Apple A9 vs Snapdragon 820: Benchmarks, Speed & Efficiency Showdown
Apple A9 is Apple’s 2015 dual-core SoC built on 14/16 nm, while Snapdragon 820 is Qualcomm’s 2015 quad-core chip on 14 nm—both flagship silicon, different architectures.
Buyers mix them because both powered the year’s top phones. An iPhone 6s feels “snappier” than a Snapdragon 820 Galaxy S7, yet the S7 benchmarks higher—confusing, right?
Key Differences
Apple A9: 1.85 GHz Twister cores, PowerVR GT7600 GPU, 2 GB LPDDR4, 50% higher single-core score. Snapdragon 820: 2.15 GHz Kryo cores, Adreno 530 GPU, 4 GB LPDDR4, stronger multi-core and graphics.
Which One Should You Choose?
Want tight iOS integration and day-long battery? Pick Apple A9. Need VR gaming, 4K video, or custom ROMs? Grab a Snapdragon 820 Android. Both still handle 2024 apps fine.
Does A9 still get updates?
iPhone 6s on iOS 15, security patches only—no iOS 17.
Which runs cooler?
Apple A9; smaller die and lower clocks keep thermals in check.