Apple’s Latest iPhones: A Closer Look at Performance

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Despite their different appearances, Apple’s latest iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro share a powerful A19 Pro chip. However, they differ slightly in the graphics setup—while the iPhone 17 Pro has a 6-core GPU, the iPhone Air is equipped with a 5-core GPU. This difference raises questions about potential performance variations between the two models.

The iPhone Air’s A19 Pro Nearly Matches the iPhone 17 Pro, But Sustained GPU Performance Reveals Differences

This year saw significant design changes for the iPhone 17 Pro, including a vapor chamber cooling system that enhances sustained performance. In contrast, the iPhone Air boasts an ultra-thin design measuring just 5.6mm, thinner than even the company’s iPhone 6.

Geekbench scores reveal that both variants of the A19 Pro chip perform almost identically in single-core tests. The iPhone 17 Pro scores around 3,895 points, while the iPhone Air matches closely with a slightly lower score. This means everyday tasks such as launching apps, scrolling through social media, messaging, or browsing the web would feel equally smooth on either model.

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October 8, 2025

Multi-core results show a slight edge for the larger and heavier iPhone 17 Pro. The iPhone 17 Pro’s A19 Pro with a 6-core GPU achieved a multi-core score of 9,746, while the iPhone Air’s 5-core A19 Pro chip scored 9,737. This is only slightly below the performance level of the iPhone 17 Pro, representing an approximate 8 to 10 percent decrease in performance.

The difference in performance would be noticeable during heavy-duty tasks like exporting videos or running demanding AI applications. However, most users wouldn’t perceive or feel a significant difference between the two devices. The iPhone 17 Pro benefits from a vapor chamber cooling mechanism that maintains performance even when heated up. In contrast, the iPhone Air’s design choice might lead to throttling due to its lack of dedicated cooling.

Overall, while the A19 Pro in the iPhone Air provides nearly identical CPU power to the Pro models, the iPhone 17 Pro is preferable for regular gaming or tasks requiring raw power. What are your thoughts on these performance differences and their respective chips?

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