Friday, February 28th 2025
Apple's A18 4-core iGPU Benched Against Older A16 Bionic, 3DMark Results Reveal 10% Performance Deficit
Apple's new budget-friendly iPhone 16e model was introduced earlier this month; potential buyers were eyeing a device (starting at $599) that houses a selectively "binned" A18 mobile chipset. The more expensive iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus models were launched last September, with A18 chips on-board; featuring six CPU cores, and five GPU cores. Apple's brand-new 16E smartphone seems to utilize an A18 sub-variant—tech boffins have highlighted this package's reduced GPU core count: of four. The so-called "binned A18" reportedly posted inferior performance figures—15% slower—when lined up against its standard 5-core sibling (in Geekbench 6 Metal tests). The iPhone 16E was released at retail today (February 28), with review embargoes lifted earlier in the week.
A popular portable tech YouTuber—Dave2D (aka Dave Lee)—decided to pit his iPhone 16E sample unit against older technology; contained within the iPhone 15 (2023). The binned A18's 4-core iGPU competed with the A16 Bionic's 5-core integrated graphics solution in a 3DMark Wild Life Extreme Unlimited head-to-head. Respective tallies—of 2882 and 3170 points—were recorded for posterity's sake. The more mature chipset (from 2022) managed to surpass its younger sibling by ~10%, according to the scores presented on Dave2D's comparison chart. The video reviewer reckoned that the iPhone 16E's SoC offers "killer performance," despite reservations expressed about the device not offering great value for money. Other outlets have questioned the prowess of Apple's latest step down model. Referencing current-gen 3DMark benchmark results, Wccftech observed: "for those wanting to know the difference between the binned A18 and non-binned variant; the SoC with a 5-core GPU running in the iPhone 16 finishes the benchmark run with an impressive 4007 points, making it a massive 28.04 percent variation between the two (pieces of) silicon. It is an eye-opener to witness such a mammoth performance drop, which also explains why Apple resorted to chip-binning on the iPhone 16e as it would help bring the price down substantially."
Dave2D's video description states: "iPhone 16e Review—E is for Expensive; my review of the Apple iPhone 16e vs iPhone 16 vs iPhone 15."
Sources:
Dave2D YouTube Channel, Wccftech
A popular portable tech YouTuber—Dave2D (aka Dave Lee)—decided to pit his iPhone 16E sample unit against older technology; contained within the iPhone 15 (2023). The binned A18's 4-core iGPU competed with the A16 Bionic's 5-core integrated graphics solution in a 3DMark Wild Life Extreme Unlimited head-to-head. Respective tallies—of 2882 and 3170 points—were recorded for posterity's sake. The more mature chipset (from 2022) managed to surpass its younger sibling by ~10%, according to the scores presented on Dave2D's comparison chart. The video reviewer reckoned that the iPhone 16E's SoC offers "killer performance," despite reservations expressed about the device not offering great value for money. Other outlets have questioned the prowess of Apple's latest step down model. Referencing current-gen 3DMark benchmark results, Wccftech observed: "for those wanting to know the difference between the binned A18 and non-binned variant; the SoC with a 5-core GPU running in the iPhone 16 finishes the benchmark run with an impressive 4007 points, making it a massive 28.04 percent variation between the two (pieces of) silicon. It is an eye-opener to witness such a mammoth performance drop, which also explains why Apple resorted to chip-binning on the iPhone 16e as it would help bring the price down substantially."
25 Comments on Apple's A18 4-core iGPU Benched Against Older A16 Bionic, 3DMark Results Reveal 10% Performance Deficit
Just Apple things.
Agree 16e is overpriced but still a strong SoC. If it had the 120Hz OLED it would be a no brainer but sadly it doesn't, leave off all the junk in the more expensive models like 2 extra pointless cameras.
Here is the help that's needed:
duckduckgo.com/?q=posterity+definition&t=newext&atb=v337-1&ia=web
But nobody expect from cheap brand as Apple to give you something valuable when they are focused on brainless consumers who can't see any difference. You can throw whatever insult you want and they will fight in front of your shop to get the new (old) toy for premium
If you are a spec nerd, you also know what to get, but the reality is that "mid-range" SOC have become good enough for most people for a long time.
Look at the sales numbers, and you'll see that even when people aren't buying an iPhone, they don't exactly rush towards the best value android premium phone. They either go a entry level but good enough phone, or get the expensive flagship. Most people don't care that much about specs.
It's honestly not a bad result. Might find myself with one sometime.I'm using an iPhone Xs Max. It's a phone from 2018. Not only it remains usable - it performs very well, runs the miHoYo games my Galaxy S10+ a year newer can't worth a damn, and it still receives iOS updates.
Not to mention it is fully supported by Apple and service is available worldwide. If anything happens to it there's a whole technical support system and I can get it fixed by Apple-authorized repair centers or even Apple themselves.
Samsung will probably turn you away at the door or charge you something insane if you show up with a Galaxy S9 for them to fix. The aforementioned S10+ hasn't received a single Android update in years, never mind its predecessor. Heck I bought my mom a Galaxy S20 FE back then and that phone, too, despite officially making the cut for Samsung's "longer lifecycle" list is also abandoned on Android 13, not really receiving anything more than even my 10+ did.
This is what you people who purchase Android phones with loyalty, especially the cheaper stuff from China will never understand. In 3 years your phone has been forgotten by the manufacturer who will offer no parts and service, and most likely abandoned despite their repeated promise they'll do better and support the device over the years.
What I mean is different strokes for different folks, consumers aren't brainless sheep for opting into either, and ever since Apple loosened restrictions on video game emulators and file system access, I haven't really had a reason to keep an Android phone around anymore, and I certainly don't miss the bugs, shoddy performance, Google Play, the bad game ports etc.
Gasp!
But the people talking about performance of iPhones in general to midrange Android devices are way way off the mark. Android has nothing at the $600 mark to compete with the A18.
The closest is probably the Pixel 9, as it has similar long term software support since it's Google (still likely not as good as Apple though). But Pixel 9 gets trounced by an iPhone 16 in benchmarks to the tune of ~40%, hence it will likely get soundly beaten by the 16e as well.
8 years of software support
In person support (crucial for non techie folk)
Same day repairs done correctly
The best support from software devs and third party manufacturers
Then you buy apple. Some will mald and seethe at this, but frankly for the average users, this is why you buy apple and android just doesnt quite hit those points.The point on the Android phones was that, when budget flagships started coming out with 1-2 year old flagship SOCs instead of the latest, the 10% missing performance wasnt a dealbreaker. But when Apple does it, suddenly the world is imploding?
Oh yeah, that Xioami has no official support on US networks, and it gets 2 years of software support. The iphone gets 8. Those are not remotely comparable.ROFL. That is all.
Not everyone cares about playing games on their phone, I'd have to guess most PC gaming enthusiasts don't anyway, and I'd rather play Genshin Impact or ZZZ on PC than on a small phone screen.
By the way, just because a phone doesn't get the latest software version, doesn't mean the phone just stops working.
$600 is too high for an entry point phone, mid range pricing for the specs and performance of a 2-3 year old phone.
Not just talking about your bank account either, a lot of people have IRAs, 401Ks, investment accounts, medical insurance accounts, HSAs, credit cards, mortgage accounts, insurance, and more all manageable from their phone. Having an unsupported OS on your phone these days is a good way to ruin your life. Spending an extra $100 for a Google Pixel (or Apple) to get proper and prompt updates and support is money well spent.Agree, I don't really consider $600 to be midrange. That's more like entry to high end phones. But then again, I never buy the 'Pro' iPhones either. I consider the $829 for an iPhone 16 to be middle of high end, and $500 to be upper midrange. While Android doesn't really have anything better at $600 IMO, Apple has nothing worthwhile below that price hence they have nothing to compete with the Pixel 8a.
Thanks100% agreed with this, and not just for phones - also for PC operating systems as well. Keeping it all up to date is important.
Not everyone buys phones every 2-3 years. Some people keep them as long as possible.
My Xs Max was a display sample unit, it's been basically unused for years and eventually made its way to the recertified store I purchased it from. It was missing the original box and the battery had degraded to 80% capacity from being unpowered for so long. I just had it serviced the day I received it and voilà. Super nice phone for the price of a laggy, poorly supported budget one.
Samsung and Motorola offer 3-4 years of guaranteed software updates. However, in 3-4 years, the battery of any smartphone begins to degrade, and for some users, this may happen even sooner. Taking off the casing to replace the battery and using a patched device that has a high chance of failure during an important moment is impractical, Sorry. Brands should offer a discount on the purchase of a new device when you trade in your old device. This approach is the best way to reduce e-waste
But I feel like you are being super overdramatic about battery replacement, though. Do you also buy a whole new phone if your screen ever gets damaged? I've replaced a phone screen by myself twice on a phone that I kept for 5 years and is still functional today as a backup device. Manual assembly by a human is still a big part of a modern smartphone assembly process
If that can reassure you, the EU is also about to deploy a new regulation about battery replacement.