MediaTek Helio G90 Vs Helio G90T In-Depth Comparison

Yesterday, MediaTek finally released the trump card ‘Helio G70 series‘ optimized for the mobile gaming experience. And here we are doing a comparison between MediaTek Helio G90 vs Helio G90T. The series is targetted for the upper mid-end SoC category competing with Snapdragon 730 and 730G, and Kirin 810. You might think that there’s a small difference between the Helio G90 and Helio G90T but that’s not true. Here’s a detailed comparison between both of these SoCs:

What's Inside

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• MediaTek Helio G90 vs Helio G90T – ‘T’ Means Better Gaming
  • Specs Sheet Comparison
  • MediaTek Helio G90 vs Helio G90T – CPU comparison
  • MediaTek Helio G90 vs Helio G90T – GPU comparison
  • MediaTek Helio G90 vs Helio G90T – Other Specs comparison
  • MediaTek Helio G90 vs Helio G90T – Price Difference
  • MediaTek Helio G90 vs Helio G90T – The Similarities
  • Our Verdict

MediaTek Helio G90 vs Helio G90T – ‘T’ Means Better Gaming

Specs Sheet Comparison

SoC	Helio G90	Helio G90T
Category	Upper mid-end mobile gaming	Upper mid-end mobile gaming
Process	12nm	12nm
CPU	Arm Cortex-A55, Arm Cortex-A76	Arm Cortex-A55, Arm Cortex-A76
CPU frequency	2GHz	2.05GHz
GPU	Arm Mali-G76 3EEMC4	Arm Mali-G76 3EEMC4
GPU frequency	720MHz	800MHz
Screen Refresh Rate	60Hz	90Hz
ISP	Max camera: 24MP+16MP, 48MP Video: 48MP @ 30fps; 24MP + 16MP @ 30fps;	Max camera: 24MP+16MP, 48MP, 64MP Video: 64MP(1) @ 22.5fps, 48MP @ 30fps; 24MP + 16MP @ 30fps;
Camera Features	3X ISP; AI Face Detection; HW depth engine; AINR; Single-Cam/Dual-Cam Bokeh; Hardware Warping Engine (EIS); Rolling Shutter Compensation (RSC) engine; MEMA 3DNR; Multi-Frame Noise reduction;	3X ISP; AI Face Detection; HW depth engine; AINR; Single-Cam/Dual-Cam Bokeh; Hardware Warping Engine (EIS); Rolling Shutter Compensation (RSC) engine; MEMA 3DNR; Multi-Frame Noise reduction;
Network	4G baseband Cat.12 full Netcom (3CA, 4×4 MIMO)	4G baseband Cat.12 full Netcom (3CA, 4×4 MIMO)
Connectiivty	GNSS: Beidou, Galileo, Glonass, GPS Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 5 (a/b/g/n/ac) Bluetooth Version: 5.0	GNSS: Beidou, Galileo, Glonass, GPS Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 5 (a/b/g/n/ac) Bluetooth Version: 5.0
MTK technologies	CorePilot, NeuroPilot, Pump Express, Tiny Sensor Hub	CorePilot, NeuroPilot, Pump Express, Tiny Sensor Hub
Memory and Storage	Memory Type: LPDDR3, LPDDR4x Max Memory Frequency: 2133MHz Max Memory Size: 8GB Storage Type: eMMC 5.1, UFS 2.1	Memory Type: LPDDR3, LPDDR4x Max Memory Frequency: 2133MHz Max Memory Size: 10GB Storage Type: eMMC 5.1, UFS 2.1
Screen & Display	Max Display Resolution: 2520 x 1080	Max Display Resolution: 2520 x 1080
Video	Video Encoding: H.264, H.265 / HEVC Video Encoding FPS: 4K 30fps, FHD 120fps, HD 240fps Video Playback: H.264, H.265 / HEVC, VP-9 Video Playback FPS: 4K 30fps, FHD 120fps, HD 240fps	Video Encoding: H.264, H.265 / HEVC Video Encoding FPS: 4K 30fps, FHD 120fps, HD 240fps Video Playback: H.264, H.265 / HEVC, VP-9 Video Playback FPS: 4K 30fps, FHD 120fps, HD 240fps

MediaTek Helio G90 vs Helio G90T – CPU comparison

Starting with the CPU section, both of these SoCs adopts octa-core design and is based on the 12nm process. It’s a Cortex A76 + A55 combination. Getting into details, there are two high A76 cores and six A55 cores. However, the only change we witness in the CPU section is that Helio G90 upper CPU (Cortex A76) is clocked at 2GHz. However, G90T has a slightly increased frequency for the upper core which is 2.05GHz. Nothing that much to brag as it will not bring that much performance difference between these two SoCs. Moreover, the frequency of the six lower cores remains the same.

MediaTek Helio G90 vs Helio G90T – GPU comparison

The GPU of G90 and G90T is the same which is the upgraded Mali-G76 3EEMC4. However, similar to the CPU, we also see a change here with the frequency of the GPU concerning both SoCs. This time the frequency increase is much prominent that the CPU one. Helio G90’s GPU has a frequency of 720MHz, meanwhile, the ‘T’ version has an overclocked GPU with a frequency of 800MHz.

Moreover, we believe that G90T has much better gaming optimizations done in comparison to G90. However, we don’t mean to say that G90 doesn’t have any optimizations, but similar to Snapdragon 730 and 730G, the ‘T’ SoC is more towards gaming which you will know as we proceed. That difference of 80MHz might not bring any difference when it was in the CPU section, but in case of GPU and being gaming SoC series, the optimizations will definitely bring some change 3000 to 5000 points in AnTuTu GPU benchmarking.

Here’s the official AnTuTu benchmark score of the Helio G90 series:

It scored around 222,282 points which categorized it as upper mid-end SoC and is equal to Snapdragon 730 and 730G performance. Moreover, Helio G90T will have a slightly higher score of 240,000 points because of higher frequency of CPU, GPU, and of course 90Hz refresh rate.

Despite being a gaming SoC series, we didn’t expect that we might see a change in Image Signal Processor for both of these SoCs. However, there is a change. In terms of single-camera support, G90 supports camera sensor up to 48MP, like the Sony IMX586 or Samsung GM1. However, G90T supports a single camera sensor up to 64MP; currently, there’s only one 64MP sensor which is Samsung’s ISOCELL Bright GW1.

For dual-camera setup, both are same supporting 24MP + 16MP dual sensors.

MediaTek Helio G90 vs Helio G90T – Other Specs comparison

Now another change which truly defines the difference between both SoCs and why the CPU and GPU frequency of both SoCs are different is the screen refresh rate. Though none of these SoCs support a screen refresh rate of 120Hz (leave that to the flagship level SoCs), however, still one of these SoCs have a better refresh rate than the ordinary smartphone screen refresh rate. Helio G90 has a screen sampling refresh rate of 60Hz which is what most phones have these days, however, G90T has a much better refresh rate of 90Hz, as a result, one can expect better response and short delays while playing games.

Spoiler: Redmi might release a budget gaming phone in India featuring Helio G90T, this means that either we will have a 90Hz screen refresh rate or a 64MP camera, or both.

Moreover, considering memory, G90T support up to 10GB LPDDR4X-2133 memory. However, G90 SoC only supports up to 8GB LPDDR4X-2133 memory.

MediaTek Helio G90 vs Helio G90T – Price Difference

Surely, G90T will be slightly expensive than G90. In terms of selling SoC to the manufacturer, the SoC price difference will not be that much, somewhere around $3 to $5. However, since G90T supports 90Hz screen refresh rate and 64MP single camera, one could expect a slightly larger price difference in terms of smartphones featuring these SoCs, after all, better screen and camera cost more. Plus, we have the branding thing going on as well, Samsung phones featuring these SoCs will be much expensive than Redmi or Realme phones with G90 and G90T.

MediaTek Helio G90 vs Helio G90T – The Similarities

Apart from all mentioned above, both SoCs are mostly similar, such as:

• DSP is the same
• The modem is the same, speed is the same
• CPU cores design is the same
• The process is the same
• GPU is the same
• AI unit is the same
• Both SoCs support 1080p screen
• Supports eMMC5.1/UFS 2.1 flash memory
• The dual-camera setup is same 24MP + 16MP
• 240FPS slow-motion shooting
• 4G baseband Cat.12 full Netcom (3CA, 4×4 MIMO)
• Bluetooth 5.0 and HDR10 technology

Important: In addition, G90 series AI computing performance is up to 1TMACs, carrying a screen resolution of up to 2520×1080 pixel, with HyperEngine game engine, intelligent network monitoring, dual WiFi connection, game control, dual voice wake-up command and other features. The bandbase and download rate is up to 1Gbps.

Our Verdict

Summing up the entire comparison, we know that G90T is the winner here, not because of the performance difference which isn’t that much between both SoCs, but because of the additional features, it has such as 64MP camera support, 90Hz screen refresh rate, and mostly because we are doing a comparison based on gaming experience as what these SoCs are for. If we remove the gaming aspect, both SoCs are the winner since the AI score, CPU, GPU is great, plus it will be much cheaper than the Qualcomm’s SD 730 and 730G so that budget-friendly brands can look forward to adding it in their upcoming smartphones.

Winner: MediaTek Helio G90T

Information is taken from MediaTek Official Website

Image credit: Mayank Sharma

MediaTek Helio G90 vs Helio G90T In-Depth ComparisonSummaryMediaTek G90T is clearly a winner not because of the performance but the features such as better screen refresh rate, 64MP camera support. Moreover, the increased CPU and GPU frequency does make it slightly better than Helio G90.Reader Rating3 Votes6.4G90T Over G90Better CPU frequencyBetter GPU frequencySupports up to 64MP cameraSupport better screen refresh rate 90Hz10GB Max memory supportG90 over G90TSlightly cheaper8.5Total Rating