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Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 is the stronger chip on paper. It adds 5G, a newer 6 nm process and a CPU that mixes Cortex-A78 and Cortex-A55 cores (per CPU-Monkey’s listing). Helio G36 is an entry-level 4G platform with eight Cortex-A53 cores. Its 2.2 GHz peak clock is higher than the Snapdragon’s 2 GHz, but clock speed alone says little when the core designs differ. Below are the specifications side by side, the benchmark figures with their limits, and what to check in an actual phone.
Specifications compared
Figures come from Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 page, MediaTek’s Helio G36 page, and the CPU-Monkey and NanoReview chip databases.
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| Area | Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 | MediaTek Helio G36 |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Kryo, up to 2 GHz (Qualcomm). CPU-Monkey lists 2× Cortex-A78 up to 2.0 GHz plus 6× Cortex-A55 up to 1.8 GHz. | 8× Arm Cortex-A53, up to 2.2 GHz (MediaTek) |
| Process | 6 nm (Qualcomm) | 12 nm FinFET (MediaTek) |
| GPU | Adreno; CPU-Monkey names Adreno 619 | IMG PowerVR GE8320, up to 680 MHz |
| Cellular | Snapdragon X51 5G modem-RF, sub-6 GHz 5G, peak download up to 2.5 Gbps (Qualcomm) | Integrated 4G LTE Cat-7; dual 4G SIM support |
| Wi-Fi / Bluetooth | Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.2 | Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Display | Up to 120 fps FHD+ | Maximum refresh rate 90 Hz |
| Memory | LPDDR4X up to 4266 MT/s, up to 8 GB (CPU-Monkey) | Up to 8 GB LPDDR4X at 1600 MHz (MediaTek) |
| Storage | UFS 2.1/2.2 support (NanoReview) | eMMC 5.1 |
| Camera | Single shots up to 108 MP; multi-camera ISP features (Qualcomm) | Up to 50 MP in specified modes, plus video stabilization-related features (MediaTek) |
What the differences mean
5G versus 4G
This is the clearest split. The Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 supports sub-6 GHz 5G through the X51 modem, while the Helio G36 is limited to LTE. The chip only sets the ceiling, though. The phone also needs the right bands and carrier features for your region.
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The G36 has eight identical Cortex-A53 cores, an older efficiency-oriented design. The Snapdragon pairs two higher-performance A78 cores with six A55 cores. Its lower top frequency therefore does not make it slower, and the G36’s 2.2 GHz is not evidence that it is faster.
#1 Best Overall
- Ultra-high Performance Chipset: This cell phone is equipped with a powerful and efficient Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chip, using 4nm technology and a full-core 3.2GHz CPU, supporting 24GB LPDDR5X memory + UFS 4.0 flash memory, and equipped with an AI engine, with comprehensive performance upgrades.
- Revolutionary 50MP Quad Camera System: This smartphone is equipped with All 50MP four camera system: Including a Main Camera, a Periscope, an Ultra-wide Camera, and a ultra-clear Front Camera; this cell phone support Ultra XDR 4K video, Auto Tone, Portrait Optimiser, Motion Capture Mode, Night Mode; Whether you're a photographer, vlogger, or social media enthusiast, with the pro-grade camera system and AI enhancements, this Nothing phone can ensure every shot is masterpiece-ready.
- One-Touch Control, AI-Powered Organization：ESSENTIAL KEY: A new button on the side of your device.Press once to capture your screen, long-press to record voice and ideas, and double-press to access Essential Space; ESSENTIAL SPACE: Everything in one place, organised the way you want it to be，AI mobile phones helps organise your captures, generating suggestions, and staying on top of what matters; Explore more AI features, Let AI enrich your life
- GLYPH INTERFACE: Where Light Speaks; The Glyph Matrix transforms your phone into an interactive playground—smart animations turn notifications, tools, and games into living light experiences; NFC: An animation comes to life when NFC is triggered; Glyph Button: Quick-tap to browse Glyph Toys, long-press to launch—from utilities to games; Smarter Alerts: Notifications now speak in light and sound, blending visuals with meaning; Beyond illumination; This is interaction, redefined.
- Larger and Brighter FHD Display: 6.67" FHD+ 1.5K AMOLED flex screen with 1.07B colors & 120Hz adaptive refresh for ultra-smooth visuals; Vs Nothing Phone (2)/(3a): Phone (3) boasts 181.2% brighter (4500 nits), 16.7% sharper (460 PPI), and 316% faster touch response (1000Hz); IP68-rated—tough enough for any adventure.
Process, graphics and memory
6 nm versus 12 nm is a platform specification, not a guaranteed battery-life gap. Qualcomm itself notes that “Battery life varies significantly based on device, settings, usage, and other factors”. On graphics, the Adreno and PowerVR GE8320 parts are different designs, and in-game results depend on the phone, drivers and settings. The Snapdragon’s platform support for faster memory, UFS storage, and 120 fps displays points to a higher ceiling, but budget phones often ship with less than the maximum.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Benchmark evidence
Geekbench 5 (CPU-Monkey)
CPU-Monkey’s comparison page, last updated 2026-06-06, shows these Geekbench 5 64-bit scores:
Rank #2
- Ultra-high Performance Chipset: This cell phone is equipped with a powerful and efficient Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chip, using 4nm technology and a full-core 3.2GHz CPU, supporting 24GB LPDDR5X memory + UFS 4.0 flash memory, and equipped with an AI engine, with comprehensive performance upgrades.
- Revolutionary 50MP Quad Camera System: This smartphone is equipped with All 50MP four camera system: Including a Main Camera, a Periscope, an Ultra-wide Camera, and a ultra-clear Front Camera; this cell phone support Ultra XDR 4K video, Auto Tone, Portrait Optimiser, Motion Capture Mode, Night Mode; Whether you're a photographer, vlogger, or social media enthusiast, with the pro-grade camera system and AI enhancements, this Nothing phone can ensure every shot is masterpiece-ready.
- One-Touch Control, AI-Powered Organization：ESSENTIAL KEY: A new button on the side of your device.Press once to capture your screen, long-press to record voice and ideas, and double-press to access Essential Space; ESSENTIAL SPACE: Everything in one place, organised the way you want it to be，AI mobile phones helps organise your captures, generating suggestions, and staying on top of what matters; Explore more AI features, Let AI enrich your life
- GLYPH INTERFACE: Where Light Speaks; The Glyph Matrix transforms your phone into an interactive playground—smart animations turn notifications, tools, and games into living light experiences; NFC: An animation comes to life when NFC is triggered; Glyph Button: Quick-tap to browse Glyph Toys, long-press to launch—from utilities to games; Smarter Alerts: Notifications now speak in light and sound, blending visuals with meaning; Beyond illumination; This is interaction, redefined.
- Larger and Brighter FHD Display: 6.67" FHD+ 1.5K AMOLED flex screen with 1.07B colors & 120Hz adaptive refresh for ultra-smooth visuals; Vs Nothing Phone (2)/(3a): Phone (3) boasts 181.2% brighter (4500 nits), 16.7% sharper (460 PPI), and 316% faster touch response (1000Hz); IP68-rated—tough enough for any adventure.
| Chip | Single-core | Multi-core |
|---|---|---|
| Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 | 926 | 2,979 |
| Helio G36 | 142 | 514 |
The direction matches the architecture difference. Treat the exact size of the gap with caution, since these are database-displayed values and not a controlled test of matched phones.
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NanoReview’s chipset page (accessed 2026-10-05) lists an AnTuTu 11 total of 521,686 and Geekbench 6 scores of 852 single-core and 2,048 multi-core. It also shows individual user-submitted results. These use different benchmark versions from the Geekbench 5 table above, so don’t compare them directly with the G36 numbers.
Rank #3
- This phone is Unlocked for GSM Carriers in USA like T-Mobile (Excluding Verizon, Sprint, and US Cellular) and not compatible with any CDMA Network Carriers. Dual-SIM (2x Nano-SIM + or Nano-SIM + eSIM or Dual eSIM)
- Samsung Regional Lock will be unlocked. This process requires unsealing the unit prior to shipping.
- 6.9" full rectangle, Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 3120 x 1440 (Quad HD+), 120 Hz, 16M Color Depth, Corning Glass Victus 2
- 1TB UFS 4.0 Storage, 12GB RAM
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite
Limits
No independent lab’s matched-phone head-to-head was found. Chip-level scores don’t predict sustained performance, heat, battery life or gaming in a specific handset.
Quick Recap
Which should you choose?
- Need 5G, or want a longer-lasting phone: pick a Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 handset. NanoReview lists the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 5G and Motorola Moto G (2024) among phones using it. They are examples only, and you should check regional variant, bands and current price yourself.
- LTE is enough and price is the priority: a Helio G36 phone can cover calls, messaging, browsing and light apps. Expect weaker CPU headroom.
Check in the actual phone
- Real RAM and storage type (eMMC versus UFS)
- Panel refresh rate, which is often below the chip’s maximum
- Supported 5G or LTE bands for your carrier
- Camera sensor and software, since megapixel support doesn’t determine quality
- Independent reviews of that exact model for thermals and battery
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
