Octa-core processors are the hot new thing in mobile, with many higher-end smartphones now shipping with eight-core chips, but now MediaTek has upped the ante with a deca-core processor.
The MediaTek Helio X20 is a mobile processor with 10 cores in a Tri-Cluster architecture. These three clusters are designed to handle different types of work, meaning that it can let one group handle simple tasks and the pass the more intense tasks onto the other clusters. MediaTek says that this Tri-Cluster design lets the Helio X20 work more efficiently, offer optimum performance, and extend battery life. For example, it can operate just one cluster of cores for simple tasks and let the others power down.
In terms of straight specs, the MediaTek Helio X20 features two ARM Cortex A72 cores running at 2.5GHz for heavy performance and two clusters of four ARM Cortex A53 cores, one of which is running at 2.0GHz for medium tasks and one running at 1.4GHz for light workloads. MediaTek has also included its CorePilot 3.0 computing algorithm that schedules CPU and GPU tasks while also managing power and thermal effects, letting the X20 atin high performance while generating less heat.
There’s also a low power ARM Cortex M4 sensor processor inside the Helio X20 that supports always-on apps like music playback and voice controls. Rounding out the list of Helio X20 features is a MediaTek WorldMode Cat. 6 LTE modem that can handle carrier aggregation and support for dual main cameras as well as 120Hz mobile displays.
Overall the Helio X20 sounds like a pretty beefy processor, and its deca-core setup is sure to help get MediaTek some attention from spec hounds. It’ll be a while before we can truly see how the Helio X20 performs, though, because MediaTek says that the SoC won’t launch until December 2015.
