Reading news and articles of all kinds, you have certainly come across the data shown in the comparative tests more than once. But what are these applications? What exactly do they measure if the results are important to them? Let’s try to answer these questions.
The first benchmark appeared, it is easy to guess, not on a smartphone. Initially, a similar program was only installed by computer owners. Performance tested by 3Dmark and several other applications. It wasn’t until much later that developers began to create benchmarks specifically for mobile operating systems. Now there is a fairly large number of such tools, as you can see after reading the material on the best tests for Android.
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What does the benchmark test do?
Every modern smartphone consists of many elements. Some provide some specific functions. For example, a fingerprint scanner increases security by not allowing other people to unlock your device. The audio processor improves the sound of music by connecting a high-quality headset. Other components affect the performance of the device. In particular, this applies to the processor, RAM and some other components. The strength of such components measures the reference level for smartphones.
Sample test result for Samsung Galaxy A5 2016
Such an application performs various tests. Each of them is sharpened for specific component features. For example, Antutu, if simplified, performs tests in three stages:
- The application starts working with a continuous data stream, thus checking the RAM performance;
- Then the program fills the screen with a set of two-dimensional shapes – the processor installed in this way copes with 2D graphics processing;
- Finally, AnTuTu Benchmark displays a sequence of three-dimensional images, thus checking the performance of the graphic accelerator.
We called AnTuTu for a good reason. Now this application is considered the gold standard in the world of mobile benchmarking – many smartphone users and manufacturers are guided by their data.
A variety of components
Many people think that mobile devices are equipped with the same elements. For example, it only differs in the amount of RAM. Or, for example, the processor clock frequency. But, in fact, all these components are manufactured by different companies, and therefore their features can be completely different. Because of this, device performance varies greatly.
RAM. Of course, the most important parameter is volume. But the memory bandwidth is different. This parameter is not saved in the device characteristics. Find out how high speed memory works, you can only run a benchmarking test.
Fast memory absorbs information quickly, reads it faster. As a result, applications load quickly, just like the operating system itself. If RAM is free, you will definitely encounter an Android hang.
Processor. It is the most technically complex component. First of all, people pay attention to the number of cores it consists of and the clock frequency. But in fact the total power depends on the production technology and many other factors. It depends on the processor whether there is support for some technologies associated with fourth generation networks. By the way, based on benchmarks we focused on creating a ranking of the most powerful processors.
Permanent memory Performance is virtually independent of its size. But this type of memory also has a certain speed of writing and reading. It also determines how quickly the operating system accesses this or other data.
Other elements. They have almost no effect on the results of smartphones. However, thanks to the comparative test you can still, at least for interest, find out what components your phone consists of. For example, you’ll find out if your device has a gyroscope. If there is no such sensor, it makes no sense to buy a VR helmet. It will say benchmark and wireless modules and screen (except for its diagonal) and much more.
Trust but check
All comparative tests only allow an approximate comparison of one smartphone with another. The fact is that sometimes the performance test says nothing. Some manufacturers customize “iron” to get excellent results in AnTuTu and other comparative tests. But in real life, such a device may behave extremely inadequately. Therefore, before buying a smartphone, you should read the reviews on it, not focusing only on the figures shown in the benchmark.
It should also be noted that the performance test squeezes all juice from the device. In normal life, the device will not increase the processor clock frequency to extreme values, as this will lead to a rapid discharge of the battery. Yes, and RAM often imposes some restrictions. This is another reason for slower operation of the device outside the test test.
Where to see the results?
You can download any benchmark on Google Play or the AppStore . After testing, you’ll see a mark with the results of your smartphone. You can also find out which devices showed a slightly better and worse result. An authorization system is implemented in some applications. In this case, the service stores information about all the smartphones and tablets you have tested.
If we talk about AnTuTu, then this benchmark has its own official website. On it you will find the current rating of smartphones, updated monthly.
