The MediaTek Dimensity 8020 and Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 are 5G mobile processors built for mid range and flagship smartphones, combining multi core CPU performance with advanced graphics and connectivity features. Both chipsets support high speed memory, high refresh rate displays, and modern camera technologies. MediaTek Dimensity 8020 uses a 6nm process with Cortex-A78 cores and Mali-G610 MC6 GPU, while Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 uses a 7nm process with Cortex-A77 cores and Adreno 650 GPU for gaming, photography, and everyday smartphone tasks.
General
MediaTek Dimensity 8020 and Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 define two 5G processor designs with different launch periods, manufacturing processes, and target segments. Dimensity 8020 focuses on premium mid range smartphones with a 6nm design, while Snapdragon 870 uses a 7nm flagship class architecture with higher peak CPU frequency.
| Specification | MediaTek Dimensity 8020 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 |
|---|
| Launch date | August 2021 | January 2021 |
| Brand | MediaTek | Qualcomm |
| Model | Dimensity 8020 | Snapdragon 870 |
| Target segment | Premium mid range 5G smartphones | Flagship 5G smartphones |
| 4G/5G support | 5G | 5G |
| Process node | 6nm | 7nm |
| Foundry | TSMC | TSMC |
CPU
MediaTek Dimensity 8020 uses 4x Cortex-A78 @ 2.6GHz performance cores and 4x Cortex-A55 @ 2.0GHz efficiency cores for multitasking, while Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 combines 1x Cortex-A77 @ 3.2GHz prime core, 3x Cortex-A77 @ 2.4GHz cores, and 4x Cortex-A55 @ 1.8GHz cores for high frequency workloads.
| Specification | MediaTek Dimensity 8020 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 |
|---|
| CPU architecture | Cortex-A78 + Cortex-A55 | Cortex-A77 + Cortex-A55 |
| Performance cores | 4x Cortex-A78 @ 2.6GHz | 1x Cortex-A77 @ 3.2GHz + 3x Cortex-A77 @ 2.4GHz |
| Efficiency cores | 4x Cortex-A55 @ 2.0GHz | 4x Cortex-A55 @ 1.8GHz |
| Maximum clock speed | 2.6GHz | 3.2GHz |
| Instruction set | ARMv8-A | ARMv8-A |
| 64-bit support | Yes | Yes |
Graphics
MediaTek Dimensity 8020 integrates the Mali-G610 MC6 GPU for games such as BGMI and Asphalt 9 with Vulkan 1.3 support, while Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 uses the Adreno 650 GPU with Vulkan 1.1 support for high resolution gaming and graphics intensive applications.
| Specification | MediaTek Dimensity 8020 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 |
|---|
| GPU model | Mali-G610 MC6 | Adreno 650 |
| GPU generation | Valhall | Adreno 600 series |
| Gaming resolution | Full HD+ gaming | Full HD+ gaming |
| Vulkan support | Vulkan 1.3 | Vulkan 1.1 |
| OpenGL ES support | OpenGL ES 3.2 | OpenGL ES 3.2 |
| Hardware video acceleration | Yes | Yes |
| AI upscaling | MediaTek MiraVision | Qualcomm Game Super Resolution support |
Memory
MediaTek Dimensity 8020 and Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 use advanced memory technologies designed for high speed app loading, gaming assets, and multitasking. Dimensity 8020 supports LPDDR5 memory with high bandwidth, while Snapdragon 870 supports LPDDR5 memory and faster data access for demanding applications such as video editing, 3D gaming, and large file transfers.
| Specification | MediaTek Dimensity 8020 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 |
|---|
| Memory type | LPDDR5 | LPDDR5 |
| Maximum frequency | 3200MHz | 2750MHz |
| Bus width | 4x16-bit | 4x16-bit |
| Memory bandwidth | 51.2GB/s | 44GB/s |
| Maximum RAM support | 12GB | 16GB |
| ECC support | No | Yes |
Multimedia (ISP)
MediaTek Dimensity 8020 and Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 handle smartphone photography, video recording, and display output through dedicated imaging engines. Dimensity 8020 uses the MediaTek Imagiq 790 ISP with support for 200MP cameras and 4K video recording, while Snapdragon 870 uses the Qualcomm Spectra 480 ISP with support for 200MP sensors and advanced computational photography features.
| Specification | MediaTek Dimensity 8020 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 |
|---|
| ISP name | MediaTek Imagiq 790 | Qualcomm Spectra 480 |
| UFS version | UFS 3.1 | UFS 3.1 |
| Maximum display resolution | 2520 × 1080 pixels | 3840 × 2160 pixels |
| Display refresh rate | 120Hz | 144Hz |
| Maximum camera resolution | 200MP | 200MP |
| Multi-camera support | Dual camera | Triple camera |
| Video capture | 4K @ 60fps | 4K @ 60fps |
| Video playback | 4K HDR | 8K HDR |
| Supported codecs | H.265, H.264, AV1 | H.265, H.264, VP9 |
Connectivity and network
MediaTek Dimensity 8020 and Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 integrate 5G modems for high speed smartphone connectivity. Dimensity 8020 uses the MediaTek M80 modem with 4.7Gbps peak download speed, while Snapdragon 870 uses the Snapdragon X55 modem with up to 7.5Gbps download speeds, supporting streaming, gaming, and large file downloads.
| Specification | MediaTek Dimensity 8020 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 |
|---|
| 5G modem | MediaTek M80 | Snapdragon X55 |
| 5G support | Sub-6GHz | Sub-6GHz and mmWave |
| Maximum download speed | 4.7Gbps | 7.5Gbps |
| Maximum upload speed | 2.5Gbps | 3Gbps |
| Wi-Fi standard | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Bluetooth version | 5.2 | 5.2 |
| GNSS | GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, BeiDou, NavIC | GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, BeiDou, QZSS |