Best Phone Processor: Who Makes The Best Smartphone Chips?

Whenever a new phone is out, the processor is one of the most anticipated specifications. Its determines how the device will handle different task, including gaming and is a major factor that makes a powerful smartphone. So, what is the best phone processor?

What makes up the best phone processor?

Clock speed: measured in GigaHertz, this indicator shows the number of instruction the microprocessor can execute in one second.

Cores: cores receive instruction from triggers then calculate and satisfy the instructions. A processor with multiple cores can do actions individually or together to conduct parallel operations. However, having multiple cores also requires a larger battery capacity. For example, a quad-core processor requires at least 3,000 mAh of battery to perform well.

Low power cores: to respond to triggers that are able to carry out simple tasks with minimal influence on the battery.

Die size: this is the physical piece making up the CPU. The smaller the die size, the less heat generated, meaning less energy waster during operation.

Architecture: most phones these days feature ARM Cortex architecture.

Best phone processor 2020

Apple’s A13 Bionic

This is a custom Apple-designed processor. It features Neural Engine for boosting Machine Learning Acceleration. The iPhone maker is also one of the first to utilize TSMC’s 2nd-gen 7nm processor that houses smaller, tightly packed transistors for less power leaked.

At higher clock speeds, the A13 Bionic draws the same power while providing maximum efficiency and performance.

Predecessors of the A13, like the A11 that powers the iPhone X and iPhone 8 and the A12 that powers the iPhone XR are equally good. The A12 Bionic chip was touted to be the smartest, most powerful smartphone processor ever with a 6-core CPU and a 4-core GPU.

Apple has claimed its reputation as the world-leading smartphone maker when making its own chip that can strongly compete with other chipmakers for Android phones.

HiSilicon Kirin 990 5G

The second candidate we want to introduce on the best processor of phone list is Kirin 990 5G. If you are not familiar with phone processor names, the Kirin chip series is from Huawei, the largest Chinese phone maker.

This is Huawei’s latest flagship processor. This 5G 7nm processor houses more than 1 billion transistors, offering the highest download rate of 2.3 Gbps and download speed of 1.25 Gbps. In addition, the Kirin Gaming+ 2.0 is designed with HD graphics as well as a quick action movement to provide an immersive gaming experience. It also features a lightning speed memory storage that allows for transferring files in the back end.

As of now, the smartphones powered by the HiSilicon Kirin 990 5G processor include the Huawei Mate 30.

Exynos 990

Exynos is the name of phone processors made by Korean tech giant Samsung, and Exynos 990 is the next best phone for processor. This is among the best phone chipsets to use AI for processing capabilities. Especially when the Exynos 990 is combined with advanced imaging capabilities, it generates pro-grade photography with intelligent optimization. The processor also offers lag-free gaming sessions with the help of the ARM Mali G77 MP11 GPU.

Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 5G

This was one of the most anticipated smartphone processors, boasting a 4-core CPU and a revved-up GPU. It provides features like giga-pixel photography along with gaming features at the desktop level. Apart from the Spectra 480 ISP, the chip can also produce pro-quality videos. It comes with Kryo 5858 CPU for remarkable efficiency and amazing battery life.

MediaTek Dimensity

MediaTek is another phone chipmaker to be included in this list as it has been offering processors for a lot of smartphones, mostly mid-range ones. It features an 8-core processor with advanced technology, gaming capabilities, and connectivity. Besides, MediaTek also has a 5G SoC that provides superfast connectivity for enhanced user experience on the smartphone.

Choosing the best phone processor

The Qualcomm Snapdragon is among the strongest chips for smartphones these days. Its benchmark scores has proven it one of the best processors for top phone brands like Samsung, Motorola, and LG.

MediaTek makes just as good chipsets as Qualcomm, which power phones from Huawei, and Vivo, among other brands. The company produces affordable chips with high-end features.

Flagship processors: normally, phone makers, like Apple, make flagship processors to feature in their own handsets. While Apple stands out from the rest of the market by using its own chips for all of its iPhones alongside the iOS operating system, Samsung uses different chips for different devices and markets. For example, with the same Galaxy S20 Ultra, Samsung has used the Snapdragon for some markets and its Exynos chip for some others.

So, each brand has at least one chip that makes it to the list of best phone processor. And since this is one of the most important factors to consider when choosing a smartphone, next time when you are looking for a new device, remember to find out what chip powers it. This will help you know if the phone can meet your requirement in performance.

Here ist the list of the best smartphones this year: Best Smartphones 2020: Top Picks For Every Budget

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