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The best mobile processors in 2024: Here are your best options
Did you distinguish that the processor or SoC is one of the greatest expensive mechanisms in a mobile phone? Smartphone creators pay as much as $200 per mark at the highest end, which clarifies why so many prize devices have broken the $1,000 price point. Even formerly, you may not continuously get the best recital for your dollar. Conversely, about budget smartphones pack good SoCs that deliver a close flagship-grade knowledge.
With so many choices to choose from then, here’s our list of the finest mobile CPUs available today.
The best mobile processors
As our testing specifies in the above graph, level the highest-end mobile CPUs can vary quite a bit in terms of real-world presentation. So with that in attention, let’s take a faster look at the distinct chips and how they fluctuate from each extra.
1. Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
Over the years, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 line has developed the de facto CPU excellent in many flagship Android smartphones. You’ll discover the latest chip in the likes of the Galaxy S24 series, OnePlus 12, then Xiaomi 14 Pro.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is a 4nm chip that cartons one Cortex-X4 core successively at 3.3GHz, five Cortex-A720 cores, besides two Cortex-A520 cores. It also comprises Qualcomm’s top-end Adreno GPU and dial-up internet, the former of which is an vital factor if you’re an avid moveable gamer.
2. Apple A18 Pro
Apple’s smartphone chips once kept a sizable lead over their Android complements. Though, the law of diminishing earnings means that CPUs aren’t educating at the same immediate rate anymore. So, while Apple’s latest A18 Pro in the iPhone 16 Pro gives the rivalry a run for its money today, it won’t rule once the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 then other 2025 chipsets are proclaimed. That said, it’s successively at higher
When challenging last year’s A17 Pro, for example, we originate that it counted higher than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in solitary and multi-core tests, but it fell somewhat behind in GPU standards. Still, Apple’s excellent software optimization means that proprietors of the iPhone 16 Pro then Pro Max won’t notice any presentation deficiencies even likened to next year’s Android flagships. It’s also the lone mobile chip that’s enticing console game ports like Occupant Evil: Village.
3. MediaTek Dimensity 9300
We rarely saw smartphones in the mid-range or developed marketplace pack MediaTek silicon, nevertheless the business has made some big strides in new years. This generation’s Dimensity 9300 shares the similar type of hearts as the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, but it deviates in just about all other aspect. For example, somewhat than utilizing two little centers like Qualcomm’s flagship damage, MediaTek has packed four Cortex-X4 cores then another four Cortex-A720 cores.
The consequence is a chip through four of the highest-performance cores obtainable in this cohort. MediaTek did have to expense frequency or chronometer speed in the procedure, but our difficult of the Dimensity 9300 create that it can still brute strength a win vs the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. Though, it does fall petite in the GPU and connectivity subdivisions where Qualcomm’s several years of skill rears its familiar cranium.
4. Samsung Exynos 2400
Samsung’s Exynos stroke of chips once had an unlucky reputation for lagging behind the rivalry in some areas. It also didn’t assistance that the South Korean corporation sells the same flagship telephone with Exynos CPUs in some markets besides Snapdragon French-fried potatoes in others.
Fortunately, the Exynos 2400 that influences the Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus doesn’t seem mediocre. We tested and likened the Exynos 2400 vs Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 lone to find that Samsung’s chip transported better battery-operated life in many usage states. It did lag slightly behind in recital, but most will be hard-pressed to tell the change.
5. Google Tensor G4
A few years ago, Google decided to project its own chips in its place of trusting on a third-party manufacturer. The corporation argues that it can size a more bespoke user skill through this custom processor road, and we decide that the idea has possible. Just look at Apple Silicon as an sample.
Having said that, Google’s Tensor fries have long hurt from below-average control competence. It also doesn’t assistance that the hunt giant releases a new CPU alongside its prize phones in the mid of each year. That’s not long beforehand Qualcomm and MediaTek vitrine their upcoming chips for the subsequent year.
Historically, the Tensor has continuously been modest in contradiction of last year’s phones. The Tensor G4 continues that custom, although Google has secured virtually all of the obvious problems with prior compeers such as poor dial-up internet performance and dreary efficiency. And while it whitethorn not top the charts, it’s no sprawl either. Google’s chip project continues to favor AI assignments too, so it can run the latest replicas like Gemini Nano deprived of a hitch. In fact, the Pixel 9 sequence ships with 16GB of RAM crossways the board to knob these on-device AI tasks.
6. Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 powered about of the best phones out in 2023. The list contains Samsung’s Galaxy S23 sequence, Motorola Edge Plus, and ZenFone 10. It brought excellent presentation and efficiency, the last of which was a big aim why we saw a big battery life upheaval in numerous smartphones that year.
Qualcomm tends to droplet the price of its best smartphone computer roughly a year after presentation, so we may understand the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the sub-flagship marketplace. The OnePlus 12R is a outstanding example of this trend as it hurled at just $500.
7. Apple A18
The Apple A18 controls the non-Pro variations of the iPhone 16 lineup, with the main difference being that it cartons one less GPU core than the A18 Pro. Performance-wise, Apple utters the A18 is on par with the previous-gen A17 Pro – an imposing feat given that the last powered Apple’s prize smartphones only one year previous. This should provide outstanding software and provision longevity, while that’s par for the sequence when you purchase an iPhone these days.
The Apple A18 is well gaining of many other chips on this list then it also packs a accomplished neural engine for AI dispensation. This means you will get admission to Apple Intelligence landscapes even on the base iPhone 16 model, dissimilar prior generations.
8. MediaTek Dimensity 8300
While MediaTek has yet to beat Qualcomm for souq share in the flagship planetary, its CPUs power many of the best mid-range Android earphones. The Dimensity 8300 offers rock-hard presentation, almost keeping up by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. Improved yet, it will certainly cost knowingly lower than previous-gen star SoCs.
The POCO X6 Pro was one of the primary smartphones to embrace the Dimensity 8300 with a initial price of just $299 in several markets. Pointless to say, the processor boxes a punch at that worth point.
9. Honorable mention: Snapdragon 8s Gen 3
While Qualcomm has threw mid-year refreshes of its flagship computers a handful of eras, it made the unusual result to launch a cut-down type in 2024 instead.
The Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 features the same age group of cores as Qualcomm’s prize chip and is erected on the same efficient 4nm course node. Then, it features lower clock hurries and swaps one intermediate core for an added little core. The problem is that Qualcomm has opposite the capable CPU group with a last-gen GPU. The Adreno 735 GPU is somewhat slower than the Adreno 740 originate in the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2.
Which mobile processor is best for gaming?
If we limit ourselves to Android headphones, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 mobile CPU is currently the monarch of mobile betting, thanks to its Adreno 750 GPU. Consuming said that, the MediaTek Dimensity 9300 besides Samsung Exynos 2400 from the similar chip cohort offer alike performance.
Having supposed that, Apple’s A18 Pro is in a association of its own, at tiniest until we see competitors release their 2025 French-fried potatoes. Raw HP aside, it also benefits immensely from iOS’ widespread game public library. After all, console-quality headings like Resident Evil Village don’t be on Android yet. But if you’re content with the litany of other cross-platform sports available for Android, squared out our list of the best betting phones you can purchase.
What is the fastest processor in today’s mobile phones?
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and Apple A18 Pro are the wildest mobile phone computers available today. While the MediaTek Dimensity 9300 then Samsung Exynos 2400 strictly take second home, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a important recital downgrade compared to the top doers.
If you’re shop for a novel phone in the mid-range segment, the wildest processor selections are the Snapdragon 8S Gen 3 then MediaTek Dimensity 8300. Equally, the Tensor G4 offers solid sufficient performance with an importance on general serviceability and will develop even more persuasive in Google’s forthcoming budget phone, the Pixel 9a.
