Apple’s new chips focus on battery life over speed

Apple’s upcoming A19 and A19 Pro chips, set to power the iPhone 17 series, will prioritize energy efficiency instead of raw power, according to recent reports. While these chips may not match the speed of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite 2, they’re designed to make your iPhone last longer on a single charge. The A19 chips have a higher Instructions Per Cycle (IPC) score, meaning they can handle more tasks efficiently compared to Qualcomm’s chip, even with a slower clock speed.

Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 and MediaTek’s Dimensity 9500, both built on TSMC’s advanced 3nm process, aim to deliver top-notch performance. However, this extra speed comes at the cost of battery life. Apple’s focus on efficiency could give the iPhone 17 series an edge in lasting longer during daily use, even if it doesn’t win in raw power. Meanwhile, Samsung’s Exynos 2600 chip, potentially made on a 2nm process, might power the Galaxy S26 and S26+ in some markets.

If Samsung improves its production, these could be the first phones with 2nm chips, offering a balance of power and efficiency. Apple’s strategy shows it’s playing the long game, valuing battery life and smooth performance over chasing benchmark scores. This could mean a better experience for users who want their phones to stay reliable all day.