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Samsung Galaxy S11 could be FASTER than Apple’s top iPhone 11 Pro model

SAMSUNG'S upcoming Galaxy S11 smartphone could be even faster than Apple's most expensive handset.

The iPhone 11 Pro has wowed reviewers, and is considered by many to be the fastest phone on the planet.

 Apple's new iPhone 11 Pro costs anywhere from £1,049 to £1,499 – and it offers high performance to match
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Apple's new iPhone 11 Pro costs anywhere from £1,049 to £1,499 – and it offers high performance to matchCredit: Getty - Contributor

But test results are coming in on the smartphone chip that will most likely power Samsung's next blower.

And it turns out that Samsung could be giving Apple a run for its money.

Gadget blog benchmarked Qualcomm's Snapdragon 865 – the chip that will probably power the Samsung Galaxy S11.

A benchmark is a test of a phone's processor performance.

 We're expecting to see a successor to 2018's Samsung Galaxy S10 early next year
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We're expecting to see a successor to 2018's Samsung Galaxy S10 early next yearCredit: Getty - Contributor

The processor is the chip that performs the computing tasks of your phone – an essential piece of the handset.

Benchmarking involves running a series of tests to put pressure on the processor, and see how well it holds up.

The higher the score, the better the processor performed – giving you a rough idea of a phone's performance compared to another handset.

In a test of all Snapdragon 865 cores, the chip earned a score of 3,450.

That beat TechRadar's score of 3,337 for the iPhone 11 Pro Max.

This suggests that the Samsung Galaxy S11 could end up performing better than Apple's top iPhone.

However, during the single-core test (which examines performance on simple tasks), the iPhone 11 Pro Max won with a score of 1,331 versus 931.

So general phone usage might still be better on an iPhone than Samsung's upcoming flagship gadget.

Smartphone benchmarks – are they useful for phone buyers?

Here's what you need to know...

  • It's important to remember that benchmarks don't tell you everything you need to know about a smartphone.
  • Firstly, benchmarks test in very specific ways that don't necessarily reflect real-world usage of a phone.
  • Pushing processors too hard can also drain your phone's battery life and cause overheating issues.
  • And it's also hard to compare like-for-like between Android and Apple phones.
  • For instance, Apple chips are built specifically for the firm's iOS software, and so they generally work very efficiently.
  • This isn't necessarily the case for Android phones, where generic smartphone processors are placed into a wide range of phones.
  • High processor performance is really only useful for very specific tasks, also. Even low- and mid-range smartphone processors can handle most everyday jobs with ease.
  • And lastly, this type of benchmark only tells you about a phone's raw performance.
  • It won't detail how long the battery lasts, how good the camera is, or how nice the phone is to use generally.
  • So although gadget geeks like to compare the numbers, don't put too much weight on processor benchmarks when you're buying your next mobile.

Of course, Samsung hasn't confirmed that the Galaxy S11 even exists yet, so don't get your hopes up.

And if it does use the Snapdragon 865, it will likely only be featured in the USA – while UK buyers are likely to get a Samsung-made chip instead.

Apple will also release a roster of new iPhones in 2020 too, so if Samsung does gain a performance lead, it might not last long.

In any case, both Samsung and Apple produce immensely powerful smartphones – so you can't go wrong with either.

iPhone 11 Pro Max trumps top Samsung and Huawei phones in first major battery life battle

In other news, find out why we were so impressed with Apple's latest phones in our iPhone 11 review and iPhone 11 Pro review.

Apple's next iPhone could be cheaper than any model in years – and boast 5G connectivity to boot.

And rumours suggest the iPhone 12 could "see through mist and fog" with a new Spectral Edge camera.

Are you planning to buy a Samsung or Apple smartphone next year? Let us know in the comments!


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