You just got a new Android phone and you‘re wondering how it stacks up against the competition. Is it as fast as they claim? How does the gaming performance compare? Does the battery last as long under pressure? Benchmark apps provide objective ways to measure your device‘s real-world speed, power, and capabilities so you can get answers.
This guide will cover the 10 most popular and accurate Android benchmark apps in 2023. We test the leading options and reveal how to use them to push your phone to its limits. Let‘s dig in!
What Are Benchmark Apps and Why Do They Matter?
A "benchmark" is any standard test that measures and compares performance. Benchmark apps do that for smartphones and tablets, not unlike automotive benchmarks measuring 0-60 mph times or miles per gallon.
For Android phones specifically, these apps quantify device speed, battery efficiency, graphics capabilities, processing power, and more. They tax your hardware by rendering intense 3D graphics, executing complex calculations, copying files, or running everyday apps. These experiments measure framerates, completion times, temperature changes, and errors.
Benchmark numbers carry significance because they offer standardized ways to compare phones using real-world workloads. Playing games shows gaming prowess while file transfers demonstrate storage speeds. Being able to directly cross-check phones is invaluable data for both shoppers and enthusiasts.
Just beware that benchmarks focus on intensive activities most people rarely do. The highest results don’t always translate to perceiveable daily differences, especially between flagship devices. Still, pushing your hardware reveals its potential even if you don‘t frequently max it out.
Now let’s spotlight the top 10 Android benchmark apps of this year based on utility, reliability, and customization.
1. AnTuTu Benchmark
Long-time Android users likely recognize AnTuTu, as it’s consistently ranked the most popular benchmarking app on the platform. It combines everything you expect from a benchmark with an approachable interface, additional phone utilities, result breakdowns, and tons of device comparisons. That complete package makes AnTuTu our top choice.
On install, AnTuTu offers several benchmark options from an overall suite to targeted CPU, GPU, UX, memory, and storage tests. Full results come with numbers for both single-core and multi-core performance. No matter which you choose, numbers get compared against an endless catalogue of phone models so you can see exactly how you size up. These recommendations even suggest games to try based on your hardware.
If comparing isn’t enough, there are leaderboards to browse and user/device profiles to create. The app collects specs and monitors hardware vitals during runs. (Pro tip: Close background apps first for accurate readings.) AnTuTu is free, though ads and notifications can be disabled through in-app purchases. It supports Android 4.4 and up.
Download: AnTuTu Benchmark
2. 3DMark
This benchmark suite focuses its testing on graphics and gaming metrics. It’s a product of UL — the company known for certifying electronics and appliances based on independent testing. In other words, 3DMark offers some of the most objective, scientifically-sound Android benchmarks available.
The main Wildlife test determines OpenGL/Vulcan graphics performance by displaying a nature-inspired demo emphasizing particle effects. An Extreme version makes that sequence even more taxing for high-end silicon. 3DMark also includes graphics tests ported from PCs like Fire Strike and Sky Diver.
Run a benchmark and you’ll see frame rate averages instead of arbitrary scores. Detailed hardware monitoring examines CPU/GPU frequencies, temperatures, and power draw alongside VR-specific metrics. Results get compared to other phones or filtered by chipset and manufacturer. You can even calibrate displays using UL’s standards.
3DMark costs $4 but lacks ads and unlocks all tests. The tech backing and focus around graphics makes this a go-to for gamers who want the best data.
Download: 3DMark
3. Geekbench 5
This cross-platform testing suite started on computers before expanding to Android, iOS, and other operating systems. It’s now one of the best tools for evaluating CPU and memory performance using both synthetic benchmarks and real-world workloads.
There are four major Android benchmark categories within Geekbench:
- CPU: Stresses integer/floating point performance using compression, image filters, physics simulations, and machine learning tests
- Compute: Exercises GPUs through APIs like Vulkan, OpenCL, and CUDA on ML tasks
- Battery: Checks runtimes and discharge rates while performing benchmark workloads
- Storage: Quantifies transfer speeds plus random read/writes for internal/external drives
As you might gather, Geekbench dives deeper than rivals into specific hardware instead of vague overall scores. Pushing components in isolation better highlights strengths and weaknesses. The interface conveys detailed usage stats alongside device specs like clocks, cores, governors, and sensors. Results get compared to single entries instead of averages.
Geekbench 5 goes free including ads. Removing them and unlocking additional features costs $4.
Download: Geekbench 5
4. PCMark for Android
This benchmark suite comes from the same UL branch as 3DMark, just with a focus on overall system performance instead of solely graphics. The main PCMark test is Work 3.0, which runs productivity and creative workloads modeled after real-world mobile apps.
Its usage scenarios include web browsing, photo/video editing, data manipulation, writing, and more. These workflows test your device’s processing capabilities when managing multiple tasks simultaneously — a better “real world” gauge than numerical scores. PCMark even shows how long battery lasts throughout testing.
Housed inside PCMark is an extensive hardware monitoring tool as well. It tracks CPU/GPU frequencies, utilization levels, frame rates, read/write throughput, and other metrics as Work 3.0 runs. You can also export logs and compare results against competitor devices.
For $5, PCMark offers ad-free and unlocked access to every Android benchmark for those wanting a full autopsy on total system performance. Casual users are better off sticking to the free version.
Download: PCMark for Android
5. GFXBench
As the name hints, GFXBench focuses its testing solely around graphic APIs and GPUs. It’s another veteran Android benchmark leveraged by many manufacturers during optimization. The interface looks dated but remains intuitive and filled with options.
Tests range from onscreen/offscreen rendering at different resolutions and quality presets to battery life and stability over elongated sessions. There are even computational benchmarks measuring specific operations like texture mapping, ray tracing, and AI inference.
GFXBench render tests output frame rates instead of arbitrary scores, offering better context around graphics capabilities. Results get split between OpenGL and Vulcan plus compared to popular phones. Monitored vitals track GPU frequency, TDPs, and thermal throttling.
For $10, GFXBench unlocks advertising removal and every benchmark preset without pesky timers. It’s an unrivaled (albeit pricey) tool for scrutinizing graphics.
Download: GFXBench
6. Basemark GPU
Here’s another graphics-focused benchmark alternative that’s lighter on options but easier to digest. There are only three major tests compared to GFXBench’s cornucopia. However, the results are simpler to unpack.
Car Chase reproduces a game-like environment with advanced lighting, physics, particles, and assets rendered in real-time. The test determines average FPS. Snow collects performance metrics by having you view a static but complex holiday landscape as the camera pans about. These benchmarks target different aspects of graphics workload among mobile games.
Basemark GPU nicely presents frame rate performance deltas between chipsets and manufacturer optimizations. It monitors temperatures, clocks, and power consumption alongside FPS counts. Test scores get checked against the Basemark database for comparisons. No frills or customization here.
Like 3DMark and GFXBench, Basemark GPU cleanly focuses on graphics. It just opts for simplicity over complexity. The free version shows ads while a one-time $5 purchase removes them.
Download: Basemark GPU
7. Disk Speed Test
So far we’ve highlighted processing and graphics tests. But your smartphone is often bottlenecked by storage speeds, especially on cheaper devices. Disk Speed benchmark quantifies the actual throughput possible from internal drives or microSD cards.
It works by transferring test files to and from your selected drive path. You get read, write, and access time measurements plus random I/O speeds. Tests can last from 5MB up to your desired payload, which is helpful to benchmark sustained performance.
I like running Disk Speed before/after OS updates, against different SD cards, or checking for degradation on aging phones. You can easily toggle between internal and external storage benchmarks. Just make sure you have ample space and minimal background activity for accurate test bed conditions.
As a simple utility, Disk Speed doesn’t compare results or supply many frills. It simply provides reliable throughput testing for diagnosis. The free version has ads while a $5 purchase removes them.
Download: Disk Speed Test
8. AI Benchmark
Phones utilize AI acceleration to optimize cameras, contextual computing, speech recognition, and more. AI Benchmark gives you insight into your device‘s machine learning capabilities using popular models and frameworks.
Its suite includes computer vision, speech, natural language processing, and recommendation system tests. These simulate workloads around image classification, speech-to-text, translation, upscaling, lighting filters, and other augmented realities. Benchmarking checks frameworks like TensorFlow, PyTorch, MediaPipe, ML Kit, and more.
The app shows how long models take to train locally plus the accuracies achieved. You can check top/bottom results from its database or filter by chipset to compare AI optimization techniques from Qualcomm, Samsung, and others. Numbers suggest how well a phone might handle AR filters or voice commands.
AI Benchmark offers a free stripped-down version. Unlocking everything inside the pro version costs a $5 flat fee. If machine learning matters for your use, this speciality benchmark has great utility.
Download: AI Benchmark
9. CPU Throttling Test
One shortcoming of synthetic benchmarks is how they usually lack insight into thermal constraints and throttling behaviors when phones overheat. CPU Throttling Test changes that by deliberately inducing loads until phones throttle then quantifying performance hits.
Like the name says, it hammers your CPU continuously with demanding workloads while logging frequencies and temperatures. Screens clearly show thermal ceilings where phones started downclocking CPUs to prevent overheating damage. The app also stability tests gaming performance over half-hour sessions.
I like using CPU Throttling Test on different phone cases to check their insulative properties or seeing how warm phones get when mirroring versus extending screens. Results lack broader comparisons but offer helpful diagnostic numbers showing thermal constraints.
CPU Throttling Test costs $1 containing no ads or bloat. It perfectly complements traditional benchmark apps for those curious about performance limits.
Download: CPU Throttling Test
10. Speed Test G
No phone benchmark roundup feels complete without assessing internet connectivity. Speed Test G (brought to you by Ookla Speedtest) measures mobile network bandwidth, latency, jitter, and packet loss using nearby servers.
Unlike CPU tests, this doesn’t gauge hardware. But sluggish LTE and 5G certainly impact overall user experience. Quantifying speeds helps identify issues like network congestion, tower proximity, band importance, and SIM card policies. Running it often can determine a carrier’s consistency too.
The interface instantly tests download/upload throughput then conveys real-time usage analytics. Tests automatically compare results to Speedtest’s global database — including other local operators. You can even drill into server characteristics influencing performance like distance and hostname.
As phone usage shifts online, so too should benchmarks. We like Speed Test G for rounding out the mobile experience with connectivity analysis — plus it‘s free!
Download: Speed Test G
Tips for Benchmarking Android Phones
Now that you’re familiar with the top Android benchmarks apps, let‘s cover some best practices to ensure your tests run smoothly and supply reliable data.
- Close all apps – Background activities steal CPU, memory, network, GPU, and storage resources from benchmarks. Shut them down pre-run.
- Disable battery optimizations – Many phones throttle certain apps. Benchmarks need full performance.
- Use airplane mode – Locking onto cellular data may impact Wi-Fi routing during tests.
- Know peak temperatures – Thermal limits enact throttling. Track them as phones heat up.
- Try different processor configs – Compare powersave, balanced, and high-performance modes.
- Time conditions – Morning tests see slower performance as phones cool overnight.
- Compare averages – Multiples runs establish tighter confidence intervals.
- Mind benchmark annotates – "May throttle…", "Limits detected"… explain score anomalies.
With the conditions right, benchmarking serves as a critical tool for comparison shoppers and number chasers alike. Let performance — not marketers — do the talking as you balance specs against budgets. We hope this guide helps you better understand your Android device and maximize what it can do!
