MediaTek Helio G37 - Simply overrated?

The MediaTek Helio G37 is an entry-level SoC from chip manufacturer MediaTek. It is a refresh of the wildly popular Helio G35 and it has made its way onto phones like the Tecno Spark 10 and the Infinix Hot 30 Play.

Key specifications of Helio G37

The key specifications of this SoC are as follows:

• CPU cores: 4x ARM Cortex A53 (2.3GHz) + 4x ARM Cortex A53 to (1.8GHz)
• GPU: IMG PowerVR GE8320
• ISA: ARMv8.2-A
• Fab: 12nm TSMC
• RAM: LPDDR4x (up to 8GB)
• Storage: eMMC 5.1
• ISP: MediaTek Imagiq
• AI/ML: —-
• Camera support: 25MP max
• Video support: 1080p @30fps
• Connectivity: 4G, Bluetooth 5, Wi-Fi 5, USB, GPS

(Click here to see full specifications)

Performance of Helio G37

The MediaTek Helio G37 operates as an octa-core SoC, incorporating a total of 8 CPU cores. These cores consist of 4 ARM Cortex A53 cores running at 2.3GHz and an additional 4 ARM Cortex A53 cores clocked at 1.8GHz. To manage graphics processing, the SoC integrates a PowerVR GE8320 GPU.

While the respectable clock speed of 2.3GHz drives the performance of the A53 cores, it's essential to acknowledge that these cores belong to the A53 family, inherently imposing constraints on their capabilities. The A53 CPU cores, designed for efficiency, are ill-suited for resource-intensive operations. Consequently, their capacity for running apps and engaging in gaming is limited. The second set of Cortex A53 CPUs serves as power-efficient cores, ideal for handling lighter tasks such as social media, calls, and multimedia. Their efficiency contributes to extended battery life, as they consume minimal power.

The Helio G37 supports LPDDR4x RAM (up to 8GB) and eMMC storage of up to 128 GB. However, due to the weaker CPUs on offer here, it is important to go with a phone that has at least 4GB RAM. This will improve the performance of this SoC and the phone overall.

Despite attempts by several companies to market the Helio G37 as a gaming-centric SoC, its actual capabilities deviate from this notion. Positioned as a low-tier entry-level SoC, the Helio G37 offers a performance that often falls short of expectations. Given its modest processing power, many smartphone manufacturers opt to forego the implementation of the complete 64-bit Android OS on devices employing the Helio G37, favoring a streamlined 32-bit version instead. This strategic decision contributes to limiting the boundaries of the G37's capacities even further.

An increasing number of applications are exclusively designed for 64-bit systems, and Android is gradually phasing out support for 32-bit software. This scenario is exemplified by the inability of many phones to run eFootball Mobile 2023 upon its release. The game's exclusive 64-bit nature posed a challenge for devices operating on a 32-bit OS, preventing them from installing 64-bit apps, games, and other software.

Other SoCs within the same performance category include (in order of performance, best to worst):

• Exynos 850 (Samsung Galaxy A13, A14, A21S)
• Helio G37 (Tecno Spark 9, 9T, 10; Infinix Hot 20 play, 30 play; TCL 40 SE)
• Helio G35 (Redmi 9C, Oppo A16, Nokia G20, Tecno Spark 8T, Infinix Hot 11 play)
• Helio P35 (Samsung Galaxy A04, A12, Infinix S5 pro, Vivo Y16, Umidigi Power)
• Exynos 7884 (Samsung Galaxy A10, A20, A20e, M10S)
• Helio A25 (Tecno Spark 7, Infinix Hot 9, Doogee S40 pro, Oukitel K9 pro)

Multimedia capabilities of the MediaTek Helio G37

The Helio G37 is furnished with an undisclosed MediaTek Imagiq ISP and notably lacks an AI/ML component. This aligns with MediaTek's tendency to prioritize photography less in their lower-tier chipsets. Additionally, it's crucial to highlight that the ISP's performance here is modest, which inevitably impacts the subpar quality of photos and videos produced by this SoC. The Helio G37 supports a peak camera resolution of 25MP and records videos at 1080p @30fps.

Connectivity range of the MediaTek Helio G37

The Helio G37 is a 4G LTE (Cat.7) SoC. It has uplink speeds of 150Mbps and downlink speeds of 300Mbps. It has no support for 5G networks. Additionally, the SoC includes support for Bluetooth 5 and WiFi 5 connectivity options.

Conclusion

The Helio G37, being an entry-level System-on-Chip (SoC), doesn't deliver extensive performance capabilities. Consequently, smartphones equipped with this SoC won't flaunt impressive performance levels. As a result, the Helio G37-powered phones cater well to individuals seeking basic functionality or serve as secondary devices for those owning better phones.

It's worth noting that the Helio G37 isn't geared toward gaming, nor does it excel in photography and videography tasks. Embracing its status as an entry-level SoC is essential for a comprehensive understanding of its capabilities.