Xiaomi consistently integrates the newest Qualcomm chipsets into its smartphone lineup. The Redmi K20, recently introduced in China and soon to arrive in India, stands as the world’s inaugural device featuring the Qualcomm Snapdragon 730 chipset. This addition to Qualcomm’s mid-range 700-series promises significant advancements over its forerunners.
We’ve explored the benchmark score of the Snapdragon 730, and it indeed appeared promising. Now, we’ll compare it with the Snapdragon 845 to assess their performance. The Snapdragon 730 SoC in the Redmi K20 is pitted against the Snapdragon 845 SoC in both the Poco F1 and the OnePlus 6T, all running MIUI 10, ensuring similar user experiences.
Let’s examine the benchmark scores of the Snapdragon 730 and Snapdragon 845:
Snapdragon 730 vs Snapdragon 845: Specifications
Before diving into the benchmark scores, let’s glance at the internal specifications of both chipsets:
| Snapdragon 730 | Snapdragon 845 | |
|---|---|---|
| CPU Cores | octa-core Qualcomm Kryo 470 | octa-core Qualcomm Kryo 385 |
| CPU Architecture | 64-bit, 8nm | 64-bit, 10nm |
| CPU Clock Speed | up to 2.2GHz | up to 2.8GHz |
| GPU | Adreno 618 | Adreno 630 |
| ISP | Spectra 350 | Spectra 280 |
| DSP | Hexagon 688 | Hexagon 685 |
| Modem | Snapdragon X15 LTE | Snapdragon X20 LTE |
| Wi-Fi Support | Wi-Fi 802.11ad | Wi-Fi 802.11ax-ready |
In the table above, the octa-core Snapdragon 730 features the latest Kryo 470 cores (2 performance and 6 efficiency cores), set at a lower clock speed compared to the Kryo 385 cores (4 performance and 4 efficiency cores) in the Snapdragon 845. The Adreno 630 GPU in the latter is more powerful than the Adreno 618 GPU in the former.
The Snapdragon 730 chipset includes the latest Spectra 350 ISP compared to the Spectra 280 in the Snapdragon 845, indicating the former should offer a wider and enhanced set of camera features than the flagship chipset.
So, let’s not waste any more time and look at the benchmark score comparison between the Snapdragon 730 and Snapdragon 845:
Snapdragon 730 vs Snapdragon 845: Benchmarks
Geekbench 4
Starting with Geekbench 4 results, the surprise was palpable. Despite the lower clock frequency of Kryo 470 cores in the Snapdragon 730 compared to the Kryo 385 cores in Snapdragon 845, they proved more powerful and efficient. With a single-core score of 2534 and a multi-core score of 7001, the comparison against the Poco F1 initially seemed clear. However, over time, the Poco F1’s Geekbench scores have decreased, indicating a slight slowdown. Consequently, we also considered the Snapdragon 845-backed OnePlus 6T.
Below, the screenshot clearly depicts its significant superiority over the Snapdragon 730 SoC. While its multi-core score usually hovers in the upper 9000s, occasionally exceeding the 10,000 mark, as shown in the screenshots:
While the Snapdragon 730 SoC doesn’t surpass the Snapdragon 845 chipset in the OnePlus 6T, it still offers high-end performance in the mid-range segment. I anticipate more phone makers adopting this new chipset and its gaming-centric alternative, the Snapdragon 730G.
AnTuTu Benchmark
The AnTuTu benchmark score for the Snapdragon 730 is around 215,000, decent for a mid-range chipset in the 700-series, though notably lower than the flagship Snapdragon 845. This is expected as AnTuTu evaluates not only CPU performance but also GPU, memory, and user experience, impacting the chipset’s overall performance.
Snapdragon 845 features a more powerful Adreno 630 GPU compared to the Adreno 618 GPU in the Snapdragon 730, as evident from the AnTuTu benchmark score screenshots attached. The GPU score of Snapdragon 845 (126210) is over double that of Snapdragon 730 (58510), but this doesn’t imply the latter is incapable of running your favorite games.
PUBG Mobile defaults to high graphics on the Redmi K20, powered by Snapdragon 730 chipset, with no lags or tearing in gameplay. We’ll rigorously test the Redmi K20 over the next few days and update you on its overall performance.
AITuTu
Finally, I introduced the AITuTu benchmark to test AI processing capabilities on both chipsets. The results speak for themselves. The Snapdragon 730 features a 4th-gen AI engine and newer Hexagon 688 DSP, while the Snapdragon 845 boasts a third-gen AI engine and Hexagon 685 DSP. Despite this difference, both chipsets yield identical AITuTu benchmark scores.
From the myriad of benchmark scores, one can conclude that Snapdragon 730 in the Redmi K20 is a powerful mid-range chipset, potentially dominating its segment. Expect more phone makers to adopt it in the coming months.
Share your thoughts on whether it can replace the Snapdragon 845 in the sub-Rs 20,000 mid-range segment currently dominated by Poco F1. Comment below.
Pritam Chopra is a seasoned IT professional and a passionate blogger hailing from the dynamic realm of technology. With an insatiable curiosity for all things tech-related, Pritam has dedicated himself to exploring and unraveling the intricacies of the digital world.
