Apple is shifting its focus for the upcoming A19 and A19 Pro application processors (APs) towards efficiency rather than sheer performance. This strategy might mean that, when compared to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 designed for the Galaxy, Apple’s new chips could fall short in terms of power.
Reports from China’s Weibo platform suggest that Apple is prioritizing battery life for the iPhone 17 series, indicating a willingness to cede performance dominance to its competitors. The A19 Pro AP, utilizing TSMC’s third-generation 3nm process (N3P), aims for impressive Geekbench scores—over 4000 in single-core and over 10000 in multi-core tests.
In comparison, the A18 Pro, which powers the iPhone 16 Pro models, had scores of 3539 and 8772, respectively. Despite facing competition from MediaTek’s Dimensity 9500 and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite 2, Apple’s processors are expected to enhance battery life significantly for the iPhone 17 lineup.
The emphasis on efficiency will be particularly beneficial for the iPhone 17 Air, which is anticipated to have a modest 2800 mAh battery due to its slim design. The A19 and A19 Pro are likely to outperform the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 in sustained tasks, thanks to their higher Instructions Per Cycle (IPC) scores.
This means that even with possibly lower clock speeds, Apple’s processors can complete more tasks in a shorter amount of time. Additionally, there’s speculation about Samsung’s potential for producing its 2nm Exynos 2600 chipset, which could give the Galaxy S26 series an edge in being the first smartphones equipped with a 2nm chip.
This could shift the competitive landscape, especially if Apple does not secure enough 2nm chips for its newer offerings.