MediaTek MT6737 vs Qualcomm Snapdragon 430

 MediaTek MT6737 vs Qualcomm Snapdragon 430

 Mediatek MT6737

The MediaTek MT6737 is a 64-bit ARM-based SoC announced in 2016 primarily designed for smartphones (mainly Android devices). It is manufactured in a 28 nm process and consists of four CPU cores based on the 64-bit Cortex-A53 architecture clocked at up to 1.35 GHz (MT6737T up to 1.5 GHz). The GPU is an ARM Mali-720 MP2. It integrates a Cat.4 LTE modem with CDMA200 as well as a video de- and encoder for 1080p30 videos (H.264 and H.265).

Processor Type

The Cortex-A53 is the successor to the popular Cortex-A7 design. In addition to the jump from 32-bit to 64-bit architecture (ARMv8 ISA) to address more than 4 GB of memory, the new design offers better branch prediction and higher performance-to-power ratio that rivals the Cortex-A9. The four cores of the MT6737 are clocked at up to 1.35 GHz and are roughly on par with the Snapdragon 410 (4x Cortex-A53 at 1.2 to 1.4 GHz). The processor is fit for common tasks like browsing and running light applications.

Gaming (graphics)

The MT6737 chip is integrated with the Mali-T720 GPU which has a frequency of 550-650 MHz. The maximum display resolution that it can support is 1280×720. This Graphics Processor isn’t powerful enough to compete with the likes of Adreno 505, Adreno 506 and the other majority of Qualcomm GPUs. Running basic Android games will not result in any lags or FPS drops but high-end games can suffer from occasional frame drops. Also, being manufactured using the 28nm Fabrication Process, long gaming sessions could result in overheating. If you love gaming on your phone, this SOC is not for you.

General Performance

For basic phone usage like web browsing, calling, multitasking and using Social Media apps like WhatsApp, Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, this processor is sufficient. Even though you would get decent performance, there could be occasional lags on heavy usage. The performance also depends on the phone’s software and that includes the User Interface. Stock Android will give better performance while heavily skinned UIs may not perform that great. If we go by the specs, it has a quad-core configuration of Cortex-A53 CPUs at a very low frequency. For better performance, I will recommend Snapdragon 435 instead.

                      Snapdragon 430

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 (SD430) is a lower mainstream SoC for (Android based) smartphones and tablets. Contrary to the Snapdragon 630, it is still manufactured in a 28-nm process and also consists of an octa-core CPU part with ARM Cortex-A53 cores. However, they are only clocked at up to 1.4 GHz. The integrated X6 LTE modem supports Cat. 4 with maximum transfer rates of 150 Mbps (downstream) and 75 Mbps (upstream). The SoC also includes an Adreno 505 GPU with support for Vulkan and OpenGL ES 3.1. WiFi 802.11ac and Bluetooth 4.1 are supported as well. The memory controller supports LPDDR3 clocked at 800 MHz (so probably dual-channel DDRL-1600). 

Moving on to graphics, it has the Qualcomm’s Adreno 505 Graphics Processor running at a frequency of 450 MHz. This GPU can support a maximum screen resolution of 1080p (Full HD). It can also playback 1080p videos with ease. However, in gaming, it gives better results with a 720p (HD) display. Moving on to the Memory, it has LPDDR3 RAM at a clock frequency of 800 MHz. This SOC only has a Single Memory Channel.

Advantage

Even in the low-budget segment, Qualcomm is providing premium features such as Quick Charge 3.0, 2x Image Sensor Processor, NFC Support, and the X6 LTE Modem that can give speeds up to 300 Mbps. However, you should note that features like Fast Charging and NFC may or may not be enabled by your smartphones’ OEM.

Gaming (graphics)

The Adreno 505 GPU is clocked at 450 MHz and is capable of running almost every game at 720p without any issues. However, with a 1080p display, you will get a lower frame rate and you could experience occasional frame drops. Being made on the 28nm Fabrication Technology, the smartphone could heat with heavy gaming. This is one of the reasons why I always a recommend 14nm Processor like Snapdragon 625 for gaming. Nevertheless, the Snapdragon 430 is a decent chipset for gaming.

General Performance

In daily usage and multi-tasking, you will not face any lags. Running Social Media Apps, Browsing, Audio & Music Playback, and Chatting experience will be good. The Cortex-A53 Cores @ 1.4 GHz are certainly capable of all these stuff with ease. However, with heavy usage on a heavily skinned OS/UI, you could face occasional lags. The user experience will also depend on the phone and the User Interface.