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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteThe A18 leads the A16 Bionic in the cited CPU and graphics benchmark results. Geekbench 7 device averages put the iPhone 16 ahead of the iPhone 15, and separate Geekbench 6 and AnTuTu comparisons show the same direction. These are results from phones, not controlled tests of isolated chips, so they establish a benchmark lead—not a guaranteed percentage improvement in everyday use, gaming, battery life, or sustained performance.
Which devices represent the A18 and A16 Bionic?
Apple lists the A18 in the iPhone 16 family. Geekbench’s current iOS chart includes the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, and iPhone 16e under A18. The same chart lists the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus under A16 Bionic. For the benchmark figures below, the most direct device comparison is iPhone 16 versus iPhone 15.
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Apple’s iPhone 16 technical specifications provide the official reference for an A18 host device. Apple also lists the A16-era iPhone 14 Pro technical specifications. Note that Geekbench’s chart identifies the 11th-generation iPad chip as “Apple A16”; that name should not be treated as proof that every A16-branded chip is the same product as the A16 Bionic.
How the listed specifications compare
NanoReview’s comparison table lists both processors with a six-core CPU, a five-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine. It lists theoretical Neural Engine performance of 35 TOPS for A18 and 17 TOPS for A16 Bionic. These specifications are attributed to NanoReview’s comparison rather than an Apple chip datasheet, so treat them as that publisher’s reported values.
#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%.
| Specification | Apple A18 | Apple A16 Bionic |
|---|---|---|
| CPU cores | 6, according to NanoReview | 6, according to NanoReview |
| GPU cores | 5, according to NanoReview | 5, according to NanoReview |
| Neural Engine cores | 16, according to NanoReview | 16, according to NanoReview |
| Theoretical Neural Engine performance | 35 TOPS, according to NanoReview | 17 TOPS, according to NanoReview |
Those core counts alone do not show how fast a phone will feel. The benchmark results below offer a way to compare measured CPU and graphics workloads, with the important limitation that they come from devices and test samples rather than a chip-only controlled comparison.
Geekbench 7: iPhone 16 vs iPhone 15 device averages
Geekbench’s iOS chart reports user-submitted Geekbench 7 results and includes a device only after at least five unique results. In the chart’s current snapshot, iPhone 16 (A18) scores 2,798 single-core and 7,585 multi-core; iPhone 15 (A16 Bionic) scores 2,252 and 5,967, respectively. Geekbench says higher scores are better and describes its calibrated scale as doubling when performance doubles. That does not mean a score difference predicts an equal improvement in every app or task.
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.
| Device and chip | Geekbench 7 single-core | Geekbench 7 multi-core |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone 16 (A18) | 2,798 | 7,585 |
| iPhone 15 (A16 Bionic) | 2,252 | 5,967 |
On this particular device-average comparison, the iPhone 16’s score is about 24% higher in single-core and 27% higher in multi-core than the iPhone 15’s. These percentages are calculated from the two Geekbench 7 averages above; they describe that benchmark comparison, not a universal speed increase.
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See the dynamic Geekbench iOS Benchmarks chart for its device-level results and methodology notes.
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
Other benchmark snapshots also favor A18
NanoReview’s comparison aggregates Geekbench 6 and AnTuTu 11 results. Its sample counts differ between chips and test types, so these figures are useful as a second benchmark snapshot, not as a controlled head-to-head run under identical conditions.
| Test and score | A18 | A16 Bionic | Reported samples (A18 / A16) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 single-core | 3,431 | 2,631 | 6 / 24 CPU tests |
| Geekbench 6 multi-core | 8,638 | 6,602 | 6 / 24 CPU tests |
| Geekbench 6 GPU Compute | 28,010 | 22,851 | 4 / 12 GPU tests |
| AnTuTu 11 total | 1,972,476 | 1,626,008 | 29 / 36 tests |
In these NanoReview aggregates, A18 is higher in each listed result. The GPU Compute row is a compute benchmark score, not a direct measure of frame rates in a particular game. See NanoReview’s A18 vs A16 Bionic comparison for the comparison and its sample counts.
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.
A published iPhone test gives a device-level cross-check
GIGAZINE’s September 21, 2024 report measured an iPhone 16 and an iPhone 15. It records Geekbench 6 CPU scores of 3,213 single-core and 7,786 multi-core for the iPhone 16, versus 2,601 and 6,452 for the iPhone 15. Its Metal GPU scores are 27,974 for iPhone 16 and 22,968 for iPhone 15.
These are individual device measurements from a published test, not a lab-controlled comparison of chip packages. They point in the same direction as the averages and aggregates above: the A18-equipped iPhone 16 scored higher in the reported CPU and Metal tests. Read the GIGAZINE benchmark report for its tested-device results.
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
What the benchmark lead does—and does not—tell you
- CPU: Single-core and multi-core results favor A18 in the cited Geekbench comparisons. They measure defined benchmark workloads, not every app’s responsiveness.
- Graphics and compute: The cited GPU Compute and Metal results also favor A18. They do not establish a fixed gaming frame-rate advantage across games, settings, or play sessions.
- Neural Engine: NanoReview lists higher theoretical TOPS for A18, but that specification alone does not quantify how much faster a particular on-device AI feature will run.
- Battery and sustained performance: The cited sources do not establish an independent, controlled battery-life or sustained-thermal comparison between the two chips in comparable phones. Benchmark scores should not be converted into battery-life or long-session performance claims.
Which should you choose?
If you are choosing between an iPhone 16 with A18 and an iPhone 15 with A16 Bionic, the benchmark evidence favors the iPhone 16. Whether that difference justifies choosing one phone over the other depends on your priorities beyond the chip; these figures alone do not settle battery life, sustained gaming behavior, or overall device value. If you already own an A16 Bionic iPhone, the results show a newer chip scoring higher in benchmarks, but they do not demonstrate that ordinary tasks will feel a matching percentage faster.
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