MediaTek Helio G100 vs Dimensity 7100: Same 6nm Process but Very Different Performance

MediaTek Helio G100 and Dimensity 7100 are both produced using the same 6nm TSMC process, but there is a significant performance gap between them. The Helio G100 features two Cortex-A76 cores alongside a 4G modem, while the Dimensity 7100 is equipped with four Cortex-A78 cores, a more powerful Mali-G610 GPU, and 5G support. Real-world smartphone performance shows the Dimensity 7100’s advantage particularly in multi-threaded workloads and graphics.

Helio G100 vs Dimensity 7100: Key Differences

The main difference lies in the CPU. The Helio G100 has only two large Cortex-A76 cores, while the Dimensity 7100 has four higher-frequency Cortex-A78 cores. As a result, the Dimensity 7100 outperforms the Helio G100 both in single-core and multi-threaded loads.

Real-World Smartphones: The Dimensity 7100 Advantage is Obvious

Let’s take a look at the performance results of smartphones using these chipsets.

In this sample, smartphones with the Dimensity 7100 are, on average, approximately 36% faster in Geekbench 6 Single-Core tests and about 50% faster in Multi-Core tests. The average AnTuTu 11 score is around 34% higher.

Results vary slightly from model to model, influenced by memory, firmware, cooling, and power limits. However, none of the Helio G100 models come close to the Geekbench 6 results of the Dimensity 7100.

Dimensity 7100 is Almost Twice as Fast as Helio G100 in 3DMark

The performance gap is even larger in graphics. The Dimensity 7100 uses a Mali-G610 MC2 compared to the Mali-G57 MC2 in the Helio G100.

In 3DMark Steel Nomad Light, a smartphone with Helio G100 scores around 146 points, while a device with Dimensity 7100 scores approximately 277-278 points. The Dimensity 7100 achieves around 90% more points.

This does not mean that FPS in every game will be double: the results depend on resolution, graphics settings, and optimization. However, in terms of graphical performance, the Dimensity 7100 is significantly stronger.

The Helio G100 is suitable for casual games, MOBAs, and other relatively undemanding projects. The Dimensity 7100 often allows for higher graphics settings and is better suited for heavy 3D games.

Dimensity 7100 Supports 5G, LPDDR5, and UFS 3.1

The differences are not only in speed. The Helio G100 supports 4G LTE and Wi-Fi 5, while the Dimensity 7100 supports 5G with download speeds up to 3.3 Gbps and Wi-Fi 6.

The Dimensity 7100 also works with LPDDR5 and UFS 3.1, whereas the Helio G100 is limited to LPDDR4X and UFS 2.2.

However, just because the chip supports LPDDR5 and UFS 3.1 does not mean that the smartphone manufacturer will use them. Some models based on Dimensity 7100 are available with LPDDR4X and UFS 2.2, so it's important to check the specifics of each device.

Which is Better: Helio G100 or Dimensity 7100

The Dimensity 7100 is noticeably faster than the Helio G100 and is better equipped. In our sample, it is about one-third faster in single-threaded CPU loads, approximately 50% faster in multi-threaded tasks, and the advantage in 3DMark approaches 90%. Additionally, it supports 5G, Wi-Fi 6, LPDDR5, and UFS 3.1.

The Helio G100 is still sufficient for affordable 4G smartphones: browsing, social media, videos, messaging, and undemanding games.

However, when the two smartphones are similarly priced, there are almost no reasons to choose the Helio G100. Its main argument is a lower cost. If the price difference is minimal, the Dimensity 7100 is significantly faster and will remain relevant for a longer time in terms of performance.