The smartphone market is constantly evolving, with new devices being launched every year with better features and specifications. However, one thing that hasn't changed much over time is CPU performance. Apple has dominated iPhone CPU performance for years, thanks to custom ARM-based CPU cores that are faster and more efficient than the standard ARM CPU cores used in most Android smartphone processors. However, things could change by 2025. That's because Samsung's flagship smartphone of the year, the Galaxy S25, could finally surpass the iPhone 16 Pro in CPU performance thanks to ARM's upcoming Cortex-X5 CPU core and Samsung's 3nm chip manufacturing process. And Qualcomm. This article explains what the Cortex-X5 CPU core is, how it is used in the Galaxy S25, and other features the Galaxy S25 offers to compete with the iPhone 16 Pro.
What is a Cortex-X5 CPU core and why is it important for smartphone performance?
ARM is a company that designs the CPU cores used in most smartphone processors, including smartphone processors. samsung, media techand Qualcomm. These CPU cores are based on the ARM architecture, a set of instructions and standards that define how the CPU operates. The ARM architecture is optimized for low power consumption and high efficiency, which are essential for mobile devices. However, Apple also uses his ARM architecture, but with its own custom modifications that improve performance. This means that Apple's CPU cores are not directly comparable to ARM's CPU cores, even though they use the same architecture.
The Cortex-X5 CPU core is ARM's latest and most powerful CPU core design, expected to be announced later this year. Codenamed „Blackhawk,“ it has „bold plans to feature the best smartphone CPU cores“ in 2025, according to a research report from Moor Insights and Strategy. The report claims that the Cortex-X5 CPU core will power the largest smartphone. Performance has improved every year over the past five years, and „the performance gap between Arm-designed processors and custom Arm implementations will close.“ In other words, Cortex-X5 CPU cores can match or exceed Apple's custom CPU cores in speed while maintaining the low power consumption and high efficiency of the ARM architecture.
A smartphone's CPU performance is measured by two main factors: single-core performance and multi-core performance. Single-core performance refers to the speed at which a single CPU core can perform a task. Multicore performance, on the other hand, refers to the speed at which multiple CPU cores can work together to perform multiple tasks. Single-core performance is more important for everyday tasks like browsing the web, using apps, and gaming. In contrast, multi-core performance is more important for intensive tasks such as video editing, multitasking, and rendering. For example, according to his Geekbench 5, a popular benchmarking tool, the iPhone 15 Pro has single-core performance of 1,729 points and multi-core performance of 4,615 points. According to the same tool, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, the fastest Android smartphone chip available today, has 1,350 points of single-core performance and 4,000 points of multi-core performance. This means the iPhone 15 Pro is 28% faster in single-core performance and 15% faster in multi-core performance than his Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. Cortex-X5 CPU cores could close or even reverse this gap by offering higher single-core and multi-core performance than Apple's custom CPU cores.
How does Galaxy S25 use Cortex-X5 CPU cores and 3nm chip manufacturing process?
The Galaxy S25 is Samsung's 2025 flagship smartphone and is expected to use the 3nm Exynos 2500 chipset in most variants. The Exynos 2500 chipset is likely to feature Cortex-X5 CPU cores and also features other improvements such as improved graphics, AI, and connectivity. The 3nm chip manufacturing process also helps reduce chipset size and power consumption while increasing performance and efficiency.
However, not all Galaxy S25 units use the Exynos 2500 chipset. 3nm may be used in some regions such as the US and China. Snapdragon 8 4th generation Qualcomm chipset. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 chipset also uses the 3nm chip manufacturing process, but instead of using Cortex-X5 CPU cores, it uses Qualcomm's own custom CPU cores called Oryon. The Oryon CPU core is based on Qualcomm's 2021 acquisition of Nuvia technology, which holds great promise for delivering high performance and low power consumption. Oryon CPU cores could match or exceed Apple's custom CPU cores in terms of speed, making the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 chipset a strong competitor to the iPhone 16 Pro.
conclusion
The Galaxy S25 is finally shaping up to be the smartphone that could surpass the iPhone 16 Pro CPU performance, and perhaps other fields as well. ARM's Cortex-X5 CPU core and Samsung and Qualcomm's 3nm chip manufacturing process significantly increase the speed and efficiency of the Galaxy S25, while the Exynos 2500 and Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 chipsets offer different options for each region. The Galaxy S25 also has a great camera system, seamless hardware and software integration, and a smooth software experience, making it a strong contender for the best smartphone of 2024. The S25 also has some unique features similar to the iPhone 16 Pro. It lacks features such as a microSD card slot, 3.5mm headphone jack, and stylus pen, making it more versatile and functional. The Galaxy S25 is expected to be released in February 2025, with a starting price of around $1,000. The iPhone 16 Pro is expected to be released in September 2024, with a starting price of around $1,200. The Galaxy S25 could end up being the smartphone that dethrones the iPhone 16 Pro in CPU performance and challenges the iPhone 16 Pro in other aspects as well.