Hello to you! I want us to revisit a topic that’s both familiar and somewhat mysterious — ARM Cortex CPU cores in 2025. Most of us probably already know a bit about them, but in the world of smartphone tech, there’s always something new to learn. So grab a cup of coffee (or your preferred drink), and let’s revisit the CPUs cores that power our smartphones.
Like many people out there, I once (very erroneously) believed that the “CPU” was the entire computing brain of a smartphone. Technically, that’s partly correct — but it falls way short of the full picture.
In reality, the computing infrastructure on a smartphone is housed in what’s called a System on a Chip (or SoC). This little silicon marvel is the heart of your device and is made up of:
But tonight, we’re focusing on the CPU cores. Let’s get into it!
What Are CPU Cores?
The CPU cores inside an SoC are the generalized computing units that handle most of the work your smartphone does. They’re the multi-purpose engines that:
- Run the operating system
- Handle apps, games, and system functions
- Manage background tasks
- Load pictures and videos before handing them off to the GPU
Essentially, if something’s happening on your phone, the CPU cores are involved.
Over the years, different CPU cores have emerged with varying levels of performance. Some are super powerful; others are just there to keep the lights on. Unfortunately, this info has sometimes been treated like esoteric knowledge, hidden away from the general public. And even when it’s shared, most folks aren’t that interested (until they realize why their phone is slow!).
ARM Cortex CPU cores
Almost every CPU core design you’ll find in your smartphone comes from ARM. ARM Holdings is the company that makes the blueprints for CPU cores (and many GPUs). They rarely manufacture them; instead, they license the designs to companies like MediaTek, Qualcomm, Samsung, and others. These licensing deals can be worth millions, and ARM can revoke them if a manufacturer steps out of line (e.g. Huawei).
To build a smartphone SoC, companies license CPU cores and sometimes GPU designs from ARM. For example, to build the Xiaomi XRING O1, Xiaomi needed licenses for the Cortex X925, Cortex A725, and Cortex A520 CPU cores — plus the 16-core ARM Mali G925 Immortalis GPU.
Qualcomm, on the other hand, has developed its own custom CPUs (like Oryon), but they’re still based on ARM’s foundational blueprints.
You may also be interested in:
- System On A Chip (SoC) For Smartphones
- Introduction to Smartphone SoCs
- Introduction to Smartphone SoCs 2 (CPU cores)
- CPU cores in smartphone SoCs
- ISA VS CLOCK SPEED
CPU Core Performance Tiers
In order to understand ARM Cortex CPU cores in 2025, we’ll need to break down the different performance tiers you’ll find in today’s smartphones.
📱 Entry-Level
- Cortex A55
- Cortex A53
These are the weakest cores around, mostly found in super-cheap devices. They’re good enough for calls, texts, and light web browsing, but they can’t handle modern Android well — hence their use in Android Go phones. Examples: Helio G50 Ultimate, Unisoc T7100.
💸 Budget
- Cortex A73
- Cortex A75
These cores are a step up from entry-level, offering smoother performance for everyday tasks. Expect 220–300k on AnTuTu, depending on configuration and clock speed. Not too long ago, that was solid — but today, it’s just okay. They were usually paired with the A53 and A55 CPU cores for better battery efficiency. Here are the SoCs that you can find them.
- A73: Snapdragon 6s 4G Gen 2, 680, 685
- A75: Unisoc T7200, T7250, T7255; Helio G80, G81, G85, G88
⚡ Lower Mid-Range
- Cortex A76
- Cortex A78
Here’s where performance starts to get decent: around 380–500k on AnTuTu. That’s enough for most users — for now. But with Android’s demands growing every year, these cores might soon start to feel a bit underpowered. Some reviewers are already suggesting that A76 and A78 should be moved down to the budget tier. They are paired with the Cortex A55 for battery efficiency.
Examples: Helio G99, G100, G200, Unisoc T8300, Snapdragon 4s Gen 2.
🚀 Upper Mid-Range
- Cortex A710
- Cortex A715
- Cortex A720
These are the modern upper mid-range workhorses. You’ll find them in newer, faster mid-rangers that handle multitasking and gaming well. They are paired with Cortex A510 CPUs for battery efficiency.
🌟 Premium Mid-Range
- Cortex X1
- Cortex A725
- Cortex X2
These are flagship cores from a few years ago that now slot comfortably into premium mid-range devices. They still pack a punch. The Cortex A725 also occasionally shows up in flagship-level SoCs. These are paired with Cortex A520 CPU cores for…you guessed it…battery efficiency.
🔥 Flagship Killer / Budget Flagship
- Cortex X3
- Cortex X4
These are extremely powerful cores that can handle just about anything you throw at them. Usually paired with Cortex A720 and A520 in a DynamIQ setup. They’re for users who want near-flagship performance without paying flagship prices.
👑 Flagship / Super Flagship
- Cortex X925
- Oryon CPU
These are currently the absolute best CPU cores available. Expect mind-blowing performance in everything from gaming to multitasking. Rumor has it that newer cores will debut later this year (around September/October 2025), but for now, these are the cream of the crop.
Let’s Do a CPU Core Census!
Let’s make this interactive. I’ll go first:
My Phone: Poco F5
- SoC: Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2
- CPU cores Setup:
- 1x Cortex X2
- 3x Cortex A710
- 4x Cortex A510
Previous device: Redmi Note 9 Pro
- SoC: Snapdragon 720G
- CPU cores setup:
- 2x Cortex A76
- 6x Cortex A55
Now it’s your turn. What smartphone are you using, and what ARM Cortex CPU cores in 2025 does it have? Drop it in the comments, and let’s compare notes. Cheers and have a good one!
Want more grounded posts like this? Follow Inquisitive Universe—where hype gets checked and specs get real.
- Subscribe to our YouTube channel
- Follow on Facebook
- Follow on WhatsApp
- Join our Telegram community
- Participate on Reddit
- Find us on Quora
Well written, well researched and clearly put.
Glad I didn’t have to do the research it obviously took to assemble this informative piece.