Qualcomm has launched the Snapdragon 450 at the Shanghai MWC 2017. The chip features eight ARM Cortex-A53 cores and an Adreno 506 GPU, manufactured using the advanced 14nm FinFET process. The more powerful ARM Cortex-A53 core offers a 25% performance improvement over its predecessor. Additionally, its integrated Adreno 506 GPU delivers a 25% increase in graphics performance compared to the Snapdragon 435.
There is no doubt that the Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 processor has put significant pressure on MediaTek in the second half of this year. However, MediaTek is now preparing for its Helio P23 SoC. It is reported that MediaTek has sent the Helio P23 to manufacturers such as OPPO, vivo, and Gionee, indicating that smartphones from these three major brands may be the first to feature this chip.
Although MediaTek has yet to launch the Helio P23 processor, previous leaks indicate that the chip is expected to feature an ARM Cortex-A53 CPU and a PowerVR 7XT GPU. The P23 reportedly supports LPDDR4X memory, 2K resolution touchscreens, and dual cameras. Compared to the P20, the P23 supports LTE Cat 7 networks, which is its most significant upgrade feature.
The MediaTek Helio P23 is expected to be featured in smartphones launched in the second half of this year, with a price range from CNY 1,000 to 3,000 (approximately $150 to $448).