The 2025 flagship war between Qualcomm and Apple is at full swing. As Qualcomm unveiled Snapdragon 8 Gen Elite, and Apple prepared the ground with A18 Bionic, both the chipsets are setting the bar when it comes to the highest mobile performance level. Whether it’s AI-driven innovations or console-grade gaming, these System-on-Chips (SoCs) are defining a new norm for smartphones to perform.
So, which one really does wear the crown? Let’s have a comparison in terms of architecture, CPU and GPU performance, AI, battery efficiency, and real-world usability.
Architecture and ManufacturingBoth chipsets are made on TSMC’s 3nm process but based on different design philosophies.
Snapdragon 8 Gen Elite:
Based on a custom ARMv9 architecture
Features a 1+5+2 core configuration:
1x Cortex-X4 high-end prime core
5x Cortex-A720 performance cores
2x Cortex-A520 efficiency cores
Design for high, sustained performance with thermal optimization in consideration
Apple A18 Bionic
Apple’s internal design, said to feature 6 CPU cores (2 high-performance + 4 efficiency)
Up to 45 TOPS AI performance in Enhanced Neural Engine
Very close integration with iOS and Apple silicon architecture for improved real-world efficiency
CPU PerformanceGeekbench and AnTuTu benchmarks reveal both chips extracting impressive scores:
Snapdragon 8 Gen Elite:
Multi-core scores are marginally higher owing to the extra performance cores
Provides great sustained performance under load, perfect for Android multitasking
Apple A18 Bionic:
Champion in single-core testing
Enhanced thermal performance and management at light workload conditions
Tuned to deliver peak performance peaks under iOS conditions
Verdict: Apple wins the single-threaded work test, while Snapdragon excels in multi-threaded performance.
GPU and Gaming PerformanceSnapdragon 8 Gen Elite:
Features the Adreno 830 GPU with Ray Tracing 2.0 support
Hardware-accelerated global lighting for console-quality graphics
Enhanced AAA Android game and emulator support
Apple A18 Bionic:
6-core Apple GPU featuring MetalFX scaling
Thesis on energy-efficient rendering
Good for highly optimized iOS games but less flexible compared to Android games platforms
Verdict: Snapdragon excels in GPU flexibility and sheer gaming brawn.
AI & Machine LearningAI has become a basic building block of mobile chipsets in 2025, from camera processing to real-time voice translation.
Snapdragon 8 Gen Elite:
Qualcomm Hexagon NPU up to 75 TOPS
Added support for on-device generative AI models like Llama 3
Advanced Sensing Hub powered by AI-driven power management
Apple A18 Bionic:
Enhanced Neural Engine with 45 TOPS
Deep collaboration with iOS AI chores like Siri, Live Voicemail, and real-time photo editing
Optimization strength lies in Apple
Verdict: Snapdragon excels in raw AI might and greater support for on-device models but Apple provides integrated solutions.
Battery Efficiency & ThermalsApple A18 Bionic:
Greater efficiency owing to full-stack domination of software and hardware
Real-world battery life on iPhones remains unmatched
Snapdragon 8 Gen Elite:
Better power efficiency through the 3nm N3E node
Better thermals than previous Snapdragon chips but still behind Apple in light workloads
Verdict: Apple retains its slight edge in efficiency but Snapdragon has closed the gap substantially.
Connectivity & ExtrasSnapdragon 8 Gen Elite:
Snapdragon X75 modem with 5G Advanced, Wi-Fi 7, and Bluetooth 5.4
Indeed global compatibility and next-generation wireless features
Apple A18 Bionic
Apple’s own 5G modem (co-designed with Qualcomm, maybe)
Confined to Apple’s secure, controlled environment
Wi-Fi 6E, not Wi-Fi 7 yet
Verdict: Snapdragon wins decisively in connectivity features.
Final Verdict – Who Is Supreme?
Category Winner
CPU (Single Core) Apple A18 Bionic
CPU (Multi Core) Snapdragon 8 Gen Elite
GPU & Gaming Snapdragon 8 Gen Elite
AI Performance Snapdragon 8 Gen Elite
Efficiency Apple A18 Bionic
Connectivity Snapdragon 8 Gen Elite
Overall Winner: Snapdragon 8 Gen Elite
Although Apple is still the king of efficiency and single-core performance, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen Elite rules the roost for AI, gaming, and multi-core performance. For those prioritizing versatility, performance, and future-proof features, the Snapdragon 8 Gen Elite is the epitome of 2025 smartphone silicon excellence.
