MediaTek Helio A22 2GHz Quad-Core 12nm SoC with Dual 4G VoLTE, Bluetooth 5, AI capabilities announced officially


MediaTek Helio A22, the company’s latest budget SoC based on 12nm TSMC FinFET technology was introduced with the Xiaomi Redmi 6A last month, after the Helio P22. Today the company has officially launched the SoC.  It supports 20:9 HD+ screen, has Quad-Core ARM Cortex-A53 CPUs with MediaTek CorePilot, and flexible LPDDR3/LPDDR4x memory controller. It supports 13+8MP dual or 21MP single camera setup.

The company says that CPU performance is up to 30% faster and GPU up to an incredible 72% faster than the direct alternative, which should be the Snapdragon 425 SoC. It also has AI-enhancements such as Face ID (Face Unlock) and smart photo albums. MediaTek NeuroPilot support, developers
and device makers have the best possible AI-ecosystem, with support for common AI frameworks and full compliance with Android Neural Networks API (Android NNAPI).

It has 4G LTE WorldMode modem that integrates dual 4G SIM with VoLTE/ViLTE, MediaTek TAS 2.0 smart antenna technology and essential new standards such as, eMBMS, HUPE, Band 71 and advanced IMS. Connectivity upgrades include a new, dedicated sub-processor for
4-Satellite multi-GNSS (GPS, Glonass, Beidou, Galileo), Bluetooth 5 and Wi-Fi (802.11ac). The company has still not shared the exact (IMG PowerVR GE-class) GPU version.

 Helio A22  Helio P22
Process TSMC 12nm
Apps CPU 4x Cortex-A53 @ 2GHz 8x Cortex-A53 @ 2GHz
Memory LPDDR3: 933MHz up to 4GB; LPDDR4X: 1600MHz up to 6GB, eMMC 5.1
Camera 13MP+8MP,
21MP @ 30fps. AI Face ID (Face Unlock), AI Smart Photo Album, Single-Cam/Dual-Cam Bokeh; MEMA 3DNR; Multi-Frame Noise reduction
13MP+8MP,
21MP @ 30fps. AI Face ID (Face Unlock), AI Smart Photo Album, Single-Cam/Dual-Cam Bokeh; Hardware Warping Engine (EIS); Rolling Shutter Compensation (RSC) engine; MEMA 3DNR; Multi-Frame Noise reduction;
Video Decode 20:9 HD+ (1600 x 720) h.264, h.265 / HEVC at 30 fps
Video Encode 1080p h.264 at 30 fps
Graphics IMG PowerVR GE-Class IMG PowerVR GE8320 650MHz
Modem Cat-4,
Cat-7 DL / Cat-13 UL
TAS 2.0, HUPE, IMS (VoLTE\ViLTE\WoWi-Fi), eMBMS, Dual 4G VoLTE (DSDS), Band 71, Carrier Aggregation (CA),
CDMA2000 1x/EVDO Rev. A (SRLTE),
FDD / TDD LTE,
HSPA +
Connectivity Integrated Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac GPS/Glonass/Beidou ANT+, Bluetooth 5 /FM

The Helio A22 is already in production and is available starting with Xiaomi Redmi 6A from this June. More budget Helio A22-powered devices are expected later this year and next year.

TL Lee, General Manager of MediaTek’s Wireless Communication business unit at MediaTek, said:

The Helio A Series continues our vision of a mobile marketplace that is accessible to everyone, where high-end features are not limited to high-end devices. As we’ve seen, mid-market growth continues to explode and there continues to be consumer interest in powerful and quality devices that offer them the best value. With Helio A22, device makers can bring to market innovative devices that provide consumers unparalleled mobile experiences in the mid-range, including incredible performance, long battery life and advanced photography and AI enhancements.

Update – July 17: MediaTek has announced the Helio A22 officially.


Author: Srivatsan Sridhar

Srivatsan Sridhar is a Mobile Technology Enthusiast who is passionate about Mobile phones and Mobile apps. He uses the phones he reviews as his main phone. You can follow him on Twitter and Instagram