Let’s talk about the absolute best flagship processors for 2025. These chipsets have set a new benchmark in the smartphone industry, pushing the boundaries of the computational power available on compact devices. At the same time, they are efficient enough to make a limited battery last for an entire day of typical usage.
We’ve reviewed these processors on different smartphones, and it is safe to say that they can handle everything from multitasking to heavy gaming and even on-device AI processing without any hiccups.
Apple A18 Pro

Released with the iPhone 16 Pro and the iPhone 16 Pro Max, the A18 Pro is Apple’s most advanced iPhone processor to date. It is based on TSMC’s second-generation 3nm fabrication technology, which balances the overall power output with efficiency.
- CPU: The processor consists of two prime cores clocked at 4.05GHz and four efficient cores clocked at 2.42GHz.
- GPU: With the CPU, the system-on-chip includes a 1.4GHz hexa-core GPU that provides hardware-accelerate ray tracing for handling AAA video games on the Pro iPhones.
- NPU: The processor also features a 16-core Neural Engine that can handle up to 35 trillion operations per second. The Neural Engine helps run OpenELM and Apple Foundation Model (AFM) on the device.
- Memory: Alongside the CPU, GPU, and NPU, the processor comes with 8GB of LPDDR5X RAM.
- Connectivity: 5G (sub-6GHz and mmWave), LTE, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth v5.3, Ultra Wideband chip (second generation), NFC.
With the capable processor, the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max score around 3,580 points in the single-core and 9,000 points in the multi-core GeekBench 6 benchmark test. It is unfair to compare A18 Pro’s AnTuTu 10 benchmark scores with other processors, as the platform itself mentions that the “test results of the two versions are not directly comparable.”
Moreover, the A18 Pro is one of the most powerful processors on an iPhone and will remain so until the company refreshes the iPhone lineup late in 2025. Having such processing and graphical prowess also implies that the processor is great for long-term usage, as it would age with grace.
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MediaTek Dimensity 9400

After Apple unveiled the A18 Pro, MediaTek took the stage in October 2024 to reveal the Dimensity 9400 SoC. It is by far one of the most capable processors to have existed on an Android smartphone. Like the other chipset, this one is also based on TSMC’s second-generation 3nm fabrication technology, making it more energy efficient.
- CPU: The Dimensity 9400’s CPU consists of one prime Cortex-X925 core clocked at 3.63GHz, three Cortex-X4 performance cores clocked at 3.3GHz, and four Cortex-A720 efficient cores clocked at 2.4GHz.
- GPU: Along with the CPU, the chipset has the 12-core Immortalis-G925 GPU clocked at 1.6GHz. The GPU supports PC-grade hardware ray-tracing.
- NPU: Besides the CPU and GPU, the processor features the NPU 890, along with the Dimensity Agentic AI Engine (DAE). The processor supports Gemini Nano (multimodal) entirely on the device.
- Memory: The Dimensity 9400 is available on different smartphones with different RAM capacities, but the processor can support a maximum of 24GB of LPDDR5X RAM.
- Connectivity: 5G (sub-6GHz), Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth v5.4, NFC.
With the Dimensity 9400 SoC, the phones score around 2,800 points in the single-core and around 8,449 points in the multi-core GeekBench 6 benchmarking platform. On AnTuTu 10, the processor scored around 2.3 million points. Check out our review of the Oppo Find X8 to know more about how the processor performs.
For now, the Dimensity 9400 is available on two flagship smartphones, including the Vivo X200 series and the Oppo Find X8 (review) series. If you wish to know more about the handsets, check out our detailed comparisons and reviews.
The Dimensity 9400 SoC is going to be among the most capable processors on Android smartphones until either MediaTek or Qualcomm releases their 2025 processors. Even in terms of longevity, the processor will easily last a user around three to five years.
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Snapdragon 8 Elite

Toward the end of October 2024, Qualcomm dropped its most powerful smartphone platform to date: Snapdragon 8 Elite. Launched as a successor to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC, the chipset is also based on TSMC’s second-generation 3nm fabrication technology.
- CPU: The Snapdragon 8 Elite features two Oryon prime cores clocked at 4.32GHz and six Oryon performance cores clocked at 3.53GHz.
- GPU: Along with the CPU, the processor comes with the 1.1GHz Adreno 830 GPU, which has a 12-core architecture and provides hardware-accelerated ray tracing.
- NPU: The processor features Qualcomm’s Hexagon NPU, which supports on-device multimodal Gemini Nano.
- Memory: The Snapdragon 8 Elite supports a maximum of 24GB LPDDR5X RAM.
- Connectivity: 5G (sub-6GHz and mmWave), 4G, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0 (first chipset to come with the latest Bluetooth standard).
When it comes to GeekBench 6, the chipset scores 2,988 points in the single-core and around 9,167 points in the multi-core performance test. On AnTuTu 10, the chipset scored around 2.7 million points. We’ve tested the processor on the iQOO 13; check out more details about it in our detailed review.
For now, Snapdragon 8 Elite powers a handful of smartphones, including the iQOO 13 5G (review), the OnePlus 13, and the Realme GT 7 Pro 5G (review). However, in the near future, Samsung will also use the chipset on its flagship Galaxy S25 series (probably in the ‘Ultra’ variant).
Like the Dimensity 9400, the Snapdragon 8 Elite is among the most potent chipsets on Android phones and will remain so for a few years. Whether you plan to get a phone powered by the chipset in 2024 or 2025, it won’t lose its ground as one of the top listers.
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Apple A17 Pro

Even after being a year old, the A17 Pro still holds its place in the list of the best flagship processors for 2025. While those who have the budget to get the latest iPhones can settle with the A18 Pro on the Pro models or the A18 on the regular iPhone 16 (review) models, we believe that the iPhone 15 Pro could be a more popular model next year, given the drop in price and the discounts during online sales.
- CPU: The A17 Pro features two 3.78 GHz prime cores and four 2.11 GHz efficient cores.
- GPU: A hexa-core Bionic GPU clocked at 1.39 GHz.
- NPU: A 16-core Neural Engine that supports all the Apple Intelligence features.
- Memory: The processor comes with 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM.
- Connectivity: 5G (sub-6GHz and mmWave), LTE, Wi-Fi 6e, Bluetooth v5.3, Ultra Wideband chip (second generation), NFC.
The A17 Pro on iPhone 15 Pro models scores 2,950 points in the single-core and 7,440 points in the multi-core GeekBench 6 benchmark platform, which is still pretty respectable in 2025.
However, whether you should select the A17 Pro depends on the price at which you’re getting the iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max. Only get the old iPhones if you’re getting them at a decent discount. Otherwise, the A18 chip on the iPhone 16 models is much better.
Snapdragon 8 Gen 3

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is among the most popular Android processors ever. Given that it came out in 2023, you can find a smartphone with the chipset at a relatively affordable price, especially if you purchase the phone in 2025.
- CPU: The octa-core processor features one 3.3GHz prime core, three 3.15GHz performance cores, two 2.96GHz balanced cores, and two 2.27GHz efficiency cores.
- GPU: The Adreno 750 GPU clocked at 0.9 GHz.
- NPU: Qualcomm’s Hexagon NPU supports AI-based features, like those on the Galaxy S24 Ultra.
- Memory: While different manufacturers combine the processor with varying memory sizes, the processor supports 24GB of LPDDR5X RAM.
- Connectivity: 5G (sub-6GHz and mmWave), Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth v5.4, NFC.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 scores 2,190 points in the single-core and 7,300 points in the multi-core GeekBench 6 benchmark test. Further, the processor scores around 2 million points on the AnTuTu 10 benchmark.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is available on smartphones like Galaxy S24 Ultra (review), OnePlus 12 5G, Xiaomi 14, Galaxy Z Fold 6 (review), and Vivo X Fold 3 Pro (review). In 2025, these smartphones should be available at a discounted price, making them more affordable and accessible. Moreover, it will make sense to purchase these smartphones in 2025, especially if someone is on a tighter budget.
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Dimensity 9300 Plus

The Dimensity 9300 Plus is another chipset from 2024 that has stood the test of time well. It is based on 4nm fabrication technology.
- CPU: The CPU features one 3.4GHz prime core, three 2.85GHz performance cores, and four 2GHz efficient cores.
- GPU: Immortalis-G720 GPU with a 1.3GHz clock speed and 12 cores.
- NPU: MediaTek APU 790.
- Memory: Up to 24GB LPDDR5T
- Connectivity: 5G (sub-6GHz and mmWave), Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth v5.4, NFC.
The processor scores 2,300 points in the single-core and 7,540 points in the multi-core GeekBench 6 benchmark test. Further, it gets around 2 million points in the AnTuTu 10 benchmark.
Even though the Dimensity 9300 Plus SoC is a decent processor, we can’t find it on any available smartphone, so we’ve added it to the last list.
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