The MediaTek unveiled its first modem 5G supporting mmWave technology. Called Helio M80, the device is a direct successor to the M70 and Helio will compete directly with the other modem 5G of Qualcomm, the Snapdragon X60. The M70 was the company’s first 5G modem, but it did not support mmWave frequency. The M80 promises to run after the loss and combines support for new frequency and sub-6GHz networks on the same chip.
The Helio M80 will follow the same pattern as its predecessor as an integrated modem, that is, it will be accommodated with other components such as CPU, GPU, and ISP on the same die. The H80 supports both 5G modes (standalone and non-standalone) with maximum download speed (on paper) of up to 7.67Gbps and upload speed of up to 3.67Gbps. For reference, Snapdragon X60 has downloads up to 7.5Gbps and 3Gbps upload. Samsung’s integrated modem, the Exynos 2100, has speeds of 7.35Gbps and 3.67Gbps, respectively.
In addition to mmWave, the Helio M80 will support dual SIM 5G, dual NSA 5G, and SA networks, as well as Voice over New Radio (VoNR). The M80 also features technologies UltraSave Network Environment Detection and UltraSave Content Awareness of MediaTek, which can dynamically adjust power and operating frequency based on network conditions.
The new modem will be sold in late 2021, so there is a possibility that we will see this chip in some processors before the year is over. Details on which MediaTek SoC will be launched will also remain unknown at this time.
