MediaTek Dimensity 7100 vs Snapdragon 6 Gen 3: Equal CPU, but Snapdragon is Faster in Games

Dimensity 7100 was released later than Snapdragon 6 Gen 3, but in terms of CPU performance, they are almost equal. Both use four Cortex-A78 cores clocked up to 2.4 GHz. MediaTek's Cortex-A55 is slightly faster, but Snapdragon is produced using a 4nm process and significantly outperforms in graphics tests.

Key Differences

In terms of CPU configuration, the chips are almost identical. The Dimensity 7100 has a higher frequency for Cortex-A55 and a higher maximum claimed 5G speed, while the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 offers Wi-Fi 6E, 4nm fabrication, and 4K HDR recording at 30 FPS.

Benchmarks in Specific Smartphones

The performance of SoCs depends on cooling, memory, and firmware, so it is better to compare specific smartphones.

In Geekbench 6, the difference between the processors is minimal. In single-thread mode, Snapdragon only outperforms Dimensity by a few percentage points, while in multi-thread performance, the results are virtually the same.

In AnTuTu, the advantage of Snapdragon is more pronounced, primarily due to the GPU.

CPU Performance

The higher frequency of Cortex-A55 in Dimensity 7100 does not provide a noticeable advantage in Geekbench. In terms of CPU, these SoCs are effectively in the same class.

In everyday tasks, the difference between the platforms will likely be determined more by the memory, storage, and optimization of the specific smartphone.

Graphics and Gaming

In graphics, the advantage goes to Snapdragon 6 Gen 3. The Samsung Galaxy A36 scores about 315 points in 3DMark Steel Nomad Light compared to 277 for the Infinix Note Edge with Dimensity 7100. The difference is approximately 14%.

Adreno outperforms Mali-G610 MC2, so Snapdragon's advantage is more noticeable in demanding games.

In lightweight games, the difference is small, but in heavier projects, Snapdragon often maintains a higher FPS under comparable settings.

Power Efficiency and Heating

Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 is produced using a 4nm process, while Dimensity 7100 is built on a 6nm process. The 4nm process of Snapdragon creates better conditions for low power consumption, but it does not guarantee better battery life on its own.

Energy consumption is influenced by the display, battery capacity, frequency settings, modem, firmware, and cooling system. Therefore, battery life should be compared between specific smartphones.

Connectivity and Multimedia

Dimensity 7100 supports a maximum download speed of 5G up to 3.3 Gbps compared to 2.9 Gbps for Snapdragon 6 Gen 3. MediaTek also has a newer version of Bluetooth - 5.4 vs. 5.2.

Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 supports Wi-Fi 6E, while Dimensity 7100 supports Wi-Fi 6.

Both SoCs support cameras up to 200 MP and displays with refresh rates up to 120 Hz. Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 additionally supports 4K HDR recording at 30 FPS.

The availability of specific camera modes, 5G bands, and wireless features depends on the smartphone manufacturer's implementation.

What to Choose

With similar pricing, Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 is the better choice. The CPU of both chips is practically equal, but Snapdragon is faster in graphics and supports Wi-Fi 6E and 4K HDR recording.

Dimensity 7100 is only worth choosing when the smartphone itself is cheaper or significantly better in terms of display, cameras, or battery life.