MediaTek vs Qualcomm: Which smartphone processor should you choose?

A smartphone processor, today, is way more powerful than what we think. A System on Chip (SoC) which can be as small as a coin does wonder when combined with adequate software. When we talk about smartphone processors, two names which have largely dominated are Mediatek and Qualcomm. While Qualcomm is more famous in the United States and Europe, MediaTek has slowly captured a relatively larger market share in South Asian markets. However, what exactly are the factors which make processors from these two manufacturers different and unique in their own sense? Let�s find out today.

Origin

First things first. Qualcomm which is based out of United States has been in the business for way longer than Mediatek. For instance, the American company was founded in 1985 where it initially produced a satellite locating and messaging service called OmniTRACS. The first Snapdragon processor was launched in 2005 when smartphones were yet to make any major impact. On the other hand, MediaTek which is a Taiwanese company was founded in 1997 where it first began to manufacture chipsets for DVD, digital TVs etc. So, Qualcomm already had a big head start way ahead of MediaTek.

Cheap vs Expensive

However, one problem with Qualcomm processor was that they were a bit too expensive for OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) to blend into their smartphones and yet sell them at lower prices. This is where MediaTek targeted and brought in its relatively cheaper range of processors. Chinese smartphone manufacturers soon spotted the potential and started manufacturing smartphones based on MediaTek processors. There was the time when a flood of budget MediaTek based smartphones hit the Indian shore. Qualcomm, on the other hand, was still the king when mid range or flagship smartphones came into the picture.

More Cores vs Better Efficiency

Another battle which has been lighting up pretty quickly between these companies is Power vs Efficiency. While most of the chipsets from MediaTek focus on more power, Qualcomm chipsets are more about efficiency. This is why smartphones, and especially budget smartphones running MediaTek processors would easily outgun the ones running its Qualcomm equivalent. However, a lot of times more power in MediaTek processors came with the unnecessary compromise on battery life and overheating issues.

CPU and GPU

A notable difference which plays a crucial role if you are a graphic intensive user is GPU. Both the companies use a different set of GPUs (Graphic Processing Unit) with their range of advantages and disadvantages. MediaTek processors are generally coupled with Mali GPU which is produced by ARM while Qualcomm combines in its Adreno lineup of GPUs. Now, this is where things get interesting. Mali GPUs are in no way inferior to Adreno. However, they are easier to develop games on and hence, developers always dive in for Adreno GPUs. Further, if you are into Rooting, or getting root access of your device, the number of developers hanging around for a Qualcomm processor-based smartphone will be much more than MediaTek�s.

So which one should you go for?

Well, to answer this question, you will need to sort out your preferences. If you are going for a budget device and want no compromise on power, MediaTek chipsets will surely serve you better. On the other hand, if you are someone who wants an overall efficiency and better developer support, Qualcomm�s Snapdragon range of chipsets wins it any day. Besides, given the record, we would still recommend you to opt for Qualcomm here because MediaTek has often runs into trouble with optimisation and poor handling of the overall process in quest of more power.