Geekbench 6 released to better benchmark modern hardware

Geekbench has been updated to version 6, with the cross-platform benchmark improved to better handle the improved specifications of modern smartphones and other devices.

Geekbench is a highly-used benchmark tool, providing quick ways to compare the performance between similar-specification devices. On Tuesday, the app was finally updated by Primate Labs to version 6, bringing with it quite a few improvements.

The new version is made to better accommodate changes in the tech world since the release of Geekbench 5. Machine learning, larger smartphone cameras, and higher core counts have significantly changed the way we use hardware, necessitating the update.

Part of the changes is new "real-world tests," which goes a little beyond simply crunching numbers at high speed, and into how long actual tasks take to complete. For example, it will measure how long it takes for an example website to load, for filters to be added to a photo, or to render a PDF.

Geekbench 6 on macOS

New tests in this fares include blurring backgrounds for video conferencing, removing background objects from images, and processing text "within a development workflow."

"These tests are precisely crafted to ensure that results represent real-world use cases and workloads," the app's description states.

The CPU benchmark also adds new tests, covering application areas including artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and machine learning. GOPU benchmarks add support for machine learning and a more uniform GPU performance across different platforms.

Available for iOS, macOS, Windows, and Android, Geekbench 6 is free for non-commercial personal usage. A paid Pro edition will also be available, incorporating things like command line operation and offline results management, with a limited-time 20% discount reducing it to $79.

AppleInsider will be updating the most recent Mac reviews with GeekBench 6 numbers in the coming days.

8 Comments

ericthehalfbee 4489 comments · 13 Years

About 1 year ago

Just watch all the Android users start whining when the iPhone pulls even further ahead and claiming Geekbench worked with Apple.

Sorry to break it to you, but Geekbench states they optimize for all platforms and work with processor manufacturers to make sure results are consistent.

keithw 152 comments · 20 Years

The GB6 Metal GPU result with my AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT eGPU has gone up from 16335 in GB5.5 to 194703 in GB6. It would be interesting to know how those workloads have changed.

tht 5594 comments · 23 Years

keithw said:

The GB6 Metal GPU result with my AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT eGPU has gone up from 16335 in GB5.5 to 194703 in GB6. It would be interesting to know how those workloads have changed.

The workloads have changed and therefore GB5 scores are now comparable to GB6 scores. It's like comparing apples to rocks.

Take a look at that Primate Labs GB6 Metal score screenshot. It's of an M2 MBA. Scoring 45k in GB6 Metal. Best score for a M2 MBA in GB5 Metal is like 31k. The values being different doesn't mean anything because they aren't comparing the same thing.

The relative difference between CPUs, GPUs and ML cores may shift from GB5 to GB6 though, because the sub tests probably stress different parts of the CPUs, GPUs, ML units and memory subsystems. So some particular architecture may do better relative to where they before, relative to other CPUs, GPUs and ML units.

verne arase 479 comments · 11 Years

It would've also been useful for you to tell us that Geekbench has gone up from $14.99 to $99 - a 660% increase.

Of course you can get it now for the special discount price of $79 - but it's still nuts for a benchmarking tool (and still a 527% increase).

Unless you're MAX TECH this isn't a tool you use every day - and it's waaayyy overpriced for what it does.

thadec 96 comments · 2 Years

ericthehalfbee said:

Just watch all the Android users start whining when the iPhone pulls even further ahead and claiming Geekbench worked with Apple.

Sorry to break it to you, but Geekbench states they optimize for all platforms and work with processor manufacturers to make sure results are consistent.

Are you sure about that?

https://www.phonearena.com/news/snapdragon-8-gen-2-chip-test-gpu-gaming-vs-apple-a16-iphone-14-pro_id144427

https://www.gizchina.com/2022/12/31/snapdragon-8-gen2-may-defeat-the-apple-a17-bionic-chip/

https://www.notebookcheck.net/Snapdragon-8-Gen-2-vs-A16-Bionic-vs-Dimensity-9200-Qualcomm-s-Adreno-740-wins-the-GPU-race-in-style.682905.0.html

And this is an Apple-centric site MacWorld: https://www.macworld.com/article/1507269/samsung-galaxy-s23-snapdragon-8-gen-2-a16-iphone.html

Yes, MacWorld shows the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra having a lower multicore score than the A14 Pro. The problem: Samsung never has the fastest Android devices. Samsung doesn't prioritize speed. They prioritize "light and thin." The Chinese phones, especially the gaming phones like the Asus ROG Phone and the ZTE Red Magic phones, always beat Samsung in benchmarks. (Why do people buy Samsung if the Chinese phones are faster? Because they provide a terrible user experience for everything other than gaming.)