Helio G99 is an entry-level chipset that only offers 4G connectivity but comes at very affordable price points. In comparison, the Snapdragon 695 offers better performance and features overall, despite being roughly seven months older than the G99, but there are some cases where the performances are indistinguishable or the differences very marginal, including in gaming performance.
When you add all the bells and whistles to the mix, such as the ultra-low power for audio, voice and sensors, 5G connectivity, a robust AI engine, better low-light capture performance, HEIF support, and Qualcomm Quick Charge 4+ technology, it’s clear as day that the Snapdragon 695 is the better chipset at any time.
Specs of Helio G99 vs. Snapdragon 695
The Helio G99 is a 4G gaming smartphone chipset designed with power efficiency in mind. On the other hand, the Snapdragon 695 is an older chipset but one with some clear advantages, such as 5G support and high-end video capture capabilities.
While both chipsets are manufactured using the 6nm process node, the Helio G99 is a 4G-only chipset whereas the Snapdragon 695 offers 5G capabilities. Let’s talk about the technical specs of both the chipsets so you can make a more informed decision.
Helio G99 (Q2 2022)
The G99 from MediaTek is a comparatively newer chipset. It offers some really nice perks and compares really well to the Snapdragon 695 in multiple aspects. On other aspects, however, it’s destroyed by the other chipset. We’ll cover more about that in a bit. For now, here’s a complete breakdown of the specs:
• Processor: Octa-core 2xA76 up to 2.2GHz + 6xA55 up to 2.0GHz based on a 6nm process node.
• Graphics: Arm Mali-G57 MC2 GPU with a max display resolution of 2520 x 1080 at 120Hz. Video decode and encode at 2K 30fps or Full HD 60fps.
• Memory: LPDDR4X memory at 4266Mbps with UFS2.2 support.
• Camera: Up to 108M and dual cameras at 16+16MP. ZSL capture rate of 32MP at 30fps and 16 + 16MP at 30fps.
• Connectivity: 4G, Cat-13 DL, Wi-Fi 5 (a/b/g/n/ac), and Bluetooth 5.2.
Snapdragon 695 (Q4 2021)
The Snapdragon 695 is an overall better chipset that also comes with 5G support. For anyone looking for a better device, this is the clear winner. Here are the specs so you can make a comparison between this and the Helio G99 chipset.
• Processor: Octa-core Qualcomm Kyro 660 up to 2.2GHz.
• Graphics: Qualcomm Adreno 619 GPU with a max display resolution of 1080 × 2520 at 120Hz. Video decode and encode with HEVC and AVC.
• Memory: LPDDR4X memory at 2133MHz with UFS2.2 support.
• Camera: Up to 108M. ZSL capture rate of 32MP at 30fps.
• Connectivity: Global 5G Multi-SIM, Wi-Fi 5 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac), and Bluetooth 5.2.
Which One is Better?
The performance of any SoC can be crippled or even enhanced by other factors. This is especially true in entry-level and mid-range Android devices. For example, the Helio G99 can perform poorer than expected or compared to the benchmarks on a cheap device. It’s very important that you go through the reviews of any device before you make a purchase.
That being said, if you’re getting two options from reputable manufacturers and the devices are not “cheap,” then it’s safe to assume that the device with the Snapdragon 695 chipset is going to be a better performer overall, across the board. Whether you consider Geekbench scores or real-world gaming performance, the Snapdragon chipset does come out on the top more often than not.
What’s surprising is that multiple benchmarks put the Helio G99 higher than the Snapdragon 695. For example, the G99 scores 441,884 points in the Antutu Benchmark test whereas the Snapdragon 695 scores 415,844 points. In Geekbench 6 single-core performance and multi-core performance, the G99 scores 912 and 2140 points, respectively, compared to Snapdragon 695’s 732 and 1989. Many reports also suggest that the real-world experience on a Helio G99 chipset is significantly superior, with games offering higher FPS on the SoC. But that’s not the whole picture – the Snapdragon 695 does have its own advantages and higher FPS in many modern games.
It's also worth noting that the Snapdragon 695 is properly optimized for all types of modern workloads and performs really well thermally. You can play taxing games such as Genshin Impact for over an hour and the chipset won’t breach the 40°C mark, which is simply stunning, and something you can’t get elsewhere easily.
The true advantage of the G99 is that devices using this chipset are remarkably more affordable than devices containing the Snapdragon 695 chipset. When you compare the two head-to-head, you’ll find that there are certain aspects where the two SoCs have comparable performance, or at the very least, that the G99 is not too far behind the Snapdragon 695.
As such, it might make sense to go with a device with the G99 SoC if you’re not after all the small bells and whistles and marginal performance improvements such as the Poco M5, Tecno Pova 4, Realme 10, Redmi 11 Prime, or the Moto G72. In fact, it’s not hard to imagine a much lower priced smartphone device using the Helio G99 chipset that can punch above its weight and compare flawlessly to a much more expensive Snapdragon 695 device such as the Oppo Reno8 T, Poco X5, Moto G62, or even the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 – offering more or less similar levels of multimedia, battery life, connectivity, and even gaming performance on most modern games.
When you seriously consider that, the whole story changes entirely. Sure, the actual FPS is likely to be higher in the Snapdragon 695 device (though there are some cases where G99 devices offer higher FPS even in demanding games). But if the device with the newer Helio G99 chipset is offering only a 5-10% lower FPS value, is that really worth spending the big bucks? That’s the question that you should be asking.
Of course, the 5G connectivity itself is a big enough advantage that the Snapdragon chipset has over the MediaTek one. If you must get a 5G device, then sadly, the Helio G99 is simply not an option as it only supports 4G.
