If you have an Android phone and you like to tinker with it, sooner or later you'll end up running some tests to see how well it performs. Benchmarking apps have become the fastest way to check the real power of a smartphone or tablet, to find out if it's overheating or to check if a system update has been good for it or, on the contrary, has taken away its power.
However, it's important to keep our feet on the ground: Benchmark apps are very useful for comparing phones and detecting faults, but they are not the absolute truth when choosing a phone.Even so, if you want to measure CPU, GPU, memory, storage, battery, or even the AI ​​component of the processor, even to perform tactile testsThere are several very comprehensive tools that are worth knowing and combining.
What is a benchmark in Android and why is it worth using?
When we talk about benchmarks, we are referring to standardized test batteries that stress the mobile hardware with specific workloadsThese tests can focus on one or more components (CPU, GPU, RAM, storage, battery, modem, sensors…) and ultimately generate a score or a detailed report.
The beauty of all this is that, since the tests are repeatable, You can compare your mobile phone's performance with that of other models under the same conditions.This way you can see if it performs above or below expectations, if an Android update has improved performance, if a custom ROM works worse than the original, or if changing the battery has restored some of the lost speed.
In Android, different types of benchmarks coexist: the classic raw power benchmarks (Antutu, Geekbench, 3DMark…)There are apps that mimic everyday tasks (PCMark), specialized storage tools (Disk Speed, Androbench), and hardware diagnostic and information utilities (CPU-Z, AIDA64, CPU X, Droid Hardware Info, etc.). There are even AI-focused tests, such as AI Benchmark, that measure NPU and GPU performance in machine learning tasks.
Although the numbers they provide are very useful, It's not a good idea to buy a mobile phone just because it shines in a benchmark ranking.Factors such as system optimization, thermal management, screen quality, cameras, audio, and the software itself greatly influence the daily experience and aren't always reflected in a single metric. If you want to improve real-world performance, try some Tricks to speed up your Android phone.
Antutu: the classic "all-in-one" tool for measuring your Android
Antutu is, probably, the most well-known name when talking about general benchmarks in AndroidIts function is simple to understand: to launch a battery of tests that puts virtually all the important hardware of the device to work.
From the app you can choose a full test or independent tests. Antutu analyzes user experience (UX), CPU, GPU, RAM, and storage subsystem (I/O).It offers a partial score for each section and an overall score. In the processor section, it differentiates between single-core and multi-core performance, which is key to understanding how the SoC performs under both light tasks and heavy loads.
Many people only look at the overall number, but The overall Antutu score only makes sense when compared to other phones running the same version of the test.In general terms, a phone that scores 20.000 points will be twice as fast as one that scores 10.000 under similar conditions of temperature, power mode, and open apps.
The application includes a ranking where You can see where your device ranks compared to other models.even across different platforms. Antutu, in fact, offers tools for Android, iOS, Windows, and Ubuntu, making it possible to cross-compare between very different devices.
Beyond the performance test, Antutu Benchmark also acts as a hardware information toolIt displays your device's exact model, motherboard, Android version, CPU type, number of cores, screen density, available RAM, internal storage, sensors, battery capacity and voltage, average processor temperature, camera megapixels, and much more. If you need to adjust colors, see our guide on screen calibration.
From the settings it is possible to activate the continuous monitoring of CPU and battery temperatureThe app runs in the background to record the values ​​in a graph. This makes it easier to detect if any app or game is causing temperature spikes or if the system is overheating.
To obtain the most reliable results possible, It's advisable to close all background apps, have sufficient battery power, and not touch your phone during the test.It also helps to avoid plugging it into the charger while the test is running, so the temperature doesn't spike, and it's even advisable to... clear cache on Android before running long tests.
PassMark: technical tests, light and very complete
PassMark is another veteran tool in the world of performance that many know from PCs and servers. Its Android app replicates the approach of its desktop version: concentrating various technical tests under a single, simple interface.
With PassMark you can launch CPU, memory, storage (disk), 2D graphics and 3D graphics testsThe separation between 2D and 3D is especially useful because it allows you to see, on the one hand, the fluidity of the interface and simple tasks (scrolling, basic animations, flat elements), and on the other hand, how the device performs with more demanding 3D games and applications. If the interface feels sluggish, you can disable animations to check the difference.
Memory and disk tests help to measure how quickly apps open, how long it takes to load data, and whether the system feels responsive or sluggish.In the CPU section, PassMark offers several tests that evaluate both single-core and multi-core performance, giving a fairly complete overview of the SoC.
One of its strengths is the online database that allows you to compare your mobile phone's scores with those of a bunch of devicesYou can compare it to other models in read/write speeds, graphics performance, or CPU power, giving you context to know if your device is average or underperforms.
In addition, the app displays a very detailed hardware specification sheet that It avoids having to install other apps just to see specifications.It includes information on the processor, memory, screen, system, and other key components, making it a fairly complete solution for users who want something more technical without complicating their lives.
3DMark: a benchmark for measuring graphics power and gaming performance
If you're worried about how your Android will handle the most demanding games, 3DMark is one of the best things you can install. It's a benchmark focused on GPU and CPU under intensive graphics loads, with 3D scenes full of modern effects. similar to those of a modern video game. If you also want to maximize the performance of your games, consult How to maximize the performance of your games.
The app organizes the tests as data-driven stories, with charts, rankings, and lists that go beyond a simple scoreAt the end of each test you can see how your result compares with that of other devices of the same model, with high-end mobiles or with tablets, and even check how the scores change with each system update.
3DMark automatically selects the best benchmark for your device based on its capabilitiesThis way, you don't have to download tests you won't be able to run. This saves storage space and download time, which is important if you're running low on space.
Among its best-known tests is 3DMark WildlifeDesigned to compare Android phones from brands like Samsung, Xiaomi, OnePlus, Motorola, Huawei, Sony, Vivo, and Oppo with the latest iPhones and iPads, this test applies a balanced graphics load for modern devices and generates a score you can use to see how your phone fits into the current market.
If your device is particularly powerful, you can go one step further with 3DMark Wild Life ExtremeThis test is designed to push the next generation of devices to their limits. Most current phones barely reach a few frames per second in this test, so don't be alarmed if you see low numbers: it's specifically designed to be extremely demanding.
For mid-range phones, older mobiles, or tablets from a few years ago, 3DMark offers Sling Shot and Sling Shot ExtremeThese tools allow you to compare modest Android devices with older iPhones and iPads. The results include a detailed analysis of graphics performance on less current hardware, useful if you want to see how your device has aged.
The big recent development is 3DMark Solar Bay, a benchmark specifically for Android with ray tracing support (Vulkan Ray Tracing)This test only works on very recent devices with Android 12 or higher, at least 4 GB of RAM, and support for Vulkan 1.1 with ray query. It's divided into three sections with increasing loads, perfect for understanding how far you can push ray tracing in compatible games without significantly impacting FPS.
Both Solar Bay and Wild Life and Wild Life Extreme include Two test modes: a quick benchmark to measure peak performance and a prolonged stress test to assess long-term stabilityThe latter is especially interesting if you tend to play for long sessions, as it shows whether the phone is holding up or suffering from thermal throttling when it gets hot.
3DMark for Android is Completely free for personal use, with no ads or in-app purchasesHowever, it is intended for non-commercial use, so companies and media outlets must request a specific license from UL if they want to use it in professional environments.
Geekbench 5: Measuring CPU brute strength (and more)
Geekbench 5 has earned its reputation as one of the benchmark standards for measuring CPU performance in mobile phones, tablets and computersIts main advantage is that it is fully cross-platform: it has versions for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android, among other systems.
On Android, the app runs single-core and multi-core testsThis helps to understand how the device behaves when only a light thread is being used (for example, when opening a simple app) and when the system distributes the work among all available cores in heavy tasks or intensive multitasking.
During the benchmark, Geekbench bombards the CPU with varied workloads that simulate everything from office tasks to very demanding processesThanks to this, it obtains a fairly realistic score of the processor's raw power, something that many manufacturers even use in their presentations.
The app doesn't just stay on the CPU. It includes a section called Compute Benchmark, focused on measuring the computing capabilities of the GPU through APIs such as OpenCL or, on other platforms, CUDA and Metal. On Android, these types of tests are used to see the potential of the mobile device in tasks that take advantage of graphics acceleration for intensive computing.
Geekbench 5 also incorporates tests in modern areas such as machine learning or augmented realityThese tests are increasingly linked to the AI ​​hardware integrated into current SoCs. They better reflect how modern apps use the CPU, GPU, and dedicated accelerators.
Once you have completed the test, you can upload the results to Geekbench Browser, the public database where thousands of scores are storedThis way anyone can compare devices, check results for models they are considering buying, or see how different ROMs and configurations perform.
In the information section, Geekbench displays a fairly complete specification sheet for the device: processor name, number of cores, frequencies, device model, Android version, motherboard, and CPU governor type...among other technical data. For advanced users who experiment with power profiles, this is very valuable information.
PCMark: real-world, everyday usage tests
PCMark adopts a different philosophy than many synthetic benchmarks. Instead of focusing on artificial algorithms, try to mimic the tasks you perform daily with your mobile phone.: browsing the web, editing documents, working with spreadsheets, retouching photos, or putting together short videos.
Its most well-known test on Android is Work 3.0, an evolution of the old Work 1.0 and Work 2.0This test combines several alternating workloads to simulate realistic office and multimedia use, evaluating system performance as a whole rather than individual components. If you're looking to optimize Android, check out our guide on how to optimize android.
Unlike other tools, PCMark considers that CPU, GPU, memory and storage form an inseparable systemThat's why their tests don't isolate each piece so much, but rather evaluate how they coordinate to solve everyday tasks for the average user, something more representative than a simple synthetic calculation.
The app includes a practical real-time hardware monitoring functionWhile benchmarks are running, you can see how CPU frequency, GPU load, battery consumption, and other parameters change. This helps you check if the manufacturer has done a good job of optimization or if performance drops sharply due to overheating or overly aggressive power management.
PCMark also incorporates dedicated benchmarks for battery life and storage performanceIn the battery test, the phone performs real-world tasks for hours until the battery is depleted, generating a fairly reliable estimate of battery life. The Storage 2.0 test, on the other hand, examines the read and write speeds of internal memory, external cards, and typical database operations.
All results can Compare with other models using the Best Devices listYou can filter by brand, model, CPU type, GPU, or Android version, and even see how system updates affect a phone's ranking over time.
As for requirements, PCMark requires Android 5.0 or higher, at least 1 GB of RAM and OpenGL ES 2.0 compatibilityAfter installing the app, you can choose which tests you want to download, add or remove benchmarks without losing previous scores, making it easy to try new things without filling up memory.
GFXBench Benchmark: Advanced, cross-platform graphics analysis
GFXBench, formerly known as GLBenchmark, is a veteran of graphics benchmarking. Its objective is to measure GPU performance, long-term stability, rendering quality, and power consumption under demanding 3D workloads..
The app offers a very extensive collection of tests, each focused on a specific aspect of the graph. Among them are: Aztec Ruins, Car Chase, Manhattan 3.1, Manhattan, T‑Rex, Tessellation, ALU, texturing, driver overhead, battery and stability, alpha blending and fill rateAmong other things. Each test puts pressure on a specific part of the GPU, allowing for a very detailed analysis of performance. If you want to get the most out of your GPU and improve your gaming experience, check out our Ways to improve the performance of video games on Android.
One of its great advantages is that It allows cross-API benchmarking and is cross-platform thanks to OpenGL ES and VulkanYou can see how your mobile device performs with different graphics APIs and compare it to other devices, including some desktop computers. Furthermore, many tests can be run in both on-screen mode (at the screen's actual resolution) and off-screen mode (at a fixed resolution), ideal for fair comparisons between mobile devices with very different screens.
The Aztec Ruins test, for example, It simulates an environment similar to a modern video game with dynamic global illumination, HDR, real-time lighting effects, and SSAO ambient occlusion.GFXBench not only displays the frame rate, but also battery consumption and stability data, so you can see if the device holds up well to long sessions or if it quickly loses power.
From the comparison section you can Compare your device's scores with those of other smartphones and tabletsThe information section offers technical details about the GPU, resolution, supported API versions, and other relevant data. All of this with a A fairly simple, multilingual interface suitable for advanced users and curious people in general..
Disk Speed ​​and other storage benchmarks on Android
Storage is that great forgotten element that, nevertheless, It greatly enhances the feeling of fluidity of the mobile phone.Slow internal memory can ruin the experience, even with a powerful processor. This is where tools like Disk Speed ​​come in.
Disk Speed ​​is a very small app (barely 1,5 MB) designed for to measure read and write speeds on different types of storageIt allows you to run tests on internal memory, microSD cards, USB drives connected via OTG, or even custom paths.
The application detects automatically the internal and external units available on the deviceThis greatly simplifies the process. It also includes a slider to choose how much storage space the test will occupy: if too small a size is selected, the results may not be representative.
Before starting any benchmark, it is important Ensure that the volume to be analyzed has at least 20% free spaceIf storage is very full, the test may further strain the system and cause write freezes. It is also recommended to close all background apps to minimize interference.
There are alternatives like Androbench that measure IOPS and latency, but Disk Speed ​​stands out for its simplicity, low space consumption, and ease of quickly checking the speed of any type of connected storage.It is ideal for detecting slow microSD cards that are slowing down the system.
Hardware information and diagnostic apps: CPU-Z, AIDA64, CPU X, Droid Hardware Info…
Beyond pure benchmarks, there are applications whose objective is to show you in great detail what's inside your phone and how it's workingNotable examples include CPU-Z, AIDA64, CPU X, and Droid Hardware Info.
CPU‑Z It's the Android version of the popular PC tool. With this app you can see the type of SoC, the frequency of each core, the amount of RAM, the screen resolution, the exact brand and model of the device, the integrated sensors, and the battery status (level, temperature, voltage). Everything is organized by tabs, which makes quick diagnostics much easier.
AIDA64 It goes even further and offers a very deep understanding of both hardware and softwareIt details the operating system version, kernel, bootloader, libraries such as zlib, system directories, battery status, Wi-Fi and mobile networks, real-time CPU and GPU frequencies, a list of installed apps, and a host of other technical parameters. Furthermore, it takes up relatively little memory.
La app CPUX It combines hardware information with extra utilities. It provides processor specifications, cores, speed, RAM, cameras and sensors, and includes tools such as an internet speed meter, temperature and battery amperage monitor, as well as a small arsenal of extras: ruler, bubble level, compass or emergency signal, among others.
If you're looking for something very focused on the technical specifications, Droid Hardware Info organizes data into clear sections (device, system, memory, camera, battery, and sensors)It's a quick way to check the internal configuration of the terminal, although in advanced options it may fall somewhat short of AIDA64 or other more complete solutions.
Along with these apps there are also diagnostic suites like Phone Doctor Plus or Test Your AndroidThese tools allow you to manually test a number of components: touchscreen, microphone, speakers, Bluetooth, GPS, camera, etc. They often include utilities such as a flashlight or barcode reader, but in return, they display a lot of advertising, so it's best to use them patiently.
AI Benchmark: Testing Mobile Artificial Intelligence
With the popularization of chips that integrate NPUs and specific accelerators, AI power has become almost as important as the CPU or GPU in some uses.AI Benchmark is a tool designed specifically to measure this aspect in Android.
The app runs 46 tests grouped into 14 sections covering facial recognition, image classification, text prediction, photo correction and enhancement, bokeh effect using neural networks and other modern algorithmsThis gives you a pretty clear idea of ​​your device's AI capabilities.
AI Benchmark is supported SoCs that integrate NPUs and AI accelerators such as MediaTek's Dimensity, Samsung's Exynos, Qualcomm's Snapdragon, HiSilicon's Kirin, or the more modern Helio familiesOn devices that do not have a dedicated NPU, it allows you to use the GPU as an accelerator by configuring the "Accelerate" option and enabling GPU acceleration.
For advanced users and developers, the app includes a PRO mode that allows you to load your own deep learning model based on TensorFlow Lite and run it directly on the mobile device. This is very useful for checking how a specific neural network behaves on the actual hardware where you plan to deploy it.
Thanks to this type of testing, It's possible to get an idea of ​​the extent to which the mobile phone is prepared for AI camera functions, advanced voice recognition, or apps that rely heavily on neural networks., areas where simply having many CPU cores is no longer enough.
Other benchmark apps and related tools
Over the years, countless benchmarks have been run on Android, some of which They've become somewhat outdated, but they're still useful on older devices.Among them is Quadrant, which for quite some time was a benchmark for measuring CPU, GPU, memory and storage with a free version and a paid version.
Another classic name is Vellamo, a tool developed by Qualcomm to measure browser performance and system fluidity It supported HTML5 operations, page zoom and scrolling, simple 3D graphics, video playback, and memory and network access. While now largely obsolete, it was crucial when Android was first developing its mobile performance capabilities.
In the graphic arts field there also existed Antutu 3DRating Benchmark, focused exclusively on performance with OpenGL ES 2.0where scenes with advanced particle systems, fluid animations, and complex shadows were showcased. It was one of the first attempts to specifically measure the graphical capabilities of mobile devices.
If we look at the PC world, we have tools like MemTest86, used for years to detect faults in RAM memory modules...or monitoring solutions like HWiNFO, designed for Windows and DOS. Although they don't have a functional Android app, they are considered benchmarks in their respective fields and have shaped the evolution of modern benchmarks.
We also find programs like this on computers RAM Booster, which displays the total amount of memory (physical and virtual), the free RAM, and offers to automatically free up resources when a certain threshold is reached. Android is full of apps that promise to "clean RAM," but you have to be very careful, because if they close processes that the system needs, it reopens them again and again, and the result can be just the opposite: more power consumption and worse performance.
With all this arsenal of tools, Today it is possible to measure virtually any aspect of your Android mobile's performanceCPU and GPU power, thermal stability, internal memory and card speed, real-world battery life, battery health, hardware quality, AI performance… Ideally, you should combine several of these apps depending on your needs (games, daily use, diagnostics, artificial intelligence) and take the scores as a guide, not as an unchangeable judgment, because what really matters is how your phone performs in the tasks you do every day.
