Apple A17 Pro vs. Dimensity 9200+: Closing the gap

In the ever-evolving world of mobile technology, a key moment occurred in 2013 when Apple introduced the 64-bit Apple A7 System-on-Chip (SoC) with NVMe support. This groundbreaking move created a substantial gap between Apple's SoCs and those employed by Android devices, a gap that has defined the past decade. Today, we look into the comparison of two cutting-edge SoCs: the Apple A17 Pro and the Dimensity 9200+ by MediaTek, dissecting their capabilities and implications.

The Contenders

In one corner, we have the Apple A17 Pro, a flagship SoC, and the veritable speed champion of the smartphone realm. It boasts a remarkable clock speed of 3.78GHz and is the engine behind Apple's iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Opposite this heavyweight is the Dimensity 9200+, a creation of Taiwanese chipmaker MediaTek. This SoC marks MediaTek's entrance into the Android flagship segment and is a powerhouse in its own right. However, its adoption by smartphone manufacturers remains somewhat restrained.

While MediaTek's Dimensity 9200+ demonstrates impressive capabilities, its slow integration into the flagship smartphone market is apparent. Nevertheless, this SoC powers flagship devices such as the Xiaomi 13T Pro, Xiaomi Redmi K60 Extreme Edition, Vivo X90S, and Vivo iQOO Neo 8 Pro, showing its potential and readiness to challenge the status quo.

As we embark on this comparison, we aim to unravel the strengths and limitations of the Apple A17 Pro vs. Dimensity 9200+, shedding light on the ongoing quest to bridge the gap between Apple and Android SoCs.

>> See: Apple A17 Pro vs. Dimensity 9200+ - Full Specs Comparison

Performance Comparison: Apple A17 Pro vs. Dimensity 9200+

Comparing the performance of Apple's SoCs with those of Android can be a challenging endeavor due to their different architectures and software environments. In such cases, benchmark tests provide valuable insights by simulating real-world performance scenarios.

In the widely recognized AnTuTu 10 benchmark, the Apple A17 Pro and Dimensity 9200+ are closely tied. The A17 Pro secures a total score of 1,578,785, while the Dimensity 9200+ closely follows with a total score of 1,538,721. However, when turning to Geekbench 6, a noticeable disparity emerges. The A17 Pro achieves a score of approximately 7,476, surpassing the Dimensity 9200+ by 35% as it records a score of 5,542. This performance evaluation remains intensely competitive.

Gaming Performance on the Apple A17 Pro vs Dimensity 9200+

Exploring gaming capabilities, the Dimensity 9200+ boasts an ARM Mali G715 Immortalis MP11 GPU, while the A17 Pro is equipped with the Apple Bionic GPU featuring six cores. When you compare their graphics performance using 3DMark's Wildlife benchmark and GFX Bench, it is clear that the Dimensity 9200+ has the better GPU. Nevertheless, it's essential to recognize that the A17 Pro is meticulously optimized for handling triple-A console-level games, a dimension for which the Dimensity 9200+ is not optimized. Consequently, this segment of the comparison concludes as a closely contested draw, further contributing to the complexity of this contest.

RAM and Storage

In terms of RAM, the Dimensity 9200+ takes the lead with the utilization of the better and faster LPDDR5X (4266MHz) RAM. In contrast, the Apple A17 Pro incorporates a slower LPDDR5 (3200MHz) RAM. Nevertheless, it is crucial to acknowledge that iPhones featuring the A17 Pro are seamlessly optimized to extract optimal performance from the slightly slower RAM. This would make any disparity largely inconsequential in practical usage.

Moving to storage, the Dimensity 9200+ is designed to support UFS 4.0 storage technology, enhancing data transfer speeds and overall efficiency. On the other hand, the A17 Pro follows Apple's convention by supporting NVMe storage, which, although highly efficient, is distinct from UFS 4.0.

Cameras and Video

While precise information regarding the A17 Pro's maximum camera resolution remains elusive, a tentative estimate places it around 48MP. However, this falls significantly short of the Dimensity 9200+'s remarkable support for sensors of up to 320MP.

As for video recording capabilities, the A17 Pro is capable of capturing and playing back video content at resolutions reaching up to 4K HDR, at a smooth 60fps frame rate. In contrast, the Dimensity 9200+ surpasses this by being able to capture up to 8K video content, albeit at a frame rate of 24fps. Notably, Android SoCs have made remarkable strides in photography; nonetheless, they continue to face challenges in surpassing Apple's proficiency in video capture and playback.

Connectivity

In terms of connectivity, both SoCs exhibit versatility by supporting networks ranging from 2G to 5G, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of mobile network generations. Additionally, both SoCs incorporate Bluetooth 5.3, promising efficient wireless communication capabilities. However, distinctions emerge in their Wi-Fi capabilities. The Dimensity 9200+ gains an advantage by providing support for the advanced Wi-Fi 7 standard, elevating data transfer speeds and network efficiency. Furthermore, it offers faster upload and download speeds, enhancing overall connectivity performance. On the other hand, the A17 Pro counterbalances this by introducing satellite connectivity, specifically for emergency SOS purposes.

Battery Life

In terms of battery life, heat management, and overall energy efficiency, the A17 Pro emerges as the superior choice. This distinction stems from its advanced 3nm TSMC manufacturing process, which enables it to deliver impressive energy efficiency and extend battery life. In contrast, the Dimensity 9200+ is constructed on an older 4nm TSMC process, which, while efficient, lags behind the A17 Pro in terms of power optimization.

Conclusion

The competition between the Apple A17 Pro and the Dimensity 9200+ represents a significant leap forward for Android SoCs, inching closer to challenging Apple's dominance. Both SoCs exhibit a neck-to-neck performance in several key aspects. The ultimate choice between them hinges upon your individual preferences and priorities, with each offering a compelling set of features.