its new A18 chip would provide enhanced CPU speeds, 30% faster than the iPhone 15’s A16 chip, perhaps the iPhone 16 isn’t glowing as much as Apple claims.

iPhone 16 benchmark: An image of the iPhone 16 Geekbench.

Google Pixel phones still have some catching up to do. Google’s Tensor G4 processor is lacking the power to match up to its smartphone rivals, but we’re hoping this will change in the future. For now, Google appears to be concerned with improving its AI functionality, as Apple Intelligence and TECNO AI Vision step up as worthy competitors to Google Assistant.

It is worth noting that these benchmark scores are still subject to further testing, especially as we wait to see the handset in action in everyday life. If you’re thinking of picking up Apple’s latest smartphone, then you can lock in your handset through our iPhone 16 pre-orders guide.

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We can also help you choose your preferred colorway, as Apple has revealed all the iPhone 16 colors. For all you savvy photographers out there, check out our rundown of Apple’s new iPhone 16 Camera Control, which appears to be more than just a novelty DSLR-style feature.