MediaTek added two additional products to its premiere deca-core SoC family today. The Helio X23 and X27 join the previously released Helio X20 and X25, adding additional performance levels for OEMs to choose from.

All four SoCs use the same deca-core CPU configuration—two ARM Cortex-A72 cores for heavy workloads that require higher performance and two quad-core Cortex-A53 clusters, using different DVFS curves, for medium to light workloads where lower-power operation is desirable. MediaTek’s custom-developed, power-aware scheduler, CorePilot 3.0, still handles thread distribution. The differentiating factor is clock frequency, with peak frequencies increasing from 2.1GHz / 1.85GHz / 1.4GHz (A72 / A53 / A53) for the X20 to 2.6GHz / 2.0GHz / 1.6GHz for the new X27. The ARM Mali-T880MP4 GPU runs at up to 780MHz in the X20 and X23 and up to 850MHz in the X25. The new X27 bumps the GPU frequency even higher to 875MHz, just shy of the 900MHz peak frequency used by HiSilicon’s Kirin 950/955 that also uses a Mali-T880MP4 GPU.

MediaTek Helio X2x Family
SoC MediaTek
Helio X20
(MT6797)
MediaTek
Helio X23
MediaTek
Helio X25
(MT6797T)
MediaTek
Helio X27
(MT6797X)
CPU 2x Cortex-A72
@2.1GHz

4x Cortex-A53 @1.85GHz

4x Cortex-A53 @1.4GHz
2x Cortex-A72
@2.3GHz

4x Cortex-A53 @1.85GHz

4x Cortex-A53 @1.4GHz
2x Cortex-A72
@2.5GHz

4x Cortex-A53 @2.0GHz

4x Cortex-A53 @1.55GHz
2x Cortex-A72
@2.6GHz

4x Cortex-A53 @2.0GHz

4x Cortex-A53 @1.6GHz
GPU ARM Mali-T880MP4
@780MHz
ARM Mali-T880MP4
@850MHz
ARM Mali-T880MP4
@875MHz
Memory
Controller
2x 32-bit @ 933MHz
LPDDR3

14.9GB/s b/w
Encode/
Decode
encode:
2160p30
H.264 / HEVC w/HDR

decode:
2160p30 10-bit
H.264 / HEVC / VP9
Camera/ISP Dual ISP
32MP @ 24fps (single camera)
or
13MP + 13MP @ 30fps (dual camera)
Integrated
Modem
 LTE Category 6
DL = 300Mbps
2x20MHz CA, 64-QAM

UL = 50Mbps
1x20MHz CA, 16-QAM

FDD-LTE / TD-LTE / TD-SCDMA / WCDMA / CDMA / GSM
Mfc. Process 20SoC (planar)

Both the Helio X23 and X27 are manufactured on the same TSMC 20nm process as the X20 and X25. MediaTek has not made any implementation changes to the layout or cell libraries to push the X27 to higher frequencies, which makes the fact that its A72 cores can hit 2.6GHz on a 20nm planar process even more interesting considering ARM only targets frequencies this high on 14nm/16nm FinFET processes.

Other blocks within the X23 and X27, including MediaTek’s Imagiq ISP and integrated Category 6 modem, remain unchanged. The ISP still includes support for dual camera sensors, including color + monochrome configurations that can capture more light than a single color sensor, potentially improving low-light photography. There’s also a 3D depth engine built in to enable depth-of-field post-processing effects.

One new feature added to the X23 and X27 is EnergySmart Screen power-saving technology. Part of MediaTek’s MiraVision display suite, it modifies various display parameters in response to changes in ambient lighting and screen content to reduce display power consumption by up to 25%.

Products using the new Helio X23 and X27 SoCs have yet to be announced, but MediaTek says smartphones using the new chips will be available soon.

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  • StevoLincolnite - Friday, December 2, 2016 - link

    Considering most apps are still happy with a Mali 400/450, the GPU isn't that important... Unless of course you are doing emulation or something, otherwise mobile apps just don't seem to push the GPU all that hard.
  • TheinsanegamerN - Friday, December 2, 2016 - link

    Great, higher clocks but still a dog slow GPU. These deca core SoCs need a MP 8 or 12 core, not a MP4.
  • Valantar - Friday, December 2, 2016 - link

    I kind of agree, but this really only applies if you game on your phone. And more demanding stuff than Pokemon Go or Candy Crush, at that. Most people don't, and as such reap the power and cost savings of having a smaller GPU.

    On the other hand, if Mediatek has true high-end aspirations, they need to produce a high-end chip with a matching GPU.
  • tuxRoller - Sunday, December 4, 2016 - link

    "MediaTek’s custom-developed, power-aware scheduler, CorePilot 3.0"

    https://android.googlesource.com/kernel/mediatek/

    Where's the code, MediaTek?

    I'll take the upstreamed version, shepherded by http://www.kernelhub.org/?p=7&dev=269&mbox... at any rate.
  • Krysto - Thursday, December 8, 2016 - link

    Still Cortex A53? Didn't Cortex A35 came out like a year ago? Isn't it a direct successor to A53? Or are we going to see another one as its successor soon? It seems like A53 has outpassed its expected life cycle.
  • tuxRoller - Sunday, December 11, 2016 - link

    The the a35 is the successor to the a7/a5.
    The P35 and X30 actually include the a73, a53 and a35, iirc.
  • Ethos Evoss - Tuesday, December 27, 2016 - link

    where is x25 mentioned?!?!? Elephone used t in Elepthone S7 special edition
    http://www.elephone.hk/elephone-s7-x25-limited-edi...

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