The MediaTek Helio G96 and Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 4G are 4G chipsets designed for budget and mid-range smartphones. The Helio G96 focuses on gaming, photography, and multimedia performance with higher refresh rate display support and advanced camera capabilities. The Snapdragon 680 4G focuses on power efficiency and smooth everyday performance with its 6nm manufacturing process. The comparison covers CPU, GPU, memory, ISP, and connectivity specifications.
General
The MediaTek Helio G96 was launched in August 2021 and is built on TSMC's 12nm process. It is designed for smartphones that prioritise gaming, photography, content consumption, and smooth multitasking. Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 4G was launched in October 2021 and uses TSMC's 6nm process, focusing on improved power efficiency and reliable daily performance for calling, messaging, social media, streaming, and regular applications.
| Specification | MediaTek Helio G96 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 4G |
| Launch date | August 2021 | October 2021 |
| Brand | MediaTek | Qualcomm |
| Model | Helio G96 | Snapdragon 680 4G |
| Segment | 4G gaming-focused smartphone chipset | 4G budget smartphone chipset |
| Network support | 4G LTE | 4G LTE |
| Process node | 12nm (TSMC) | 6nm (TSMC) |
| Foundry | TSMC | TSMC |
CPU
The MediaTek Helio G96 features two Cortex-A76 performance cores and six Cortex-A55 efficiency cores. This configuration supports multitasking, app switching, browsing, streaming, and casual gaming. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 4G includes four Cortex-A73 performance cores and four Cortex-A53 efficiency cores with a maximum clock speed of 2.4GHz. It is designed to deliver efficient performance for everyday activities such as web browsing, video calls, messaging, and entertainment.
| Specification | MediaTek Helio G96 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 4G |
| CPU architecture | 2 × Cortex-A76 + 6 × Cortex-A55 | 4 × Cortex-A73 + 4 × Cortex-A53 |
| Performance cores | 2 × Cortex-A76 @ 2.05GHz | 4 × Cortex-A73 @ 2.4GHz |
| Efficiency cores | 6 × Cortex-A55 @ 2.0GHz | 4 × Cortex-A53 @ 1.9GHz |
| Maximum clock speed | 2.05GHz | 2.4GHz |
| Instruction set | ARMv8-A | ARMv8-A |
| 64-bit support | Yes | Yes |
Graphics
The MediaTek Helio G96 integrates the Mali-G57 MC2 GPU, which supports Full HD+ displays, casual gaming, and smooth multimedia playback. It is suitable for games such as Subway Surfers, Candy Crush, and Ludo King. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 4G uses the Adreno 610 GPU, which focuses on efficient graphics rendering for casual gaming, video playback, and everyday smartphone usage.
| Specification | MediaTek Helio G96 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 4G |
| GPU model | Mali-G57 MC2 | Adreno 610 |
| GPU frequency | Up to 850MHz | Up to 1114MHz |
| Vulkan support | Yes | Yes |
| OpenGL ES support | OpenGL ES 3.2 | OpenGL ES 3.2 |
| Gaming capability | Casual gaming and multimedia usage | Casual gaming and multimedia usage |
| Video acceleration | H.264, H.265/HEVC | H.264, H.265/HEVC |
Memory
The MediaTek Helio G96 and Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 4G both support LPDDR4X memory with speeds of up to 2,133Mbps. This helps smartphones handle multiple applications, background processes, web browsing, music streaming, and daily productivity tasks smoothly.
| Specification | MediaTek Helio G96 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 4G |
| Memory type | LPDDR4X | LPDDR4X |
| Maximum memory frequency | 2,133Mbps | 2,133Mbps |
| Memory bus width | 32-bit | 32-bit |
| Maximum RAM support | Up to 8GB | Up to 8GB |
| Bandwidth | Up to 17GB/s | Up to 17GB/s |
| ECC support | No | No |
Multimedia (ISP)
The MediaTek Helio G96 uses the Imagiq 2.0 ISP and supports up to 108MP camera sensors, 120Hz Full HD+ displays, and 1080p video recording. It is suitable for users who capture detailed photos, create social media content, and enjoy smoother visuals. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 4G features the Spectra 346 ISP, supporting up to 64MP cameras and Full HD+ displays for everyday photography, video calls, and content sharing.
| Specification | MediaTek Helio G96 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 4G |
| ISP | MediaTek Imagiq 2.0 | Qualcomm Spectra 346 |
| Maximum camera resolution | 108MP | 64MP |
| Display support | 2520 x 1080 pixel, 120Hz | 2520 x 1080 pixel, 90Hz |
| Video capture | 1080p at 60fps | 1080p at 60fps |
| Video codecs | H.264, H.265/HEVC | H.264, H.265/HEVC |
| Storage support | UFS 2.2 | UFS 2.2 |
Connectivity and network
The MediaTek Helio G96 supports 4G LTE connectivity through a Cat-13 modem with download speeds of up to 300Mbps. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 4G uses the Snapdragon X11 LTE modem, offering download speeds of up to 390Mbps. Both chipsets support Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth connectivity, and GNSS systems for navigation, streaming, browsing, and online communication.
| Specification | MediaTek Helio G96 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 4G |
| Modem | MediaTek 4G LTE modem | Snapdragon X11 LTE modem |
| 5G support | No | No |
| Maximum download speed | 300Mbps | 390Mbps |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 | 5.1 |
| GNSS | GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo | GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo |