Helio G99 vs Snapdragon 6 Gen 1: A Comparison
MediaTek Helio G99 and Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 are popular chipsets commonly found in mid-range smartphones. Both aim to give a good balance between gaming performance, multimedia experience, and power efficiency.
If you’re curious about how they differ, here’s a quick comparison of some key areas, from CPU and GPU power to display support!
CPU and GPU Performance
The Helio G99 uses an octa-core CPU with 2 high-performance Cortex-A76 cores running at 2.2 GHz and 6 power-efficient Cortex-A55 cores at 2.0 GHz. The Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 also has 8 cores, but with a newer setup; 4 Cortex-A78 cores at 2.2 GHz and 4 Cortex-A55 cores at 1.8 GHz.
From this, we can see that the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 uses a newer CPU architecture. The Cortex-A78 cores generally deliver better speed and efficiency than the older A76 cores on the Helio G99.
For graphics, the Helio G99 relies on the Mali-G57 MC2 GPU, while the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 is equipped with the Adreno 710. The Adreno 710 usually performs better in gaming and 3D rendering tasks compared to the Mali-G57.
Benchmark results also show a clear gap between the two. In the 3DMark Wild Life test, the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 scored around 2367 points, while the Helio G99 reached 1243 points (90% higher).
Gaming Capabilities
The Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 comes with the Adreno 710 GPU, which supports mid- to high-end gaming features. It includes technologies like Variable Rate Shading, Game Quick Touch, and Game Color Plus that improve visual quality and responsiveness during gameplay.
The Helio G99, on the other hand, uses the Mali-G57 MP2 GPU. MediaTek supports it with HyperEngine 2.0 Lite, a feature that manages the CPU, GPU, and memory intelligently while gaming. This helps maintain stable frame rates and reduces power consumption during long sessions.
Overall, the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 delivers smoother graphics, higher frame rates, and a more powerful gaming experience. The Helio G99 is better suited for casual games or lighter e-sports titles.
Power Efficiency
The Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 is built using Samsung’s 4 nm process, while the Helio G99 uses TSMC’s 6 nm process. In general, the smaller 4 nm node has better power efficiency and produces less heat at similar performance levels.
MediaTek claims the Helio G99 is already efficient thanks to its 6 nm design to allow 4G phones to last longer during gaming or daily use. Qualcomm, however, says the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 improves CPU efficiency by up to 40% while keeping battery use low.
Based on several tests, the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 shows slightly better battery efficiency than the Helio G99. This means smartphones powered by Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 usually last a bit longer under similar usage conditions.
Camera and Multimedia Support
The Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 comes with Qualcomm’s 12-bit triple ISP (Image Signal Processor) that can handle up to three cameras at once and supports photo resolutions up to 200 MP. The Helio G99, meanwhile, supports a main camera of up to 108 MP and two additional cameras up to 16 MP.
For video recording, the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 can capture 4K HDR videos at 30 fps, while the Helio G99 is limited to 2K recording at 30 fps without HDR. This gives Snapdragon a clear edge for users who enjoy shooting high-quality videos.
Connectivity
Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 also stands out in terms of connectivity. It features the Snapdragon X62 5G modem (4th generation), which supports both sub-6GHz and mmWave 5G networks under 3GPP Release 16. It’s paired with FastConnect 6700, allowing Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 connections for faster and more stable wireless performance.
With these specs, phones powered by Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 can access the latest 5G and Wi-Fi 6E networks, offering faster download speeds and lower latency.
The Helio G99, however, only supports 4G LTE Cat-13 with speeds up to 390 Mbps. It also supports Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) and Bluetooth 5.2. MediaTek adds Dual 4G VoLTE support, so users can keep two 4G SIM cards active at the same time.
Display Technology Support
Both chipsets support Full HD+ displays with refresh rates up to 120 Hz for smoother animations and scrolling. The Helio G99 also features Intelligent Display Sync, which adjusts the refresh rate automatically to save power when possible.
The Snapdragon 6 Gen 1, however, goes a step further with support for 10-bit HDR displays. This means it can deliver richer colors and deeper contrast when used on an HDR-capable screen (Rec.2020 standard). The Helio G99 supports HDR as well, but it doesn’t specify 10-bit color processing.
Conclusion
Overall, the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 delivers stronger performance with its faster CPU and GPU, 5G connectivity, and efficient 4 nm fabrication. The Helio G99, however, still performs well for daily use and casual gaming, and it usually comes at a more affordable price.
Your choice really depends on what you need. If you want 5G support, smoother gaming, and better long-term performance, go for a phone powered by the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1. But if you’re fine with 4G connectivity and just need a reliable phone for everyday tasks, the Helio G99 is a solid option that won’t break the bank.