Smartphones Meizu Pro 7 and Pro 7 Plus became the world's first devices on the MediaTek Helio X30 chipset, made using a 10nm process technology. It includes three clusters of computing cores (2 A73 cores at 2.6 GHz, 4 A53 cores at 2.2 GHz and 4 A35 cores at 1.9 GHz) and a PowerVR 7XTP graphics accelerator. In the X20 family, MediaTek preferred Mali graphics and this was the weak point of the processors - they could not compete on equal terms in games with Qualcomm chips. However, with the switch to PowerVR, the X30 can be seriously considered a gaming solution. Video evidence:
We tested the chip on the Pro 7 Plus. It also includes 6 GB of fast LPDDR4X RAM, 64 or 128 GB of UFS 2.1 permanent memory, a 5.7” QHD screen, a 3500 mAh battery, an additional display on the back, and a dual 12-megapixel camera. Eight runs in AnTuTu in two performance modes showed the following results:
optimal and maximum modes
Throttling was confirmed both here and there. And it’s not to say that it’s small - the drop in AnTuTu scores for 3D calculations is quite significant. However, in real game scenarios, drawdowns are not a nuisance. Either there is no heating to such an extent (the games were demonstrated in a row and it took about an hour to record the video), or there is already enough filling to digest everything at high fps. In my opinion, the X30 handles games no worse than the Snapdragon 820 and 821, Exynos 8895 and Kirin 960, and at times it is very close to the Snapdragon 835. In case you have forgotten how games perform on the Snapdragon 820, 821 and 835, as well as the Helio X27, Exynos 8895 and Kirin 960, then here is a selection of our tests:
Most recently, MediaTek introduced new processors in China, including the flagship Helio X30. And already known specific devices, which will hit the market next year and will be equipped with the latest chipset. We're talking, of course, about Vernee Apollo 2.
First, a few words about the processor itself. Firstly, it will be the first chipset built on the 10nm process. Accordingly, in terms of energy efficiency, it should become one of the best and at the same time productive solutions on the market.
Secondly, it will contain three clusters with 10 cores:
- two Cortex A73 cores with a peak frequency of up to 2.8 GHz
- four Cortex A53 cores with an operating frequency of 2.3 GHz
- four remaining energy-efficient Cortex A35 with 2 GHz
The graphics will be handled by the IMG 7XTP-MT4 accelerator, operating at a frequency of up to 820 MHz. It is 43 percent more productive than its predecessor (Mali-T880) in the previous Helio X20.
Besides, new system The chip will support LPDDR4X RAM up to 8 GB (up to 1866 MHz) and UFS 2.1 flash memory.
One of the first smartphones running on the new processor will be Vernee Apollo 2. Its release is scheduled for March 2017. So far there are no details regarding the future new product, except perhaps for the presence of a Super AMOLED display. All this tells us that the partnership between MediaTek and Vernee is trending positively and both companies have joint, far-reaching plans for the future.
By the way, freshly baked Chinese manufacturer there is one more ace up my sleeve. So, in May 2017, the Apollo 2 Pro is expected to be released, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 830 is planned to be used as the “brains”.
However, these are all just plans for now, and for now we will return to what we have. The launch has finally been announced in China Vernee smartphone Apollo, which we first heard about this spring and which has finally reached the market.
Let me remind you that the device is equipped with today’s top MediaTek Helio X25, 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal memory, as well as a 21 megapixel main camera (Sony IMX230 sensor). This device also includes its display as a flagship class of device - it is a 2K panel with a pixel density of 541 ppi, which is ideally suited for use in VR headsets.
The release, of course, was announced, but there are still no specific dates and prices. We will keep our finger on the pulse, and as soon as something becomes known, we will definitely let you know. By the way, while Vernee is going to roll out its flagship to the market, its junior version is already on sale with all its might (Apollo Lite, I mean). Current price $199. Don't overpay!
Release date not yet announced Price unknown
Material prepared with the support of VerneeHelio X30 processor: 10 cores, 10 nm process technology, new architecture. Maximum optimization of battery consumption. Power increase 35%. Energy savings 50%.
At MWC 2017, the company of top SoCs was joined by the MediaTek Helio X30 processor. The chipset produced using a 10nm process technology is aimed at flagships that will appear on the market in the 2nd quarter of 2017.
Helio X30 specifications: technical process
Helio X30 is the first processor of the Taiwanese company, which is produced using a 10 nm process technology. (The previous generation of Helio X20 chipsets was produced using a 20 nm process technology.) What the transition to a 10 nm process technology provides is well known - the size of computing units is reduced and battery consumption is reduced while simultaneously increasing performance.
According to company representatives, in normal mode, Helio X30 consumes 50% less energy than its predecessor. The power increase was 35%. The heating of the chipset has also decreased, which is clearly demonstrated in the following video from the manufacturer:
Helio X30: number of cores, architecture, frequency
The increase in power and optimization of energy consumption is achieved not only due to the new technical process. The architecture has been redesigned: the number of cores in Helio X30 is the same (10), but their type and clock frequency have changed noticeably.
In Helio X30 we see 3 clusters of cores instead of the usual two. Peak power is provided by 2 Cortex A73 cores operating at 2.5 GHz. (Similar kernels are located in). Even under maximum load, they consume 20% less power than their predecessors - ARM Cortex A72 cores.
The “medium power” cluster is represented by the well-known Cortex A53 cores. Key Difference the fact that there are 4 of them, not 8, as in the Helio X20, and the Cortex A53 cores work on increased frequency 2.2 GHz.
A cluster with minimal energy consumption is formed by 4 Cortex A35 cores. They accelerate to 1.9 GHz and consume 30% less power than Cortex A53. At the same time, the power of Cortex A35 is 80-100% of Cortex A53 cores. Illustrations will help you imagine all this better; the images are clickable.
Helio X30: graphics adapter
We’ve sorted out the architecture of the Helio X30 processor and the number of cores; then it will be simpler and more interesting. Game lovers should be pleased with the new graphics adapter PowerVR 7XTP-MT4. It operates at a frequency of 800 MHz, which is not bad even in comparison with Snapdragon. Compared to previous Helio chipsets, the updated graphics are 2.4 times faster and 60% more energy efficient. You can count on high fps in the most demanding games with less battery consumption.
The Helio X30 chipset supports displays with resolutions up to 2560 x 1600 pixels. It is possible to record and playback 2160p video at 30 frames per second.
Helio X30: CorePilot 4.0 optimizer to save battery
A dying battery is a source of headaches for most users. To somehow combat this, the Helio X30 has a special battery consumption optimizer, CorePilot 4.0, that can extend life cycle battery by 25%.
Company representatives compare CorePilot 4.0 to a heart. When the load increases, the heart begins to beat at a faster pace. When we sleep, our heart rate slows down. The new Helio X30 processor should work on the same principle - speed up under load and slow down in standby mode and solving simple tasks.
The duties of the “regulator” were assigned to CorePilot 4.0. His the main task- ensure maximum performance with minimal energy consumption. CorePilot acts as a task scheduler. Takes into account user activity. Monitors chipset temperature and FPS indicators. Monitors battery charge. Depending on the current situation, it activates powerful or energy-efficient core clusters, changes the clock frequency and voltage.
Helio X30: camera support
Technological innovations have also affected the camera. Image processing is now handled by two 14-bit ISP (image signal processors) with Imagiq 2.0 technology. Will keep them company computing unit Vision Processing Unit (VPU). It performs some of the computational tasks when processing photos and videos and relieves the processor. A similar technology is implemented in the new one, which supports recording in 4K @ 120 fps.
Smartphones based on Helio X30 will support a single camera module with a resolution of up to 28 megapixels or a dual camera module of 16 megapixels + 16 megapixels. You can record video at 30 fps with a resolution of 2160p.
Helio X30: modem
The modem is not doing as well as its competitors. Helio X30 received a tenth category modem. LTE Cat.10 is capable of receiving data at speeds of up to 450 Mbit/s, and transmitting at speeds of up to 150 Mbit/s. By today's standards, these are not the best performance, because the Snapdragon 835 with an LTE X16 modem supports download speeds of up to 1 Gbps.
On the other hand, the data transfer speed there is similar, so from the point of view fast loading new photos and videos in social media or Instagram, there is actually no difference.
Helio X30: memory
Helio X30 supports 16-bit LPDDR4x RAM with a frequency of 1866 MHz and a capacity of up to 8 GB. Note the new UFS 2.1 interface for flash memory. The combination of fast LPDDR4x and UFS 2.1 will speed up applications and games.
Smartphones based on Helio X30
The first smartphones based on MediaTek Helio X30 will go on sale in the second quarter of 2017. At a press conference at MWC 2017, the company's executive vice president Jeffrey Joo said that no more than 10 models will be released on the Helio X30 this year.
The Helio X30 processor looks promising. Not better than the main market players, but better than their predecessors. We are waiting for new smartphones based on Helio X30 and their performance in the main benchmarks.
At MWC 2017 they show not only new smartphones and tablets, but also those components that form the basis of new devices and make them so powerful and attractive. With the arrival of the new season, all attention has shifted to the Snapdragon 835 chipset, on which they will presumably be based. To previously introduced well-known chipsets manufactured in accordance with 10nm technological process(Snapdragon 835 and ), at an exhibition taking place in Barcelona mobile technologies another alternative has been added - MediaTek Helio X30.
The Helio X30 chipset back in August 2016, at the Mobile World Congress, MediaTek officially announced its release and that it would soon become available. The first smartphones based on Helio X30 will be released in the second quarter of this year. Previously, the Chinese vendor Vernee already announced that its upcoming Apollo 2 will be based on the Helio X30. This smartphone is already . In the coming weeks, it will probably become known which other smartphones will be based on new chipset.
Imagination Technologies has additionally announced that the MediaTek Helio X30 will feature its PowerVR GPU. The advanced 10nm process technology is said to reduce power consumption by 50% while increasing performance by 35% over its predecessor.
Previous generation flagship chipsets, which include the Snapdragon 821 on which the LG G6 is based, are manufactured using a 14-nanometer process.
Helio X30 is equipped with a 10-core central processor with three clusters of cores. For the most processor-demanding tasks, a pair of Cortex-A73 cores are used, the clock speed of which reaches 2.8 gigahertz. Four mid-performance Cortex-A53 cores are capable of operating at a clock speed of 2.2 gigahertz. For tasks that do not require much processor performance, four 1.9 GHz Cortex-A35 cores are used.
The new Helio X30 chipset supports RAM LPDDR4X with a capacity of up to 8 gigabytes, which is typical, however, for other 10-nanometer chipsets - Snapdragon 835 and Exynos 8895. This feature of the chipset can be used in Vernee Apollo 2. Support for eMMC 5.1 or UFS 2.1 flash memory is also implemented. The PowerVR GPU deserves special attention. A similar graphics subsystem, although significantly modified, has found wide application in the iPhone from Apple. And it’s very unexpected and pleasant to see it in the MediaTek chipset. After all, GPUs were previously considered the weakest point of MediaTek chipsets.
The clock frequency of the graphics processor of the chipset in question reaches 800 megahertz. It is 2.4 times faster than its predecessor Helio X20 and 60% more energy efficient. Thanks to this technological approach, MediaTek Helio X30 supports displays with resolutions up to 2560 x 1600 pixels. It uses two 14-bit image signal processors (ISP), supporting cameras with two sensors, with a resolution of 16 megapixels (dual cameras) or a 28-megapixel sensor.
The chipset in question was the first to implement hardware 10-bit HDR10 4K video decoding. Video playback with 4K resolution, thanks to the capabilities of the chipset, can be performed at a speed of 30 frames per second. Helio X30 is also equipped with a Category 10 LTE modem, the theoretical maximum speed of which is 450 megabits per second.
Using the latest CorePilot 4.0 technology allows you to increase the battery life of the device without recharging, since it predicts the usage scenario of the device, determining priorities, that is, the chipset is able to “understand” which application is most important in the certain moment time. The reduction in energy consumption achieved thanks to this new technology, can be up to 25%.
X30 with quad core GPU PowerVR GT7400 has all the qualities of a modern powerful chipset. It is productive, economical and in its own way technical specifications capable of providing excellent graphics processing. Now all that remains is to wait for benchmark testing of a smartphone based on the new chipset.
Which smartphones based on MediaTek Helio X30 would you like to see in the near future?
Based on androidauthority.com, androidcentral.com and phonearena.com
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