3 Types of MediaTek Chipsets Used in Smartphones

MediaTek is a technology company based in Taiwan and one of the leading chipset manufacturers for smartphones. Their focus is on developing more affordable chipsets. This emphasis on affordability means their production costs are lower compared to other chipset manufacturers.

Because of this, smartphones with MediaTek chipsets are generally more affordable. However, MediaTek doesn’t just target budget devices, it offers chipsets for entry-level, mid-range, and even high-end smartphones.

In its early years, MediaTek faced a negative perception. Their chipsets were criticized for poor heat management and relatively slow performance.

MediaTek addressed these issues by creating improved chipsets while maintaining competitive pricing. As a result, many smartphone brands continue to use MediaTek chipsets, and some have even transitioned to them.

One major drawback of MediaTek chipsets is their closed-source nature. Unlike other manufacturers that provide open-source code, MediaTek restricts access to its source code and has no plans to make it publicly available.

This limitation affects software updates, as Android devices need access to the source code for updates. Consequently, if a smartphone vendor wants to provide updates, they often need to pay MediaTek for access to this code.

Despite this, MediaTek remains a strong competitor in the chipset market and consistently launches new models that rival Qualcomm’s Snapdragon processors. This competition benefits consumers by driving innovation and offering more choices.

MediaTek’s chipset lineup is extensive and somewhat difficult to categorize. The naming system has also been confusing and hard to remember. However, since 2023, MediaTek has been working on simplifying its naming structure. To better understand the different types of MediaTek chipsets, here’s a closer look at their categories.

1. MediaTek Dimensity

MediaTek Dimensity is a chipset series that combines smart technology with high performance and 5G network support. It represents MediaTek’s push to compete in the 5G market.

Dimensity chipsets integrate connectivity, multimedia, AI, and imaging innovations to enhance overall performance. This combination makes Dimensity MediaTek’s flagship series, designed to deliver powerful capabilities while supporting 5G networks.

The Dimensity lineup includes several series: Dimensity 700, Dimensity 800, Dimensity 900, and Dimensity 1000. However, in 2023, MediaTek revamped its naming system.

The Dimensity 700 and 800 Series were replaced by the Dimensity 6000 Series, which offers affordable 5G chipsets. Meanwhile, the Dimensity 900 Series, previously known for mid-range 5G chipsets, was rebranded as the Dimensity 7000 Series.

For the premium mid-range segment, MediaTek introduced the Dimensity 8000 Series as a successor to the Dimensity 1000. At the top of the lineup is the Dimensity 9000 Series, representing the flagship-class 5G chipsets.

Dimensity is expected to remain MediaTek’s main focus moving forward, especially since the Helio series has stalled at the Helio G99 and its variants.

2. MediaTek Helio Series

MediaTek Helio series consists of four different categories, each developed for specific market segments and time periods. The Helio X Series (2014-2017) was designed for high-end smartphones, while the Helio A Series (2018-2020) targeted entry-level devices.

The Helio P Series (2015-2020) focused on mid-range smartphones, which offer a balance between multimedia capabilities and power efficiency. Meanwhile, the Helio G Series (2019-2024) was introduced to cater to the rising demand for mobile gaming.

MediaTek’s strategy with the Helio series has been somewhat unpredictable. Instead of following a clear roadmap, the company tends to observe market trends before deciding whether to continue or discontinue a series. If a chipset performs well, its development continues. If not, MediaTek moves on.

Among all Helio chipsets, the Helio G Series has been the most successful. It became the preferred choice for many smartphone manufacturers due to the booming popularity of mobile gaming.

However, MediaTek appears to have halted the Helio G Series at the Helio G99, as the company shifts its focus to Dimensity chipsets with 5G capabilities.

Even so, the Helio G99 and its variants, such as the Helio G99 Ultra and Helio G99 Ultimate, remain widely used. Built on a 6nm process, this chipset offers stable gaming performance and decent multimedia capabilities and produces good-quality photos and videos.

3. Older MediaTek Chipsets

Older MediaTek chipsets are easy to identify by their naming convention, which includes “MT” followed by four digits. Some notable models include the MediaTek MT6753, MT6752, and MT6750.

During their time, these were considered mid-range chipsets. For example, the Lenovo Vibe S1 (2015) and vivo V5 (2016) were powered by the MT6752.

These older chipsets stood out for their advanced features back then, such as octa-core CPUs, 4G CAT6 connectivity, and Pump Express fast charging technology.

MediaTek also released entry-level chipsets under this series, which typically featured quad-core CPUs but still supported 4G connectivity. Examples include the MediaTek MT6737 and MT6735, which were popular among local smartphone brands like Evercoss.

One of MediaTek’s biggest advantages has always been affordability. Despite their lower cost, many of its chipsets offer impressive performance. In fact, some of them have ranked highly in synthetic benchmark tests.