iPhone 16 Pro ranks tenth: AnTuTu reveals Apple’s most powerful devices of 2025

The creators of the popular AnTuTu benchmark have released their March 2025 performance ranking for Apple devices running iOS and iPadOS, and the results are surprising: the flagship iPhone 16 Pro landed in tenth place, overshadowed by a parade of tablets powered by M-series chips. Here’s a breakdown of the top 10 and why smartphones took a backseat.

Tablets Take the Lead

Unsurprisingly, the top two spots belong to the iPad Pro models with the Apple M4 chip. The 11-inch version scored an average of 2.53 million points, while the 13-inch model matched it with a near-identical 2.53 million. Introduced in 2024, the M4’s 10-core CPU and enhanced GPU make these tablets powerhouses for demanding tasks like 4K video editing or 3D graphics work—little wonder they reign supreme.

Closing out the podium is the 12.9-inch iPad Pro with the M2 chip, clocking in at 2.12 million points. Since the M4 models debuted, this top-three lineup has held steady, cementing Apple’s tablets as the gold standard for raw power.

Mid-Tier Muscle: More iPads

The middle ranks are packed with iPads too. Fourth place goes to the 11-inch iPad Air M3 (2.05 million), followed by the 13-inch iPad Air M2 (1.98 million), the 11-inch iPad Pro M2 (1.95 million), and the 11-inch iPad Air M2 (1.92 million). These scores highlight how deeply M-series chips have infiltrated Apple’s lineup, delivering top-tier performance even in more affordable models.

Eighth and ninth spots feature the M1-powered iPad Pros from 2021: the 12.9-inch version with 1.80 million points and the 11-inch at 1.74 million. Despite their age, these tablets still hold strong, thanks to robust hardware and iPadOS optimization.

iPhone 16 Pro: The Lone Smartphone

Bringing up the rear is the iPhone 16 Pro, the only smartphone to crack the top 10, with 1.71 million points. Powered by the A18 Pro chip—launched in 2024 with a 6-core CPU and upgraded 5-core GPU—it’s a standout among phones but falls short of the tablet pack.

Why the Gap?

AnTuTu explains that this ranking reflects average scores from March 2025, based on data from Chinese users. Tablets dominate not just because of their beefy chips but also due to better heat dissipation, letting them sustain peak performance longer than smartphones. Plus, iPadOS is tailored for pro-level workloads, giving tablets an edge in benchmark tests.

Smartphones like the iPhone 16 Pro, meanwhile, are constrained by their compact size and power efficiency needs. The A18 Pro shines for a phone, but it can’t match the M-series, designed for heavier lifting. Apple’s own stats show the M4 in the iPad Pro outpaces the A18 Pro by up to 50% in synthetic benchmarks.

What It Means for Users

For iPhone 16 Pro owners, tenth place isn’t a letdown—it’s still the top dog among Apple’s phones, handling everything from gaming to multitasking with ease. But the ranking underscores a shift: iPad Pro and Air models aren’t just oversized iPhones anymore—they’re full-on workhorses rivaling laptops.

Looking ahead, the gap might widen. Rumors of an M5 chip for 2026 promise even more tablet power, while the iPhone 17, due in 2025, might narrow the divide with an A19 chip boasting a revamped architecture.

The Bottom Line

AnTuTu’s March 2025 top 10 is a tablet triumph, with the iPhone 16 Pro as the lone smartphone straggler. For max power, the M4 iPad Pro is the champ. For portability, the iPhone still rules its realm. Apple keeps pushing the envelope, proving performance limits are far from reached.