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| RedMagic 11 Pro Plus tops the flagship phone rankings again. Pictured: a promo picture of the smartphone. |
If you've been waiting for a massive shake-up in the smartphone performance hierarchy, the newest AnTuTu benchmark rankings for December 2025 might seem like more of the same at first glance. The king remains on its throne. However, a closer look reveals the beginning of a fascinating new battle, as MediaTek's latest and greatest makes its competitive debut.
For the second month running, the RedMagic 11 Pro+ sits proudly at the pinnacle of raw Android performance. The gaming-centric powerhouse continues to leverage the raw power of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset to post a staggering average benchmark score of 4,118,828, maintaining a clear, though not massive, lead over its rivals.
The real story, however, unfolds further down the list. This month marks the first appearance of smartphones equipped with the new MediaTek Dimensity 9500 processor. And they’ve arrived with a bang, immediately snapping up the sixth and seventh positions. The Vivo X300 Pro and Oppo Find X9 Pro have demonstrated that MediaTek's flagship contender is truly in the same league, with scores hovering just a hair below the 4.05 million mark set by the Snapdragon elite.
For those interested in the raw data and methodology, the official AnTuTu report for December 2025 provides a complete breakdown of the scores and devices tested. You can find the detailed report here.
The Top 10 Performance Titans of December 2025
Here is the complete lineup of the current performance champions, based on average AnTuTu v10 scores collated from December 1-31, 2025:
- RedMagic 11 Pro+ (Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5) - 4,118,828 points
- iQOO 15 (Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5) - 4,078,562 points
- OnePlus 15 (Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5) - 4,073,184 points
- Realme GT8 Pro (Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5) - 4,066,017 points
- Honor Win (Snapdragon 8 Gen 5) - 4,054,673 points
- Vivo X300 Pro (Dimensity 9500) - 4,031,744 points
- Oppo Find X9 Pro (Dimensity 9500) - 4,023,008 points
- Honor Magic 8 Pro (Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5) - 3,948,065 points
- Honor Magic 8 (Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5) - 3,937,325 points
- Nubia Z80 Ultra (Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5) - 3,856,452 points
What’s Powering These Phones?
The list reaffirms the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 as the dominant force in the Android space, powering eight of the top ten devices. The consistency in scores between devices like the iQOO 15, OnePlus 15, and Realme GT8 Pro shows just how well-optimized this platform has become across different manufacturers.
The standout narrative, however, is the Dimensity 9500. MediaTek's latest flagship system-on-a-chip (SoC) was one of the most anticipated releases of the year, promising to close the gap with Qualcomm. Its debut with the Vivo and Oppo flagships proves it's a serious contender. While not topping the chart, its scores are highly competitive, suggesting consumers now have a powerful alternative at the very top end of the market.
For performance enthusiasts looking at a more affordable entry into this elite tier, the iQOO 15 presents a compelling option. It consistently delivers near-top performance, and as of this writing, the 256GB model can be found for around $672.62 on TradingShenzhen, offering incredible value in this rarefied performance bracket.
What’s Missing? The Subtle Shifts
Compared to the previous month's rankings, the list is remarkably stable, but there are two key changes. The Nubia Z80 Ultra makes its entrance into the top ten, claiming the final spot. On the other hand, the Redmi K90 Pro Max has dropped out of the rankings entirely, showing how fiercely competitive even a few thousand points can be at this level.
The Bottom Line: What Does This Mean for You?
Benchmark scores like these from AnTuTu are an excellent indicator of a device's peak theoretical performance—its capability for intensive tasks like high-fidelity gaming, video editing, and multitasking. The clustering of scores from first to seventh place indicates that for most users, any of these phones will feel blisteringly fast.
The choice may now come down to other factors: brand preference, camera systems, software experience, design, and of course, price. The arrival of a strong Dimensity 9500 lineup introduces more competition, which is always a win for consumers.
It's also worth remembering that benchmarks are just one piece of the puzzle. Real-world smoothness, thermal management, and battery life during sustained performance are crucial. For a deeper dive into how benchmark scores translate to everyday use and comparisons between specific models, resources like Versus can be incredibly helpful.
*One thing is clear: the battle for smartphone performance supremacy in 2026 is heating up, and it’s no longer a one-horse race.*
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| Android flagship phone performance rankings from December 2025 |