HiSilicon Kirin 980 vs MediaTek Dimensity 720

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The HiSilicon Kirin 980 and MediaTek Dimensity 720 are two processors with different specifications and features. Let's take a closer look at each of them.

Starting with the HiSilicon Kirin 980, it is built on a 7nm lithography process and consists of 8 cores. The CPU architecture is divided into three types of cores: 2x 2.6 GHz Cortex-A76 cores, 2x 1.92 GHz Cortex-A76 cores, and 4x 1.8 GHz Cortex-A55 cores. This combination allows for efficient multitasking and power distribution. With a total of 6900 million transistors, the Kirin 980 is a capable processor. Moreover, it has a TDP (Thermal Design Power) of 6 Watts, which implies low power consumption. A notable feature of the Kirin 980 is the HiSilicon Dual NPU (Neural Processing Unit), enhancing machine learning capabilities.

On the other hand, the MediaTek Dimensity 720 is also built on a 7nm lithography process and has 8 cores. The CPU architecture consists of 2x 2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 cores and 6x 2 GHz Cortex-A55 cores. The Dimensity 720 offers a suitable performance for most everyday tasks. It has an instruction set of ARMv8.2-A and a TDP of 10 Watts. The processor incorporates an NPU (Neural Processing Unit), enabling AI-related tasks.

Comparing these two processors, there are a few notable differences. In terms of CPU cores, both processors have 8 cores, but the Kirin 980 has a more advanced architecture with a combination of Cortex-A76 and Cortex-A55 cores, providing a more balanced performance. The Dimensity 720, on the other hand, has more Cortex-A76 cores but lacks the same level of diversity in core types.

Additionally, the Kirin 980 has a higher number of transistors, indicating a more complex and capable processor design. It also has a lower TDP, signifying better power efficiency. However, the Dimensity 720 holds its own with an NPU, allowing for AI-powered features.

Overall, the HiSilicon Kirin 980 and MediaTek Dimensity 720 are both competent processors offering powerful performance in their respective categories. The Kirin 980's advanced architecture and HiSilicon Dual NPU make it a strong contender for flagship devices, while the Dimensity 720 offers a balanced performance with the added benefit of an NPU for AI-related tasks.

CPU cores and architecture

Architecture 2x 2.6 GHz – Cortex-A76
2x 1.92 GHz – Cortex-A76
4x 1.8 GHz – Cortex-A55
2x 2.2 GHz – Cortex-A76
6x 2 GHz – Cortex-A55
Number of cores 8 8
Instruction Set ARMv8-A ARMv8.2-A
Lithography 7 nm 7 nm
Number of transistors 6900 million
TDP 6 Watt 10 Watt
Neural Processing HiSilicon Dual NPU NPU

Memory (RAM)

Max amount up to 8 GB up to 12 GB
Memory type LPDDR4X LPDDR4X
Memory frequency 2133 MHz 2133 MHz
Memory-bus 4x16 bit 2x16 bit

Storage

Storage specification UFS 2.1 UFS 2.2

Graphics

GPU name Mali-G76 MP10 Mali-G57 MP3
GPU Architecture Bifrost Valhall
GPU frequency 720 MHz 850 MHz
Execution units 10 3
Shaders 160
DirectX 12 12
OpenCL API 2.1 2.1
OpenGL API ES 3.2 ES 3.2
Vulkan API 1.2 1.2

Camera, Video, Display

Max screen resolution 3120x1440 2520x1080@90Hz
Max camera resolution 1x 48MP, 2x 32MP 1x 64MP, 1x 20MP + 1x 16MP
Max Video Capture 4K@30fps 4K@30FPS
Video codec support AV1
H.264 (AVC)
H.265 (HEVC)
VP8
VP9
H.264 (AVC)
H.265 (HEVC)
VP9

Wireless

4G network Yes Yes
5G network Yes Yes
Peak Download Speed 1.4 Gbps 2.77 Gbps
Peak Upload Speed 0.2 Gbps 1.2 Gbps
Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) 5 (802.11ac)
Bluetooth 5.0 5.1
Satellite navigation BeiDou
GPS
Galileo
GLONASS
BeiDou
GPS
Galileo
GLONASS
NavIC
QZSS

Supplemental Information

Launch Date 2018 Quarter 4 2020 Quarter 3
Partnumber MT6853V/ZA, MT6853V/NZA
Vertical Segment Mobiles Mobiles
Positioning Flagship Mid-end

AnTuTu 10

Total Score
Kirin 980
484026
Dimensity 720
293337

GeekBench 6 Single-Core

Score
Kirin 980
698
Dimensity 720
540

GeekBench 6 Multi-Core

Score
Kirin 980
2482
Dimensity 720
1698