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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →The Snapdragon 4s Gen 2 is the stronger chip on paper and in the one benchmark comparison available. It’s a 4 nm 5G platform with UFS 3.1 storage support. The MediaTek Helio G36 is a 12 nm, 4G LTE platform that uses eMMC 5.1 storage. If you need 5G, the choice is already made. If you don’t, the gap still favors Qualcomm, but the phone around the chip matters as much as the chip.
Specifications side by side
All values below are vendor-stated platform specifications from Qualcomm’s product page and product brief and from MediaTek’s Helio G36 page. Individual phones may use only part of what a platform supports.
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| Area | Snapdragon 4s Gen 2 | MediaTek Helio G36 |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Kryo, 64-bit, up to 2 GHz. The product brief splits this into 2 performance cores up to 2 GHz and 6 efficiency cores up to 1.8 GHz. | 8 Arm Cortex-A53 cores, 64-bit, up to 2.2 GHz |
| Process | 4 nm | 12 nm |
| GPU | Adreno; APIs include OpenGL ES 3.2, Vulkan 1.1, OpenCL 2.0 | IMG PowerVR GE8320, up to 680 MHz |
| Cellular | 5G NR plus legacy technologies; peak download up to 1 Gbps | 4G LTE; Cat-7 downlink and Cat-13 uplink listed, with Cat-4 modes also listed |
| Memory | LPDDR4x up to 2133 MHz | LPDDR3 or LPDDR4X; up to 8 GB listed |
| Storage | UFS 3.1 | eMMC 5.1 |
| Display | FHD+ up to 90 Hz (product brief) | Up to 2400 × 1080 at 90 Hz |
| Wi-Fi / Bluetooth | Wi-Fi 5; Bluetooth 5.1 | Wi-Fi 5; Bluetooth 5.0 |
What the differences mean
5G versus 4G
This is the clearest split. Qualcomm lists 5G NR with a peak download speed of up to 1 Gbps. That is a platform claim, not a promise of real carrier speeds. MediaTek positions the Helio G36 as 4G LTE only. Whether a given phone actually gets 5G depends on its supported bands, your carrier and your local coverage.
CPU: fewer, faster cores versus eight older ones
The Helio G36 has a higher peak clock (2.2 GHz) than the Snapdragon’s 2 GHz. But clock speed isn’t a ranking. The G36 uses eight Cortex-A53 cores, an old efficiency-class design. The Snapdragon 4s Gen 2 pairs two performance cores with six efficiency cores on a much newer 4 nm process. Phone makers’ thermal and software tuning also shape how either chip feels in daily use.
#1 Best Overall
- MULTIPLE TASKS WITH ONE ASK: Streamline your day with an assistant that gets you. Ask it to Google search for a pet-friendly vegan restaurant nearby and text it to your friend— your Galaxy S25+ handles multiple tasks with a single ask.¹
- START THE DAY SMARTER: Stay one step ahead with a phone that gives you the info you need before you even know you need it with Now Brief.²
- REDUCE THE NOISE. REVEAL THE MAGIC: AI Camera with Audio Eraser lets you capture vibrant videos in low light and minimize unwanted noises so you can relive your favorite moments with fewer distractions.³
- BRING OUT THE BEST IN EVERY FACE: Capture every portrait with clarity and confidence on the Galaxy S25+ Series. The advanced portrait features adjust skin tones and preserve natural textures, giving every shot a polished, professional look.
- MORE POWER TO YOU: Reimagine what’s possible with the Galaxy S25+, featuring our most powerful processor yet. Effortlessly translate your calls, slow down a video, or edit your photos without skipping a beat.
Storage
Qualcomm lists UFS 3.1 support, while the Helio G36 supports eMMC 5.1. UFS is generally the faster storage interface, which helps app launches and file transfers. But what you get is set by the phone maker. A handset built on a chip that supports UFS can still ship with slower storage, so check the phone’s spec sheet.
Graphics
The Snapdragon has an Adreno GPU with Vulkan 1.1 and OpenGL ES 3.2. The G36 has a PowerVR GE8320 at up to 680 MHz. These spec pages don’t support a frame-rate claim for any specific game, and no like-for-like gaming test was available for this comparison. Expect both to suit light and casual gaming rather than demanding titles.
Display, memory and wireless
Both platforms list support for 90 Hz panels and Wi-Fi 5, and Bluetooth differs only slightly (5.1 versus 5.0). These are not reasons to pick one chip. The phone’s panel, RAM and radio hardware decide what you get.
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.
Benchmark results
The only direct comparison available is from 91mobiles, which reports its own device testing:
| Benchmark | Snapdragon 4s Gen 2 | Helio G36 |
|---|---|---|
| AnTuTu | 381,047 | 158,812 |
| Geekbench (as reported: first figure / second figure) | 840 / 1,963 | 190 / 840 |
The Snapdragon scored higher in both suites. The AnTuTu gap is more than double. These numbers come from specific phones tested by one publisher. The page doesn’t establish identical software, benchmark versions, temperatures or repeat runs. Treat them as a strong indication of direction, not a guaranteed percentage gain for every handset. The Geekbench pairs are shown as the source reports them; the source’s labels for each figure aren’t specified here.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Choosing between actual phones
- 5G need: confirm the phone’s supported 5G bands against your carrier. The chip alone doesn’t guarantee this.
- Storage: look for the installed storage type and capacity, not the platform maximum.
- Real tests: prefer reviews that run named phones through the same benchmark version, and include gaming results.
- The rest of the phone: RAM, display, battery, software update policy, price and regional availability.
As a buying example, 91mobiles identifies the Xiaomi Redmi A4 as a Snapdragon 4s Gen 2 phone. Check the model sold in your region, because specifications and bands vary by market. The chip comparison above doesn’t describe that phone’s complete performance.
Rank #3
- 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.
Why Qualcomm built this chip
Qualcomm announced the platform on July 30, 2024, describing it as “designed to make 5G more accessible and reliable.” It framed the target as 2.8 billion smartphone users in select regions. That is Qualcomm’s own reach figure, not an independently verified count. In practice, the 4s Gen 2 is a budget 5G entry chip, aimed at users who would otherwise end up on 4G-only hardware like the Helio G36.
The Bottom Line
Pick the Snapdragon 4s Gen 2 if you want 5G, faster storage support and the better benchmark showing. The Helio G36 only makes sense in a 4G phone where a low price matters more than speed. Judge the finished phone, not the chip alone.
Quick Recap
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