iPhone 17 Pro (A19 Pro) vs iPhone 16 Pro (A18 Pro) Benchmark

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iphone 16 vs 17 pro

About the model name: Geekbench labels the tested device as iPhone 18,2. The spec sheet shows 12 GB RAM, which only fits iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. The standard iPhone 17 still ships with 8 GB RAM.

Below is a clean read of what changes with the A19 Pro chip, using the scores and details from your screenshots.

Processor gains you feel every day

  • Single-core score: 3808 on iPhone 17 Pro/Max vs 3519 on 16 Pro Max — +8.2%
  • Multi-core score: 10027 vs 8718 — +15%
  • Peak clock: 4.25 GHz vs 4.04 GHz
  • L2 cache: 6 MB vs 4 MB

What that means in use:

  • Apps open faster and stay responsive while you jump between tasks.
  • Photo exports, file compression, and long renders finish sooner thanks to the multi-core lift.
  • The larger L2 cache feeds the cores with data more often, which trims stalls and keeps animations smooth.
  • Heavy work like 4K timeline scrubs or big code builds shows clear time savings.

Geekbench 6 CPU Benchmark Screenshot for iPhone 17 Pro/Pro Max vs iPhone 16 Pro Max

cpu apple a19 pro vs apple a18 pro-min

Graphics leap that changes how things look and feel

Metal tests point to a big step forward for the graphics chip.

  • Overall Metal score: 45,995 vs 32,571 — +41.2%

Standout sub-tests:

  • Gaussian Blur: 81,545 vs 33,350 — +144.5%
  • Background Blur: 23,513 vs 14,787 — +59%
  • Face Detection: 32,925 vs 22,664 — +45.3%

Real-world impact:

  • Games can push higher frame rates or better visual settings without hitching.
  • Camera effects render faster. Portrait blur, depth maps, and live filters feel instant.
  • Apps that track faces or objects respond quicker, which helps AR experiences feel stable and natural.

Why the Pro models feel different

  • 12 GB RAM lets more apps stay ready in memory. Large photos, RAW stacks, and multi-layer edits hold steady while you switch tasks.
  • The A19 Pro pairs higher clocks with a bigger cache and a stronger graphics engine, so both quick taps and long jobs benefit.
  • The regular iPhone 17 keeps 8 GB RAM, which is fine for day-to-day use, but the Pro models keep their edge under heavy loads.

GPU Benchmark Screenshot from Geekbench for Apple A19 Pro vs Apple A18 Pro

GPU apple a19 pro vs apple a18 pro-min

Bottom line

The iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max deliver a clear CPU bump and a huge graphics jump over the iPhone 16 Pro Max. You get faster launches, smoother multitasking, quicker exports, and much stronger real-time effects in games and the camera. If you care about performance, the upgrade is easy to feel.