AnTuTu recently switched to version 9 of its benchmark, which includes additional GPU tests (including Vulcan tests), CPU tests were redesigned, memory, storage and UX tests have also been changed.
The scores are not directly comparable between V8 and V9 benchmarks. That said, the ranking has not changed much – the Top 10 in the flagship section is completely dominated by Snapdragon 888.
Black Shark 4 Pro retains the leading position, though its average score has barely fallen – AnTuTu takes the average of at least 1,000 units to eradicate any outliers. Also, if a model has different RAM / storage configurations, only the top-specified model is considered as it gets a higher score in the memory tests. In fact, its impressive memory score is why Black Shark is at the top.
Another gaming phone, the Red Magic 6 Pro, climbed to number 2 spot thanks to its solid CPU and GPU performance – the built-in cooling fan helped keep the frequencies higher than other phones manage. The red magic beat Oppo Find X3 Pro, which dropped to No. 4. It was also beaten by OnePlus 9 Pro, which now occupies the number 3 spot. By the way, the AnTuTu team reports that OnePlus does not handle the heat as well.
Best Android flagships in May 2021 based on AnTuTu scores
Gaming phones are heavily featured in this chart, including the iQOO 7 in # 6, the Asus ROG Phone 5 in # 8 and the realme GT in # 9. Camera-focused phones also performed quite well – Oppo Find X3 Pro, vivo X60 Pro + in # 5 and Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra in # 10. OnePlus 9 lags behind its Pro sibling and is in No. 6.
Lenovo Legion 2 Pro (another S888-based gaming phone) and the Van 11 vanilla dropped off the chart (they were No. 5 and # 10 in April). ROG Phone 5 enters the Top 10 this month, the realme GT was reintroduced after concerns about how it handled benchmarks.
Then mid-rangers. Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G, the first phone with the new Snapdragon 780 chipset, claimed the number 1 position in its first month in the charts. This 5 nm chip with Cortex-A78 cores really opened a hole for the competition.
Second place is held by the former leader, the Redmi 10X 5G and its Dimensity 820 chipset (7 nm, A76 cores). Third, we find the iQOO Z3 with a Snapdragon 768G, which shows that the relatively old design is still quite lively and is a better option than the newer Snapdragon 750G. Below is a mix of Kirin 985 and 820 phones.
The most effective Android mid-rangers in May 2021 based on AnTuTu scores
The S780G looks like a very promising mid-range kit, but the first Dimensity 900-powered phone will be available later this month (Oppo Reno6 5G) and may give it a run for its money.
As for the flagship segment, gaming phones have definitely a place in the market for those who want ultimate performance. But buyers need to keep in mind that this is not just about the chipset – good quality cooling and memory chips can go a long way.
