CPU Cores & Benchmark Scores — Simple Guide
A super simple, step-by-step short course to (A) understand what CPU cores and benchmark scores mean, and (B) quickly check how many cores a device has and run basic benchmark tests on Android, iPhone and laptops.
Quick plain-English summary
- Cores = little workers inside the CPU. More cores → better at doing many things at once.
- Benchmarks / scores = apps that test the phone or laptop and give numbers (higher = faster).
- Two common scores: single-core (how fast one worker is) and multi-core (how well all workers work together).
What you’ll learn
- How to find the CPU name and how many cores it has.
- How to run a simple benchmark test and read the two main numbers (single / multi).
- What those numbers mean for everyday use.
Before you start (short checklist)
- Charge device to at least 30%.
- Unlock the device and get the owner’s permission.
- Close other apps for a fair test.
- Connect to Wi-Fi if the benchmark app needs it.
Step-by-step: How to check cores & scores
A. Android phone — easiest method
- Open the Play Store and install CPU-Z or AIDA64 (free).
- Open the app → look for the SoC / CPU section. It shows the CPU model and number of cores.
- To check speed: install Geekbench → open → tap Run CPU Benchmark. After the run you'll see Single-Core and Multi-Core scores.
B. iPhone (iOS)
- Install Geekbench from the App Store.
- Run the CPU Benchmark. Geekbench shows single-core and multi-core scores and the processor name.
- If core count isn’t listed, search the processor name to find the core specification.
C. Windows laptop
- Right-click the taskbar → open Task Manager.
- Go to the Performance tab → select CPU. You'll see Cores and Logical processors.
- Install and run Geekbench for Windows to get benchmark scores.
D. Mac laptop
- Click the Apple menu → About This Mac → System Report → check Total Number of Cores.
- Run Geekbench for macOS to get single and multi-core scores.
How to read the scores (very brief)
- Single-core score: higher → snappier apps and faster single tasks (web browsing, opening apps).
- Multi-core score: higher → better at multitasking and heavy jobs (video editing, rendering).
- Compare similar devices (phone vs phone, laptop vs laptop) for meaningful results.
Short examples
- Phone with 4 cores and low single-core score → may feel slow opening apps.
- Laptop with 8 cores and high multi-core score → good for video editing and heavy tasks.
- Use single vs multi results to judge snappiness vs heavy workload performance.
Quick 1-line cheat sheet
Android: CPU-Z → SoC (cores) + Geekbench → Run CPU (scores).
iPhone: Geekbench → Run CPU (scores + processor name).
Windows: Task Manager → Performance → CPU (cores), Geekbench (scores).
Mac: About This Mac → System Report (cores), Geekbench (scores).
iPhone: Geekbench → Run CPU (scores + processor name).
Windows: Task Manager → Performance → CPU (cores), Geekbench (scores).
Mac: About This Mac → System Report (cores), Geekbench (scores).
Printable checklist
- Charge device ≥ 30%
- Close other apps/background sync
- Install CPU-Z / Geekbench / AIDA64
- Run CPU benchmark and record Single & Multi scores
- Note CPU model name for core lookup
YouTube demo
Click play to watch the YouTube Shorts demo below.
Watch on YouTube Shorts
Quick tips
Run benchmarks with the device cool and no heavy background activities. Repeat tests 2–3 times and use the median value for more reliable results. Focus on single-core for everyday snappiness and multi-core for heavy workflows like video editing.
Recommended apps: Android: CPU-Z, AIDA64, Geekbench. iPhone: Geekbench. Windows/Mac: Geekbench (desktop).