As far as single-core CPU power goes, Android phone processors have generally lagged behind iPhone chipsets. It appears that chip kingpin Arm might be able to compete with Apple here. Arm is reportedly working on a new smartphone processor called the Blackhawk that could deliver faster speeds than any Apple chip yet.
The Blackhawk may end up being the most powerful mobile processor on the market. Leak reports say it will offer the biggest year-over-year performance boost in 5 years for the tasks phones do most. It should excel at processing language and be great for advanced artificial intelligence features. Arm aims for the Blackhawk to eliminate any remaining speed difference between their processor designs and how companies like Apple customize them.
Not all Android flagship phones in 2023 will use the Blackhawk right away. The upcoming Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 chip will rely on Qualcomm’s own CPU cores instead. But the next MediaTek Dimensity and Samsung Exynos systems-on-chip are expected to employ Arm’s powerful new design. If the rumors are right, some Android devices may finally outperform iPhones in raw processing grunt.
However, speed isn’t everything. Battery life still matters greatly to buyers, so the Blackhawk must prove it’s efficiently optimized. And top performing iPhone CPUs have remained elusive targets for Android to hit. Only real-world testing can say if Arm has truly closed the single-core gap. Meanwhile, Qualcomm’s independent processor path will be interesting to watch unfold as well. Exciting processor developments on both sides should treat tech fans to keen competition between Android and Apple well into the future.
