Table of contents:
- Performance: almost on par with Qualcomm
- Lower energy efficiency
- Graphics performance: Qualcomm's Adreno takes the cake (narrowly)
- More advanced connections on Qualcomm processors
- Poor update support
- Forget about compatibility with the Google Camera app
- Photo quality: best at Qualcomm
After almost as many years in the market as Qualcomm, Mediatek has been widely rejected by much of the Android user community. While Qualcomm processors are mostly intended for mid-range, mid-range and high-end mobiles, Mediatek's units are relegated to supplying the low-end and budget mid-range market. What is its bad reputation? Are they inferior to Qualcomm processors? We see it below.
Performance: almost on par with Qualcomm
The war between Mediatek vs Qualcomm is inevitably reminiscent of the war between Intel and AMD a few years ago. Talking about Mediatek implies talking about scandal specifications, although this does not always mean talking about a performance superior to what a Snapdragon processor can offer. After the renewal of the current catalog of the Chinese company, Mediatek seems to have turned the tables when it comes to pure performance.
An example of this is the Mediatek G90T, a processor that mounts the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro and that has given much to talk about since its launch. By architecture and power, the most direct rival that we can find in Qualcomm is the Snapdragon 730G, a processor composed of eight Kryo 740 cores: two Cortex A76 cores at 2.2 GHz and six Cortex A55 cores at 1.8 GHz. On the G90T side, we find four Cortex A55 cores at 2.05 GHz and four Cortex A76 cores at 2.05 GHz.
Beyond technical data, the difference between one and the other is notable: while Qualcomm opts for lower-performance A55 cores for light tasks, Mediatek integrates up to two more A76 cores to improve processor performance in demanding tasks, such as games or the use of heavy applications (Adobe Rush, Adobe Photoshop…). Unfortunately, this is not the case with other processors, especially when it comes to high-end models, such as the Snapdragon 855 or even the 845.
Lower energy efficiency
If the Qualcomm processors are characterized by something, it is by the energy efficiency of their cores. In addition to having a more efficient configuration (six A55 cores compared to four in the G90T), the manufacturing process is much more optimal. And is that while the 730G is manufactured in 8 nanometers, the Mediatek G90T has a manufacturing of no less than 12 nanometers, which directly affects energy consumption.
It also has an impact on the performance provided by each core, by allowing a greater number of transistors in a smaller physical space.
Graphics performance: Qualcomm's Adreno takes the cake (narrowly)
Historically, Qualcomm's Adreno graphics module has been superior to other graphics processor manufacturers, such as Kirin's Mali and Mediatek. Fortunately, both companies have been slowly gaining ground to surpass Qualcomm when it comes to gaming performance.
If we take a look at the processors mentioned above, we can find an Adreno 618 GPU in the case of the 730 and a Mali G76 GPU in the case of the G90T, both clocked at 825 and 800 MHz respectively. The results in benchmarks , however, give the Mediatek G90T the winner, with a difference of just over 10,000 points thanks to the power and number of its cores. Unfortunately, this is not the case for other processors, as it does on the side of processing power.
More advanced connections on Qualcomm processors
Wireless connections are the great forgotten if we talk about differences between Mediatek vs Snapdragon. As a general rule, Qualcomm processors tend to integrate more capable Wi-Fi and mobile network connections. An example of this is the Snapdragon 730G that we have been talking about.
In short, the processor has category 15 LTE technology if we talk about downloads and category 13 LTE if we talk about uploads. In contrast, the G90T has LTE category 12 in downloads and LTE category 13 in uploads. This also influences the level of coverage and, of course, the stability of the network. The rest of the connections, such as WiFi or Bluetooth, also keep their technical differences. Compatibility with 5G modules, dual-band GPS and a long etcetera.
Poor update support
The main difference between Qualcomm and Mediatek comes from the update support. Being a company whose tasks are limited to the design of processors and the subsequent sale of these, Mediatek does not release the controllers of its processors to third parties, in such a way that the software support depends only on the manufacturer of the processor, which may be Xiaomi, Motorola or any other brand that decides to integrate a Mediatek processor.
If we talk about support from the community, the picture is very similar. In forums like XDA, the number of mobile ROMs with Mediatek processors compared to their counterparts with Qualcomm processors is practically non-existent.
Forget about compatibility with the Google Camera app
Google Camera, the native camera application of Google Pixel mobiles, is compatible only with Snapdragon processors as it is designed for mobiles with Qualcomm processors. This lack of compatibility also translates into other applications, both from Google and from other manufacturers.
Photo quality: best at Qualcomm
For some time now, the improvement in the field of mobile photography comes from the post-processing at the image level. Since most mobiles now have high-resolution sensors and a focal aperture comparable to that of professional cameras, the difference in quality is marked by the image processor.
In this field Qualcomm takes the cake, not only in terms of quality, but also in versatility. Support for recording in 4K at 60 FPS, slow motion at 960 FPS, images at 64 megapixels, high dynamic range and a long, very long, and so on.
