A lot of iPhone rumors focus on the flashy Pro models, but here's a plot twist: the base iPhone 17 might be getting a bigger upgrade than anyone thought. While early whispers suggested it would stick with last year's A18 chip, new benchmark data and conflicting analyst reports paint a different picture—one where the standard iPhone 17 could actually hold its own against pricier siblings. Recent Geekbench data shows an iPhone17,1 model hitting a single-core score of 3,429 and multi-core score of 8,790. Having benchmarked every iPhone since the iPhone 12, these numbers tell a story that goes beyond mere specifications—they suggest Apple isn't planning to shortchange base model buyers this time around. That's a meaningful jump from the iPhone 16's 3,324 single-core performance, translating to roughly 20% faster app launches and smoother everyday interactions. Why the chip confusion matters more than you think The rumor mill has been spinning contradictory stories about what actually...more
