Apple A17 Pro vs. Apple A16 Bionic: Successor vs. Predecessor

The introduction of the Apple A17 Pro, the latest System-on-Chip (SoC) from Apple, has grabbed all the headlines. In light of this, a lot of people are asking to see how well this new SoC compares to its predecessor, the Apple A16 Bionic, and possibly if an upgrade is justifiable. This is the Apple A17 Pro vs. Apple A16 Bionic.

The Apple A17 Pro presently serves as Apple's flagship SoC, boasting an exceptional clock speed of 3.78GHz, making it the fastest SoC in the current market. This impressive SoC is featured in the Apple iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max.

On the other hand, the Apple A16 Bionic held the distinction of being Apple's flagship SoC for the year 2022 and was regarded as one of the best SoCs globally until it was succeeded by the A17 Pro. The A16 Bionic found its place in devices such as the iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max, iPhone 15, and iPhone 15 Plus.

With this context, let us proceed to analyze these two SoCs, assessing how the A17 Pro compares to the A16 Bionic and whether the upgrade to the former is a worthwhile endeavor.

Apple A17 Pro vs. Apple A16 Bionic - Specs Comparison table

Performance of the A17 Pro vs A16 Bionic

Both the A17 Pro and A16 Bionic follow Apple's familiar 2+4 big.LITTLE architecture, combining high-performance and power-efficient cores. However, the A17 Pro takes the lead with a clock speed of 3.78GHz, making it the fastest SoC in the world. In contrast, the A16 Bionic, though impressive, comes second in clock speed. Despite this, Apple claims only a modest 10% increase in CPU performance with the A17 Pro. So, is the boost substantial enough to warrant an upgrade? That would depend on your usage and needs.

Gaming on the A17 Pro vs A16 Bionic

When it comes to gaming, the A17 Pro outshines its predecessor. It boasts a GPU with 6 cores and hardware-based ray-tracing capabilities, setting the stage for a superior gaming experience. The A16 Bionic's GPU, while competent, is older, slower, has one less core, and lacks hardware-based ray tracing support. Gamers, especially those hungry for high-performance gaming, will find the A17 Pro a compelling reason to upgrade.

RAM and Storage

Both SoCs utilize LPDDR5 RAM, but the A17 Pro takes a step further by supporting up to 8GB of RAM compared to the A16 Bionic's 6GB. This means smoother multitasking and better app management, giving the A17 Pro an edge.

Cameras

On the camera front, both the A17 Pro and A16 Bionic support up to 48MP cameras and can record 4K HDR video at 60fps. On paper, it appears to be a tie, but it's not. The A17 Pro comes equipped with a superior Image Signal Processor and an advanced 16-core Neural Engine. This translates to better photo and video processing, producing more refined and polished results.

Network Connectivity

As of now, both SoCs seem to employ the same modem, and Apple hasn't provided any different information. Therefore, it's a tie in terms of network connectivity.

Battery life

The A17 Pro gains an advantage in battery life thanks to its advanced 3nm manufacturing process. This efficiency enhancement makes it more power-efficient compared to the A16 Bionic.

Conclusion

The A17 Pro presents itself as a worthy upgrade, especially for users who prioritize gaming and photography. While the CPU performance gain might not be substantial for everyone, the GPU boost, improved RAM support, camera enhancements, and better battery life make it a compelling choice. However, whether you should upgrade depends on your specific needs and preferences. Gamers and photography enthusiasts will likely find the A17 Pro a tempting proposition. In the meantime, others might opt to wait for the next iteration whilst holding on to their A16 Bionic devices.