MediaTek wasted no time at the Mobile World Congress and showcased two new SoC models, namely the Helio P20 for smartphones and the MT2511 for bio-sensing wearables.
The Helio P20 follows in the steps of P10, a mid-range CPU targeted at tablets and smartphones. It sports ARM's state of the art Mali-T880 GPU. Helio P20 is an octo-core CPU, with Cortex-A53 cores running at 2.3GHz.
MediaTek used the 16 nm FinFET Plus (16FF+) process to manufacture the chipset, switching from the previous 28 nm standard. This enables the CPU to go as high as 2.3 GHz instead of only 2 GHz.
According to the OEM, the new chip consumes 25 percent less power than its predecessor, Helio P10. Not only that, but MediaTek says that the GPU offers 25 percent more performance in video and gaming apps.
Helio P20 is a premiere, being the first SoC that works on Samsung's LPDDR4X RAM module. This offers increased bandwidth over the LPDDR3, by as much as 70 percent.
Another notable upgrade in the P20 is that it offers WorldMode LTE Category 6 support alongside 2x20 carrier aggregation, enabling it to download files at 300 Mbps and upload them at 50 Mbps.
Dual-SIM fans will be happy to know that the SoC has global standby for two SIMs, as well as multicast service backed by LTE multimedia. The LTE multimedia support lets users get HD video content over LTE connections.
"Helio P20 meets today's consumer demand for sleek, powerful yet highly power efficient mobile devices," says Jeffrey Ju, executive vice president and co-chief operating officer at MediaTek.
Ju points out that multimedia activities and battery life are among the most important criteria for consumers, and his company manages to offer both to a high standard.
Helio P20 SoC equipped gadgets will start shipping in Q2 of 2016.
MediaTek provides SoCs for midrange smartphones, the most notable example being HTC One M9s.
MediaTek also revealed the MT2511, the first foray of the company into "bio-sensing analogue front-end (AFE) chip." The MT2511 should give processing power to fitness and health devices. MediaTek touts that power efficiency of the chip is unmatched.
The MT2511 eliminates the interference and motion artifacts when it collects the electrical signals of the heart. It accomplishes this by using high sample rate from 64 to 4 KHz and a 100db dynamic range.
The chipset is able to store pulse data, making it an asset in pulse oximetry (SpO2), electroencephalography (EEG), electromyography (EMG) and blood pressure analysis.
Both the 'Internet of Things' and wearable industry will want to use the MT2511 in devices such as active lifestyle smart watches, fitness trackers or sports bands. MediaTek announced that the manufacturing stage for the MT2511 starts during the first half of the year.
"We can only begin to imagine how health-related wearables will improve both medical care and everyday wellness all around the world," says JC Hsu, MediaTek's Corporate VP and GM of the IoT business unit.
Hsu goes on to add that the mobile health market leads the technology field in terms of growth quickness.
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