Hello and welcome back to Inquisitive Universe. Today we’re going to be discussing something that has been brewing for a while now, this one is about the Helio G99 vs Unisoc T7280. This is a battle between an old mid-ranger and a fresh budget processor.
So if you’re someone trying to buy a new phone, or just curious about what powers the budget phones of today, then this comparison is definitely for you. And yes, we’ll be breaking it all down in the usual straight to the point, no-nonsense style.
MediaTek Helio G99
The Helio G99 is a 4G-only budget SoC from MediaTek. It was announced in mid-2022 and quickly became a fan favorite, thanks to its balanced performance, efficient 6nm build, and good battery management. The G99 powers popular phones like the Redmi Note 13 4G, Tecno Pova 5, Infinix Note 30, Realme Narzo N53, and several others. It has been replaced by the Helio G100.
Unisoc T7280
The Unisoc T7280 is a recently rebranded SoC from Unisoc. It is a rebranded Unisoc T620 and made its first major appearance in 2024. Unisoc is trying to mount a serious comeback in the lower mid-range and budget segments, and the T7280 is its current spearhead in the 4G space.
SoC Comparison Table
| Feature | Helio G99 | Unisoc T7280 (T620) | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | 2x Cortex A76 (2.2GHz)
6x Cortex A55 (2.0GHz) |
2x Cortex A75 (2.1GHz)
6x Cortex A55 (1.8GHz) |
G99 |
| GPU | Mali G57 MP2 | Mali G57 MP1 | G99 |
| Process | 6nm TSMC | 12nm TSMC | G99 |
| AnTuTu | 422,145 | 332,915 | G99 |
| Geek Bench 6 | 729 / 1979 | 497 / 1541 | G99 |
| RAM | LPDDR4X @2133MHz | LPDDR4X @1866MHz | G99 |
| Storage | UFS 2.2 | UFS 2.2 | Tie |
| Display | 1080p @120Hz | 1080p @120Hz | Tie |
| Camera | 108MP | 108MP | Tie |
| Video | 1080p @30fps | 1440p or 2K @30fps | T7280 |
| Network | 4G LTE Cat. 7 | 4G LTE Cat. 13 | G99 |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 | 5.2 | Tie |
| WiFi | Wi-Fi 5 | Wi-Fi 5 | Tie |
CPU Comparison
The Helio G99 uses a superior Cortex A76 + A55 setup which should easily outperform the Cortex A75 + A55 setup employed by the Unisoc T7280. The use of 2 Cortex A76 CPU cores with a slightly faster clock speed means that the G99 is the better SoC when it comes to CPU performance.
Verdict: G99
GPU and Gaming
Again, the Helio G99 claims another win here. This is because whilst the Helio G99 uses the Mali G57 MP2, the Unisoc T7280 has to make do with the Mali G57 MP1. The G57 on the G99 has two GPU cores while the G57 on the T7280 has only one. As a result, the G99 will perform better with games. Both GPUs are capable of running games like Free Fire, eFootball, CoDM, Dream League, and PUBG on low-to-medium settings.
Verdict: Tie
Benchmarks
- Helio G99 on AnTuTu v10: 422,145
- Unisoc T7280 on AnTuTu v10: 332,915
When it comes to synthetic benchmarks which are representative of real world performance, the Helio G99 wins. This is true on both AnTuTu and GeekBench.
Verdict: G99
RAM & Storage
Both SoCs support LPDDR4X RAM but the RAM on the G99 is slightly faster and should offer slightly better multitasking. They also both support UFS 2.2 storage. These are both fast enough to ensure smooth multitasking and decent app launch speeds.
Verdict: Tie
Display
Again, both SoCs can drive a 1080p display. This means you get fluid UI motion and decent sharpness in visuals.
Verdict: Tie
Camera & Video
Both the G99 and T7280 can handle up to 108MP sensors. They also support 2K video recording at 30fps, which is the sweet spot for budget phones. Whilst the 2K support on most G99 phones is usually OEM enabled, the G99 will produce better pictures and videos because it has a superior ISP.
Verdict: Tie
Connectivity
Both processors are 4G only, meaning no 5G support. But they offer solid LTE performance with VoLTE support, WiFi 5, and Bluetooth 5.2. The only difference here is that the 4G on the Helio G99 is faster than that of the Unisoc T7280.
Verdict: Slight edge to G99
Final Verdict
So now that we’ve gone through this Helio G99 vs Unisoc T7280 match-up, where does that leave us?
The Helio G99 offers better CPU performance, GPU, RAM, Camera and 4G download speeds. For the remaining specs, the Unisoc T7280 is on par with the G99.
This is the best thing about the rise of SoCs like the Unisoc T7280. For the longest time, MediaTek was unchallenged in this price category, but Unisoc is slowly closing the gap.
If the T7280 becomes more popular and gets better optimization, we could see a serious disruption in the budget SoC market.
TL;DR
- Helio G99 vs Unisoc T7280 goes the G99
- G99 has a the edge in performance, RAM, camera and 4G download speeds
- Everything else is basically a draw
- Either SoC is ok, as long as your expectations are realistic
Let me know which one you would go for in the comments! And if you liked this post, feel free to check out my other breakdowns here on Inquisitive Universe.
Thanks for reading.
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