Key Highlights
- MediaTek processors are good for the budget and mid-range smartphones.
- Qualcomm Snapdragon processors are good for flagship and mid-range smartphones.
- The benefits and drawbacks of each processor, allow the user to select the one that best suits their needs.
In today’s modern-day age, we all use smartphones, be it budget devices, mid-range phones or flagship ones. While most people now research online before buying a new smartphone as to which one can turn out to be the best device for them as per their usage and budget, there are still a lot of people who buy a new device just on the basis of its stylish looks. People don’t pay heed to the most important part of the smartphone which is its processor. And, when we talk about processors, the first question which comes in our mind is Qualcomm Snapdragon vs MediaTek, which one is better? So, let’s find that out in this article.
Also Read: Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G Vs MediaTek Dimensity 800 Chipset Comparison: Which Mid-Range 5G Chipset Is Better?
What is a Processor?
A processor is the most important component of your smartphone. In fact, you can also call it the brain of your smartphone. This component converts all your actions into visual changes on the screen. A processor is directly responsible for the performance of your smartphone. The experience of anything you do on the phone right from opening various applications, browsing on the internet, playing games, etc., all depends on the processor.
Also Read: MediaTek Dimensity 9000 Vs Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 Processor: Best Chipset For Value Flagship
It can do this, thanks to the number of cores and a certain clock speed which ensure that actions are always processed on time. The better the processor, the smoother the experience. There are two very popular smartphone processor brands such as: Qualcomm Snapdragon and MediaTek.
Also Read: Qualcomm Snapdragon 780G Vs MediaTek Dimensity 8200 5G: Best Future Ready Gaming Chipset Comparison
Qualcomm Snapdragon Vs MediaTek – Which One Is Better?
The answer to this question cannot be given in a single word. There are various processors from both brands which power various smartphones in different price brackets. In some cases, Snapdragon is better while in others, MediaTek shines. But, if we talk in general, MediaTek primarily focuses on budget and mid-range smartphones.
Also Read: MediaTek Dimensity 8200 VsQualcomm Snapdragon 870: Best 5G Chipset For Value Flagships
The company’s chipsets are found inside a lot of mid-range phones and the MediaTek chipsets are very good for gaming. In 2019, the company launched the Helio G90T chipset that made its debut with the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro and it surprised everyone with its fantastic performance.
Talking about Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets, the company makes processors for different categories, for budget, mid-range, and even flagship smartphones. However, in recent times, the company has been primarily focusing on mid-range and flagship processors only and even on 5G chipsets. In the mid-range segment, Qualcomm Snapdragon’s processors are a bit lacking behind the MediaTek Helio series chipsets in gaming performance as the new-age Helio chipsets are really good. That being said, in day to day usage, Snapdragon takes the lead and in flagship smartphones, no one can even come closer to the Snapdragon.
Also Read: Best Smartphones To Purchase In India With The MediaTek Dimensity 700 Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon Vs MediaTek – Pros And Cons
- MediaTek’s new mid-range chipsets are very good for gaming and other tasks.
- Smartphones powered by MediaTek chipsets are slightly cheaper than their Snapdragon counterparts.
- Qualcomm Snapdragon Processors tend to have slightly better battery optimization.
- MediaTek still doesn’t share the Kernel source code with the general public for most SoCs.
- Qualcomm Snapdragon Chipsets are fully optimized with most apps, but MediaTek is slightly lacking behind.
- Qualcomm Snapdragon has its own optimised in-house GPU (Adreno).
- Smartphones powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon are slightly more expensive.
Also Read: Best Smartphones With Snapdragon 888 Chipset To Buy In India
So, now you know the differences between Qualcomm Snapdragon vs MediaTek processors. In a nutshell, if you want a mid-range smartphone, in most cases, MediaTek chipsets are slightly better while in the high-end flagship category, Snapdragon is still the king. Which processor does your smartphone have? Do feel free to share with all of us in the comments section below. However, MediaTek has become a number one chipset maker and recently launched its Dimensity 9000 chipset for flagship smartphones.
Update
Both Qualcomm and MediaTek are now competing with each other with new mobile chipset lineups. Qualcomm is replacing the older Snapdragon 400, 600, 700, and 800 series chipsets. In the premium segment, Qualcomm has introduced the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, and the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 chipsets. While for the mid-range and affordable Android phones, the brand has just released the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 and the Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 processors.
Also Read: Best MediaTek-Powered Gaming Phones Under Rs. 20,000 In India
On the other hand, MediaTek has also improved its product base for mobile handsets and has released the Dimensity chipset series for the latest generation Android phones with 5G network connectivity. The Dimensity 8000 and Dimensity 9000 series chipsets are the latest mobile processors from MediaTek powering the new-age phones.
