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Apple A18 vs Snapdragon 8 Elite: Key Specs and Benchmark Results

Geekbench’s listed iPhone 16 entry leads in single-core, while AnTuTu’s cross-platform comparison favors Snapdragon 8 Elite with a comparability warning. Neither proves a universal chip winner.
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The available comparisons do not establish a universal winner between Apple’s A18 and Qualcomm’s 2024 Snapdragon 8 Elite. In Geekbench 6 single-core, the chart entry for the iPhone 16 with A18 is higher; NanoReview’s AnTuTu 11 comparison favors Snapdragon 8 Elite, but warns that Android and iOS scores are not directly comparable. Those results describe specific phones and tests—not a controlled, chip-only contest.

Which chips are being compared?

This comparison is between the standard Apple A18 and the first-generation Snapdragon 8 Elite, released in 2024. It does not cover the A18 Pro or later Snapdragon generations. A useful example pairing is the iPhone 16 with A18 and Samsung Galaxy S25 with Snapdragon 8 Elite, but results from those phones also reflect their cooling, software, power limits and other design choices.

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A complete, same-date official specification sheet for both exact chips was not established in the available sources. Qualcomm’s surfaced page is for the later Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6, so its specifications should not be attributed to the 2024 chip. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 page illustrates why generation labels matter.

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How do the benchmark results compare?

Geekbench 6 single-core

Primate Labs’ living mobile benchmark chart lists the iPhone 16 (A18) at 2,798 and the Samsung Galaxy S25 (Snapdragon 8 Elite) at 2,442 in Geekbench 6 single-core. The chart was accessed in 2026. That is a higher score for the listed iPhone entry, not proof that every A18 phone will outperform every Snapdragon 8 Elite phone. These are device results rather than isolated measurements of the chips. See the Geekbench mobile benchmark chart.

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AnTuTu 11 aggregate

NanoReview’s comparison, marked July 18, 2026, lists 3,126,402 for Snapdragon 8 Elite and 1,972,476 for A18 in AnTuTu 11. The page explicitly cautions that Android and iOS AnTuTu scores are not directly comparable. AnTuTu also combines multiple categories, so its aggregate total is not a measure of CPU performance alone and cannot be directly compared with a Geekbench score. Read NanoReview’s A18 and Snapdragon 8 Elite comparison.

What the available evidence does—and does not—show

  • Single-core CPU: The cited Geekbench chart entry favors the iPhone 16/A18 pairing; it does not isolate the processor from the phone.
  • Multi-core CPU and GPU: The cited evidence does not establish a matched, controlled comparison that supports a general winner.
  • Sustained performance, gaming and efficiency: No controlled results here establish which chip performs better over long workloads, uses less power or delivers a better gaming experience.
  • On-device AI: The available material does not establish a comparable result or a winner for AI workloads.

Early Snapdragon 8 Elite testing by Android Authority used a Qualcomm reference device and warned that later retail phones could score differently. Reference hardware is useful early evidence, but it should not be treated as a prediction for every Galaxy S25 or other phone using the chip. Android Authority’s 2024 reference-device benchmark video also compares Snapdragon 8 Elite with the A18 Pro, not the standard A18 in this article’s title.

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Why chip specifications alone are not enough

Core counts and clock speeds cannot settle this comparison, and precise generation-matched values for clock rates, process nodes, core layouts, GPU configuration, memory bandwidth, neural-processing throughput and modem peaks are not established by the cited sources. Treating a later-generation product page as a specification sheet for the 2024 Snapdragon 8 Elite would create a misleading comparison.

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For a fair performance judgment, compare the actual phones under the same benchmark version and test mode, and account for software version, temperature and power state where those details are available. A single run, an average across runs and a reference-device result answer different questions; none should be presented as a universal chip ranking without matching conditions.

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  • Stunning 6.9″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X QHD+ display with adaptive 1–120 Hz refresh rate, ultra‑bright up to ~2600 nits, HDR support, “Vision Booster,” and adaptive color tone — giving vivid colours, great outdoor visibility, and super‑smooth scrolling.
  • Powerful internals: it runs on the new Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy (3 nm) chip, with 12 GB (or in some markets up to 16 GB) RAM and up to 1 TB UFS 4.0 storage — offering significantly improved CPU/GPU/NPU performance, especially for AI tasks, gaming, and heavy multitasking.
  • Advanced quad‑camera system: 200 MP wide main sensor, plus a 50 MP ultrawide, a 50 MP periscope telephoto (5× optical zoom), and a 10 MP telephoto (3× optical zoom) — giving flexibility from ultra‑wide through detailed telephoto shots, and strong performance in varied lighting.
  • 5,000 mAh battery with 45 W fast wired charging, wireless charging (Qi2) and reverse wireless charging — balancing long battery life with flexible charging options.
  • Durable, premium build: Titanium‑frame body, protected by Corning Gorilla Armor 2 glass, with IP68 dust/water resistance, ultrasonic in‑display fingerprint sensor, modern connectivity (5G, Wi‑Fi 7, Bluetooth, UWB, USB‑C), and long‑term software support (Android 15 / One UI 7, promised 7 major OS/security updates).

How to use this comparison when choosing a phone

Start with the specific devices you can buy, not just the processor names. The iPhone 16 and Galaxy S25 are useful examples of the respective chip pairings, but a chip comparison by itself does not determine which phone is the better purchase. Consider the apps and games you use, the phone’s sustained behavior, battery life and platform features, then look for tests of those exact models under comparable conditions.

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