OPPO R19 Could be the First Smartphone to Use MediaTek Helio P80 Chipset: Report
MediaTek is leading the way in the affordable smartphone segment with its Helio P80 chipset, and the OPPO R19 might be the first smartphone to feature this silicon and deliver improved computing performance that will go easy on your wallet
OPPO has a massive range of smartphones that are fueled by MediaTek’s chipsets. The lineup is expected to expand with the launch of the OPPO R19, which is said to be the first device to feature the Helio P80. This will make the handset more powerful than the likes of the F9 Pro, which is using the Helio P60 chipset and comes in an attractive design and a waterdrop notch.
MediaTek quit the flagship chipset market after a poor response of the Helio X30. The fabless chipset manufacturer now provides phone manufacturers with SoCs that deliver performance fit for the ‘value-oriented’ handset category. These products also come with advanced AI features, making them more capable than their previous-generation counterparts. How capable will the OPPO R19 be when it launches? Read on more to find out.
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OPPO R19 With Helio P80 SoC Will Have Better AI Capabilities
If the OPPO R19 becomes the first smartphone to feature the MediaTek Helio P80, it can mean the device will sport a premium design ranging from a teardrop notch with an aluminum build. If we’re lucky, OPPO might launch the OPPO R19 with a gradient color design and a glass back, making it more appealing to the masses.
As for MediaTek’s Helio P80 that could power it, the SoC is expected to be made on TSMC’s 12nm FinFET technology and feature an octa-core processor. The Helio P60 and the Helio P70 are also formed on the same process, but the Helio P80 will tout an improved architecture and upgraded AI performance. There are also speculations that the AI capabilities of MediaTek’s next SoC will outpace Kirin 980’s NPU performance. This should make the OPPO R19 a solid contender for not just the mid-range smartphone category, but also the higher priced range.
The MediaTek Helio P80 chipset could take advantage of ARM’s high-performance Cortex-A76 cores and if not that, then Cortex-A73 at the very least. The efficiency cores will most likely be Cortex-A55, but the overall CPU configuration of the Helio P80 is not yet known. Using a triple CPU cluster design has been an old practice ever since MediaTek launched its Helio X30 so let us wait and see if the company will be introducing a comeback here.
The GPU side of things could also see an upgrade. MediaTek could increase the Mali-G72 GPU cluster count, assuming this is the graphics processor found in the OPPO R19. Since the Helio P70 features the same GPU, we reckon the Helio P80 will retain it. We don’t think the upcoming chipset will be more powerful than the Snapdragon 710, but it could give the Snapdragon 660 a run for its money.
OPPO R19 Expected Release?
According to Taiwanese supply chain sources, MediaTek’s Helio P80 will be the company’s primary SoC during the first half of 2019. This means the chipset could launch as early as January 2019, after which the OPPO R19 will make an appearance. Unfortunately, nothing is set in stone right now, so we’ll need to be a little more patient and wait for MediaTek to make its move.
After you’re done reading about the OPPO R19 and MediaTek’s Helio P80, you can check out our hands-on video of the Realme U1, which features the MediaTek Helio P70 chipset. If you’re not familiar with Realme, it is the sub-brand of OPPO and was introduced in India sometime back to provide buyers with a cheaper smartphone lineup while giving them lots of compelling features in return. If you want a more powerful smartphone, we suggest waiting for the R19 when it officially launches in India.
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