Exploring the top types of mobile GPUs and their features
In the modern world, mobile devices have become an integral part of our daily lives. We depend highly on mobile devices for education, profession, entertainment, and communication. Smartphone manufacturers are also in competition to provide users with the best smartphone in terms of performance, stylish look, and longevity. When it comes to performance, several components inside a smartphone contribute to its overall functionality. Among those components, one vital component carries out the experience of viewing any content on the mobile screen, and the component is known as the GPU. The full form of the GPU is the Graphical Processing Unit. The GPUs that are used in smartphone devices to provide stunning graphics performance and animation are known as Mobile GPUs. In this article, we will explore the top 4 mobile GPUs, their features, and a head-to-head comparison between them. But before diving into the discussion of the top 4 mobile GPUs, we will shortly learn about what the mobile GPU is and the roles of a mobile GPU in the overall mobile experience.
A mobile GPU is a chip responsible for rendering the graphics and images on the mobile screen. For example, you are using your mobile phone, and all the images and video that you are showing on your mobile screen are rendered by the power of a mobile GPU. Or suppose, you are playing the Call of Duty games on your mobile phone and the graphics performance and animation of the game immerse you. All the credit goes to the mobile GPU. Without a mobile GPU, it is not possible as the mobile GPU represents the graphics content and stylish animated video on the mobile screen for any video or application by handling the complex mathematical calculation that is required to render the graphics of any games or applications. Day by day people become highly attracted to mobile devices and want to use desktop-class apps and games on their mobile phones. That’s why the responsibility of mobile GPUs is not only limited to just rendering video and images on the mobile screen but also provides high-intensive graphics performance along the advancing the mobile device’s capability for artificial intelligence and machine learning.
Different manufacturers design and develop GPUs specifically for mobile phones. In this article, we will discuss the best 4 mobile GPUs that are Adreno GPU, Mali GPU, Apple custom-built Bionic GPU, and PowerVR GPUs.
Adreno GPU
In the mobile phone market, Adreno GPU is the most popular GPU. Adreno GPU is developed by Qualcomm. The combination of Adreno GPU along with Qualcomm’s own SOC Snapdragon makes the Adreno GPU dominate the mobile phone market and gain popularity. Adreno GPU provides extreme performance with great power efficiency. Besides, it provides support for many advanced features that enhance the visual experience of the mobile device. Adreno GPUs are capable of handling highly intensive graphics tasks. The users get an immersive experience while playing any game, watching any video, or using any application of AR or VR. Adreno GPUs are capable of advanced rendering, providing a smooth frame rate and supporting the latest graphics API. This ensures that users do not experience stutter or lag while playing graphics-intensive games or using applications with high graphics demands. Samsung Galaxy SERIES, Google Pixel series, One Plus smartphones, etc. are powered by the Adreno GPU.
Mali GPU
Mali GPUs are developed by the ARM. While Adreno GPUs are popular in the Android market specifically for high-end Android smartphones, Mali GPUs are also popular in the Android market for low-end and mid-end Android phones. Mali GPU provides a balanced performance that is ideal for use with the mid-range of SOCs. That’s why the ARM developed the Mali GPUs that provide decent performance with better power efficiency. The best thing about the Mali GPUs is the scalability. ARM developed a variety of Mali GPUs from the low-end to high-end models considering the parameters of budget and device requirements. That’s why smartphone manufacturers can choose the GPU based on their target customers and the graphics power of the GPU. To illustrate, some smartphone manufacturers target customers who are not involved in highly intensive graphics-related games and applications, rather than want a smartphone that provides a balanced performance with power efficiency. The Mali GPUs are best in that case. Samsung mid-range phones, Huawei P series, and various mobile devices are powered by the Mali GPU.
Apple’s Bionic GPU
Apple’s own custom-built Bionic GPU is arguably the king of the mobile GPU. Like the Apple bionic chip, apple uses their bionic GPU for their iPhone only and does not sell to 3rd parties. Apple’s Bionic GPUs are integrated with Apple’s SOCs that provide a high graphics performance whether in the gaming section or any application where lots of graphics work is needed. The industry standard performance of Apple’s Bionic GPU makes the iPhone a priority for professional gamers and video editors as they need to deal with high-intensive graphics. Additionally, the optimization of iOS makes Apple’s Bionic GPU one of the most power-efficient GPUs. These GPUs also provide higher performance for 2-D or 3-D modeling that allows the iPhone to provide the best augmented reality and virtual reality experience to the users. From the iPhone 8 apple started to use its custom-built GPU for every iPhone.
PowerVR GPUs
PowerVR GPUs are developed by Imagination Technologies. Imagination technologies are well known for developing software and hardware for 2D and 3D rendering, video editing, and image processing. PowerVR GPUs are used in many flagship devices and are well-known for providing great performance and advanced features. PowerVR GPUs are built on a unique structure that enables them to deliver higher performance with power efficiency, quickly handle complex graphics tasks, and provide smooth animation. One of the advanced features associated with the PowerVR GPUs is the ray tracing that is required for realistic lighting and reflection in mobile devices. In addition, PowerVR GPUs are compatible with various operating systems and graphics APIs that allow a seamless experience across different platforms. Many smartphone manufacturers such as Apple and Android phone manufacturers often use PowerVR GPUs. Many Tablets, wearable devices, and gaming consoles are also powered by PowerVR GPUs.
Comparison of 4 types of Mobile GPU
Conclusion
GPUs play a vital role in the overall performance of mobile phones. Not only the GPU is a factor in providing higher performance, but also the SOC, storage speed, operating system, and optimization play important roles in the overall performance of mobile phones. Adreno and Mali GPUs are popular in the Android phone market, while Apple’s Bionic GPUs are exclusive to iPhones. PowerVR GPUs are primarily used in wearable devices and gaming consoles but are also commonly found in smartphones and tablets.
