Multi-core performance is harder to predict. The A12
and A13 had four small high-efficiency cores and two
big high-performance cores. Apple already had very
efficiently schedules workloads to take advantage of all
cores as much as possible, so it’s unlikely that we’ll see
a big improvement from better scheduling. But with the
big jump in transistor density from 5nm, Apple might
add a third big core, or significantly boost performance
of the high-efficiency cores, which would really boost
multithreaded performance.
The trend line gives us a score around 4,500, but
I think a combination of architectural changes and
clock speed will give us a lot more. I wouldn’t be
surprised if the Geekbench 5 multi-core score creeps
up to 5,000 or so.
For what it’s worth, the fastest Android phones
score around 3,000 on this test, and a score of 5,000
would be similar to 6-core mainstream desktop CPUs or
high-end laptop CPUs. It’s 15in MacBook Pro territory.Graphics performance
The iPhone has been, from the very debut of the App
Store, a gaming device. But gaming has never been
more important to Apple than it is now with its Apple
Arcade service. Graphics performance makes games
shine, true, but the GPU is also used for computational
functions in image processing, machine learning and
plenty of other tasks.
In other words, GPU performance is critical and
Apple is not going to tread water with the A14.
If we take a look at the 3DMark Sling Shot Extreme
Unlimited test, performance took a dramatic leap inMulti-coreperformanceishardertopredict.TheA12
andA13hadfoursmallhigh-efficiencycoresandtwo
bighigh-performancecores.Applealreadyhadvery
efficientlyschedulesworkloadstotakeadvantageofall
coresasmuchaspossible,soit’sunlikelythatwe’llsee
abigimprovementfrombetterscheduling.Butwiththe
bigjumpintransistordensityfrom5nm,Applemight
addathirdbigcore,orsignificantlyboostperformance
ofthehigh-efficiencycores,whichwouldreallyboost
multithreadedperformance.
Thetrendlinegivesusascorearound4,500,but
Ithinkacombinationofarchitecturalchangesand
clock speedwillgiveusalotmore.Iwouldn’tbe
surprisediftheGeekbench 5 multi-corescorecreeps
upto5,000orso.
Forwhatit’sworth,thefastestAndroidphones
scorearound3,000onthistest,andascoreof5,000
wouldbesimilarto6-coremainstreamdesktopCPUsor
high-endlaptopCPUs.It’s15inMacBookProterritory.
Graphicsperformance
TheiPhonehasbeen,fromtheverydebutoftheApp
Store,agamingdevice.Butgaminghasneverbeen
moreimportanttoApplethanitisnowwithitsApple
Arcadeservice.Graphicsperformancemakesgames
shine,true,buttheGPUisalsousedforcomputational
functionsinimageprocessing,machinelearningand
plentyofothertasks.
Inotherwords,GPUperformanceiscriticaland
AppleisnotgoingtotreadwaterwiththeA14.
Ifwetakealookatthe3DMarkSlingShotExtreme
Unlimitedtest,performancetookadramaticleapin