As Apple’s September iPhone 17 launch approaches, early performance leaks are beginning to circulate—this time highlighting the iPhone 17 Pro series.
Highlights
- Major Performance Boost: Leaked Geekbench 6 scores suggest the A19 Pro chip exceeds 4,000 in single-core and 10,000 in multi-core—up to 25% faster than A18 Pro.
- Outpaces Snapdragon 8 Elite: If accurate, A19 Pro may outperform Qualcomm’s upcoming flagship in single-core performance, though multi-core and GPU advantages vary.
- iOS 26 Demands More Power: Apple’s new “Liquid Glass” interface adds visual complexity, likely requiring the A19 Pro’s upgraded performance for smooth operation.
- New Model Incoming: Rumors of a lighter “iPhone 17 Air” suggest Apple is expanding its premium lineup, possibly to compete with Galaxy S25 Edge-style devices.
- Comparing M4 Performance: Some reports say the A19 Pro may approach M4 chip speeds in CPU tasks, narrowing the gap between iPhone and iPad silicon.
- Display Refresh Rates Upgraded: All iPhone 17 models are expected to drop 60 Hz displays in favor of 90 Hz or 120 Hz panels—bringing smoother visuals to more users.
- Leaks Are Unconfirmed: Apple hasn’t verified the A19 Pro or the scores. Real-world performance will depend on thermals, optimization, and independent testing.
A new set of alleged Geekbench scores, shared by well-known tipster Digital Chat Station via Weibo, suggests that Apple’s upcoming A19 Pro chip may offer a substantial performance improvement over its predecessor.
Alleged A19 Pro Scores Surpass A18 Pro and Snapdragon 8 Elite
According to the leak, the A19 Pro maintains Apple’s 3nm chip fabrication but introduces efficiency and processing enhancements.
| Chipset | Single-Core Score | Multi-Core Score |
|---|---|---|
| A19 Pro (alleged) | 4,000+ | 10,000+ |
| A18 Pro | 3,203 | 7,846 |
| Snapdragon 8 Elite | 3,054 | 9,832 |
The leaked benchmark shows single-core scores surpassing 4,000 and multi-core scores exceeding 10,000 on Geekbench 6. For comparison, the A18 Pro—currently powering the iPhone 16 Pro Max—reached scores of around 3,203 (single-core) and 7,846 (multi-core).
If accurate, this represents a notable generation-over-generation increase and places the A19 Pro slightly ahead of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Soc, which reportedly scored 3,054 (single-core) and 9,832 (multi-core) in early tests.
Real-World Use Still a Variable
While synthetic benchmarks provide insight into chip capabilities, real-world performance is influenced by factors such as thermal management, software optimization, and sustained workloads.
As of now, Apple has not officially confirmed the A19 Pro chip or validated these scores, and hands-on evaluations will be required to verify the results.
iOS 26 and Beyond
The potential performance upgrade coincides with Apple’s upcoming iOS 26, which introduces a new “Liquid Glass” interface characterized by advanced motion effects and transparency layers.
These visual features are expected to place greater demand on GPU and CPU resources, suggesting that a more powerful chip is not only expected—but necessary.
iPhone 17 Air Rumored as New Variant
Alongside the mainline iPhone 17 series, Apple is rumored to be preparing a new model, tentatively called the iPhone 17 Air. While details remain limited, this variant may serve as Apple’s response to devices like Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Edge, potentially expanding Apple’s high-end portfolio.
A19 Pro Performance Compared to M4 and Snapdragon 8 Elite
According to reports from NotebookCheck and Android Headlines, the A19 Pro could offer a 15–20% CPU performance improvement over the A18 Pro.
With Geekbench 6 scores allegedly surpassing 4,000 in single-core tests, the chip may approach the performance range of Apple’s M4 chip in certain CPU tasks.
In contrast, the Snapdragon 8 Elite, built around an 8-core configuration, which performs better in multi-core tests and excels in GPU-focused benchmarks such as AnTuTu and 3DMark.
These differences highlight the varied design philosophies between Apple’s single-threaded efficiency and Qualcomm’s emphasis on multi-core parallelism.
60 Hz May Be Retired
Separate leaks suggest that all iPhone 17 models will move away from 60 Hz displays, with base models expected to feature 90 Hz or 120 Hz panels. Only Pro models are rumored to support adaptive refresh rates via ProMotion technology.
If the benchmark leaks are accurate, the iPhone 17 Pro series could deliver one of the largest performance jumps in recent memory. As with all early leaks, confirmation will depend on Apple’s official announcements and independent testing at launch.
