20 Best Mobile Processors Powering Mobile Phones In 2023 

Mobile processors or chipsets have a critical part to play in the different functions your smartphone performs and can also influence the overall experience. A few years back, people didn't know or care about smartphone or mobile processors, but now things have changed a lot. In fact, some people now buy their phones based on the best mobile processors used. Well, their is a very thin line between every best mobile processors as well as its capabilities. While some best mobile processors are designed to offer an amazing gaming experience, some can enhance the camera quality. But which processor is the best mobile processors for your requirement? Well, you will find your answer in this article. To help you in choosing the best mobile processors, we have listed down the best mobile processors that can offer better overall performance. 

What Do You Mean By Mobile Processors?

A processor in smartphones controls different functions. Best mobile processors are designed to utilize data to process tasks. Remember that the more complex the tasks, the more powerful and faster the mobile processors must be. They define the support for graphics, connectivity, location, camera capabilities, battery usage and charging speed, etc. In general, there are four different types of mobile processors that you can find in today's smartphones. These are Dual core, Quad Core, Octa core and Hexa core. 

Things You Should Know About Your Best Mobile Processors 

• Mobile processors play a crucial role. It is not wrong to say that the most expensive component in smartphones is the processor. They can break or make the user experience satisfy.
• To choose the best mobile processors for your requirements, you will have to know how they function.
• All smartphones come with two different processors. These are GPUs- Graphics Processing Units and CPUs- Central Processing Units. While CPUs are responsible for running apps and other tasks, GPUs are designed to handle graphic tasks, like gaming, image or video rendering and more.
• A power device comes with a big processor. But you shouldn’t ignore the clock speed. The performance of the CPU will depend on the available clock speed.
• A higher clock speed suggests that all the cores can process numbers at a faster rate. GPUs also support clock speeds, and it is generally listed in GHz or MHz It suggests GPUs per second pixel rendering ability.
• While buying a smartphone, don't just look at its processor. You should also consider its battery life, display size, resolution, camera quality, version of OS, etc. 
• Experts say best mobile processors smartphones are more powerful than laptop processors. 

List of Best Mobile Processors

Apple A16 Bionic

Developed by Apple, the A16 Bionic SoC (System on a Chip) is available in the iPhone 14 Pro. As per the official information, this mobile processor has six cores. They are then divided into four power-efficiency cores (Sawtooth) and two performance cores with a clock speed of up to 3.46 GHz (Everest). It comes with some improvements in terms of efficiency cores as well as enhanced memory bandwidth. Speaking more about this process, its Neural Engine can work 10x faster, and per second, it can process 11 trillion operations. Based on 4nm manufacturing technology, it has 24 MB of Level 3 Cache and has 64-Bit support. Apple has claimed that this latest processor has enhanced computation photography features. 

Apple A14 Bionic

Introduced in 2020, the Apple A14 Bionic processor can be found in iPad Air and the iPhone 12 mode. Created based on 5nm manufacturing technology, it has six cores divided into four power efficiency cores and two performance cores. As per Apple, compared to the A12 SoC, in the A14 SoC. Users can experience 40 to 50 percent higher performance. The processor has a 4-core GPU and an all-new 16-core Neural Engine. The clock speed of the Apple A14 Bionic is 1800 to 3100MHz. Speaking about some other amazing features of this processor, it has a secure enclave, machine learning controller and advanced image signal processor. 

Snapdragon 888

When discussing best mobile processors, we can't ignore Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G processor. Company claims this processor has some advanced innovations in the field of gaming, photography, 5G and AI to provide users with a premium experience. Equipped with Qualcomm's 6th generation AI engine, it offers 26 TOPS performance. Along with multiple cores, the processor has the Adreno GPU, Hexagon digital signal processor, Spectra Triple ISP- Image Signal Processor, Computational HDR and more. In terms of connectivity, it has global 5G connectivity and the latest Wi-Fi 6. If you are looking for mobile processor that can offer better gaming experience, this can be the best option as it supports Variable Rate Shading and offers 35 percent faster graphics rendering. 

Exynos 2100

The Exynos 2100 chipset was launched by Samsung in 2021 and is a high-end processor. Based on the 5nm design, the processor has ARM's Cortex Cores. The 5nm technology offers 10 percent better performance while consuming 20 percent less power. Speaking about its graphical performance, the processor comes integrated with ARM Mali G78 GPU. On the other hand, the new AMIGO technology offers stable FPS. As a result, the users will enjoy 40 percent better performance compared to the previous best mobile processors. Samsung claims that this is the most efficient and powerful processor the company has ever created. In terms of safety, this best mobile processors has an embedded secure element (eSE). 

Apple A 13 Bionic

The Apple A13 Bionic processor is a custom-designed processor that comes with a Neural Engine, which triggers Machine Learning Acceleration. It is developed based on a 7nm processor. It has two performance cores (Lightning) and four energy-efficient cores (Thunder) with a clock speed of 2.5 GHz. On the other hand, the process also comes with a 4-core GPU that consumes 40 percent less power and 20 percent faster graphic rendering. Equipped with 8.5 billion transistors, this powerful chip can offer decent performance compared to Qualcomm Snapdragon 835.  

Kirin 990 5G HiSilicon Processor

This is a 64-bit high-performance and energy-efficient 5G best mobile processors designed and developed by HiSilicon. It was launched on 6th September 2019. Developed on TSMC's improved 7nm+ process, this processor has two high-frequency cores (Cortex A76) clocked at 2.86 GHz and two medium-frequency cores. In terms of connectivity, it has Balong 5000 5G modem. As per the developers, it supports around 1.25 GBPS of upload speed and 2.3 GBPS of download speed. Speaking about its IMC-Integrated Memory Controller, it has LPDDR4X-4266 and supports maximum memory of 8GB. Some devices that come with this processor are Huawei Mate 30 5G, Mate 30 Pro 5G, P40, Honor V30, Honor 30 Pro Plus and more. 

Snapdragon 865 5G Processor

Snapdragon 865 5G Soc is equipped with Qualcomm’s 5th generation AI engine to offer a more responsive, intelligent and intuitive user experience. As per the official website, the processor has some innovative features, like desktop-level gaming, giga-pixel photography and more. On the other hand, the Kryo 585 CPU offers superior battery life and stunning efficiency. For amazing photography and videography, it has the Spectra 480. With the X55 5G modem, it supports up to 7.5 Gbps of speed and works with all frequency bands. It may be noted that this is the first best mobile processors to come with Dolby Vision video recording. 

Kirin 9000

High-end and ARM-based processor by HiSilicon, widely used in smartphones and tablets. This processor has three cores along with eight central processing units. Speaking more about CPUs, there is a fast single-core with around 3.13 GHz of clock speed. It has 3 Cortex A77 cores with a clock speed of 2.54 GHz and 4 ARM Cortex 55 cores with a 2.05 GHz of clock speed. The process can utilize all eight cores simultaneously to offer a stunning performance. Making your mobile gaming experience smoother, Mali G78 GPU with 24 cores. And for smarter AI acceleration, the developer integrated Da Vinci Architecture 2.0. Different tests have suggested that processor's performance level is equal to Apple A13 Bionic.  

Snapdragon 870

Qualcomm claims that the Snapdragon 870 5G SoC is a connectivity powerhouse. This best mobile processors combine the power of the Fast Connect 6800 and Snapdragon X55 modem. As a result, the users will witness increased capacity, high speed and better accessibility. Besides, to offer a stunning performance, it has Kryo 585 CPU and Adreno 650 GPU. The processor's prime CPU is a Cortex A77 with a clock speed of 3.2 GHz, and there are three Cortex A77 cores. Furthermore, the developer has also integrated Qualcomm Aqstic Audio technology that supports DSD and Golden Ears filter. 

Exynos 1080

Year 2020, Samsung introduced another robust processor, Exynos 1080, with 144 Hz refresh rate. Based on 5nm EUV technology and supports a 5G network. Exynos 1080 is an octa-core processor. As per the information available on the official website, it can support a 200 MP sensor. Even though this is a mid-range best mobile processors, it offer similar performance to Apple A14 and Kirin 9000. CPU has four Cortex A55 cores (2Ghz), one Cortex A78 core (2.8Ghz) and three Cortex A78 cores (2.6Ghz). Samsung also introduced its Amigo power-saving solution. Some other impressive features of this processor, NPU with 5.7 TOPS performance, supports LPDDR5 RAM, Bluetooth 5.2, 144Hz of refresh rate, Bluetooth 5.2 and more. 

Dimensity 9000

It may be noted that this is the world's first TSMC N4 best mobile processors. Speaking about the cores, it has one ultra-core (ARM Cortex X2) with 3.05 GHz clock speed and 3x ARM Cortex A710 Super Cores with 2.85 5GHz clock speed. Furthermore, there are four ARM Cortex A510 efficiency cores. With LPDDR5X memory support, it can perform 25x faster while consuming less power. Speaking more about this, it supports a 320 MP camera sensor and 180Hz screen refresh rate. For the best gaming experience, it has Mali G710 GPU along with Vulkan. 

Snapdragon 8 Gen 1

This is the latest best mobile processors from Qualcomm, launched in 2021. The name of the process is unique, and it also has some new features. It has new architecture, 4nm manufacturing technology, new AI features, camera capabilities and more. Speaking more about it, it has Kryo CPU with some enhanced specs. Compared to its previous processor, it demonstrates 30 percent more power efficiency. As per the information listed on the official site, it has the triple-IS and processes 3.2 gigapixels every second. To offer an enhanced connectivity experience, the processor supports Wi-Fi 6 and 6E, and 5G.

Dimensity 1200

The MediaTek Dimensity 1200 is designed to bring innovative features to today's 5G smartphones. The processor has 3 A78 cores that clock at 2.6 GHz, four A55 cores that produce a 2 GHz clock speed and one Cortex A78 core with a clock speed of 4GHz. Furthermore, the SoC integrates an AI APU with 6 cores, a modern Wi-Fi 6 modem, ARM Mali-G77 GPU and LPDDR4x RAM support. The maximum memory frequency is 4266Mbps and supports heterogeneous multi-processing. With a maximum refresh rate of 168Hz, it supports a 2520 x 1080-pixel display resolution.

Snapdragon 845

The snapdragon 845 SoC is a high-end mobile processor launched in 2018. Processor is manufactured using 10nm LPP technology. Has 4x Kryo 385 Silver cores (1.8 GHz) and 4 Kryo Cortex A75 Gold cores (2.8 GHz). What's more? Has X20 LTE modem that supports up to 1.2 Gbps download, ac-WiFi, 1866 MHz LPDDr4x memory controller. The processor has Hexagon 685 DSP that supports AI processing to offer an enhanced user experience. By utilizing the company's Neural Processing Engine, now, application developers can easily optimize apps by Artificial Neural Network's on-device processing. Further The Spectra 280 Image Signal Processor is capable of taking the Image Processing feature to whole new level. A reliable best mobile processors for long-term. 

Kirin 980

Flagship SoC by Huawei with world's first 7nm chip. Comes equipped with modern AI capabilities, it offers 20 percent enhanced processing performance and use 40 percent less power. It has 8 CPU cores distributed in 3 clusters. There are two performance A76 cores with a maximum clock speed of 2.6GHz and two medium-performance cores with around 1.92 GHz clock speed. Besides, there is a power-saving cluster that contains A53 cores with a clock speed of 1.8 GHz. The SoC comes with a dual ISP that offers 2x faster performance, a modern LTE radio, an H.265 video encoder, an LPDDR4X 2133 MHz memory controller and more. As it has dual NPUs, compared to Snapdragon 845, the Kirin 980 SoC can process up to 4,500 images per minute. 

Media Tek Dimensity 1000L 

The Dimensity 100L is MediaTek's first flagship SoC that comes with some innovative features and specifications. This SoC has an Octa-Core CPU. It has 4 ARM A77 cores that clocked at 2.6GHz  and four A55 cores with a clock speed of 2.0GHz. To handle graphic processing tasks, it comes integrated with ARM Mali G77 GPU. For enhanced connectivity, the developed has used MediaTek 5G UltraSave technology. As it has Hyper Engine 2.0, it provides users with a unique smartphone experience. While lowering the latency level, it makes the gameplay smooth. The official website says the Dimensity 1000L has a 5-core ISP- Image Signal Processor. It can support 80MP camera sensors. The camera supports auto white balance, autofocus, noise reduction, auto exposure, facial detection and more. 

Helio G90T

This SoC is designed to provide users with an incredible gaming experience. With this, the company has introduced a complete platform of software and hardware enhancements that improves smartphone gaming. The chipset is developed in a 12nm FinFET process and has the ARM Mali G76 GPU. Inside the process, there is an upgraded Octa-core CPU with a maximum clock speed of 2.05GHz. With a combination of Cortex A55 and Cortex A76 with a big L3 cache, the G90T produces an increased multi-threaded performance. On the other hand, it can support up to 10GB of LPDDRx with 2133MHz frequency. Some other impressive features of this processor are a 64-bit CPU, 2520 x 10980 display resolution, H.265 video encoding, supports Heterogenous multi-processing feature, UFS 2.1 storage technology and more. 

Google Tensor G2

The Google Tensor G2 SoC was developed by Samsung and Google, especially for Google Pixel devices. It is an upgraded version of Tensor G1 but has the same CUP cores. The Tensor G2 has two fast Cortex X1 cores with a clock speed of 2.85 GHz, four small A55 cores with a 1.8 GHz of clock speed and two A78 cores with a clock speed of 2.35 GHz. The information listed on the official site says it has an LPDDR5 memory controller, a Titan M2 security processor, an ISP and more. It may be noted that the processor is developed in Samsung 5nm technology. With this processor, Google has upgraded the GPU to the Mali G710 GPU instead of the G78. As a result, it can offer 20 percent better efficiency and performance. For better connectivity, it comes equipped with the Exynos S5300 5G modem developed by Samsung. 

Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 

The Snapdragon 866 mobile processor is designed to unlock maximum performance and power for mobile gaming as well as photography. The company claims that it delivers 15 percent faster and smoother graphics rendering. Developed using the 7nm FinFET technology, the processor integrates a Prime Core with a maximum clock speed of 2.96 GH. Besides, there are fast-performance A76 cores that can attain around 2.43 GHz of clock speed. The SoC has a Qualcomm X24 LTE modem that offers up to 2Gbps of download speed. Qualcomm also has integrated Spectra 280 ISP, NPU, Computer Vision Engine and support 16Gb LPDDR4x RAM. 

Snapdragon 888 Plus

Designed to offer a premium entertainment experience, the Snapdragon 888 Plus has Qualcomm 6th generation AI engine and Kryo 680 CPU. In this process, Qualcomm puts its maximum efforts into AI. AI control most of the task auto-enhance during photograph real-time in-game chat translation, battery optimization and more. Along with the Hexagon 780 AI processor, the SoC also integrates Adreno 660 GPU. In terms of connectivity, it has the X60 5G modem and the Fast Connect 6900, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.2. To allow users to take amazing photos and videos, the developer has integrated Qualcomm Spectra 580 into this SoC. 

What Makes Up Your Best Mobile Processors?

While choosing the best mobile processors, there are certain things that you should keep in mind. For example, the clock speed, core, architecture, die size and more. 

Speaking about the clock speed, it will decide how many instructions the processor can process per second. It is generally measured in GHz. The more the clock speed, the faster the device will perform. 

If the processor has multiple cores, that means it can process the task alone or can carry out multiple tasks simultaneously. However, you should keep in mind that it may consume more power. So, if the processor has eight cores, then make sure the device is powered with at least 4000mAH or above battery to function well. 

Another important thing to consider here is the GPU used in the processor. Make sure the process has the latest GPU for smoother job handling and graphics rendering. GPUs Like ARM Mali G710, A5 Bionic by Apple, Adreno 660 and Mali G78 are some of the powerful GPUs that you can trust. 

Talking about the die size, it is the physical pieces that create a CPU. As per the experts, if the die size is small, then the processor will produce less heat and consume less battery.

Choosing The Right and High-Performance Best Mobile Processors

When it comes to choosing the best processor for your mobile phone, you can base your decision on brand as well as series. Some best options are:

• MediaTek Series

Well, these processors are equally powerful as a processor from Qualcomm, powering some high-end smartphones by Huawei, Vivo, Oppo and more. Even though these are affordable SoC, they offer some fantastic features.

• Qualcomm Snapdragon

You all know that most smartphones have a Snapdragon processor. Qualcomm always integrates some new features and technology with its new SoCs so that users can experience only the best. Devices by LG, Samsung, Motorola, Oppo, OnePlus and more have SoCs made by Qualcomm.

• Other Flagship Processor

Some brands prefer to use their own mobile processors. For example, Apple has developed its own processors, like Apple A14 and A15, which are used only in Apple phones.

What Are the Different Types of Mobile Processors?

• Single-Core Processors

As the name suggests, these processors have one core and utilize less power. However, single-core processors are good for basic tasks. Setting the alarm, checking your email, etc., requires less power, and a single-core processor can easily handle tasks. As these processors consume less power, you will not face device heating issues. 

• Dual-Core Processors

Dual-core processors can run multiple applications at a decent speed, and the users will not face any lags. Dual-Core processors have an in-built cache. That means every core has its own capability for efficient and speedy processing and recovery for regular instructions. Playing some games with this processor might be good, but it may affect the performance of the device. 

• Quad-Core Processors

As per the experts, this can be a perfect mobile processor for games that feature 3D or AR. Smartphones require bigger cores to run games and apps that need more power. With quad-core processors, recording HD video will be smoother.

•  Octa-Core Mobile Processors

Octa-Core processors offer a decent balance between efficiency and power without affecting performance. Different studies have proved that Octa-Core SoCs are more efficient than Hexa-core mobile processors. These processors can easily handle graphic-intensive games. 

Some Benefits of Using A Device With A High Processor

• Performs Simple and Complex Tasks Faster

The speed of the processors greatly affects the performance. A high processor- a perfect combination of cores, clock speed, and more- for example, octa-core or quad-core, can make your smartphone carry out tasks faster than a dual-core processor. 

• Can Run Demanding Applications

While some mobile applications need lower power cores, some applications are very demanding, But when you have a high processor, your smartphone can perform well no matter what type of app you use. 

• Amazing Gaming Experience

An amazing mobile gaming experience requires a quad-core processor to do it quickly. Most gaming smartphones, for example, Razer smartphones or ASUS ROG, utile Quad-Core mobile SoC developed by Qualcomm. 

• Better Multitasking

If your device has a high processor, switching between apps will not be a very challenging task. Besides, your device will consume less power, and there will be no device overheating issue.  

Final Verdict

The overall performance of a smartphone will significantly depend on the processor used. Every mobile processor is a different set of SoC. If you are planning to buy a smartphone, make sure that the device has the latest or any of the above-mentioned mobile processors to enjoy a smooth performance. For a better understanding, you can also check the benchmark tests to know the performance level.