MediaTek Helio P60 mobile chipset test: bestseller on BQ flagship smartphone

The MediaTek Helio P60 chipset today forms the basis for the most powerful mid-range smartphones released in the second half of 2022. Excellent performance, an extensive set of modern features, including an integrated artificial intelligence unit and excellent energy efficiency in resource-intensive applications - all this has made this SoC (System-on-a-Chip) a real bestseller among mobile processors.

To test the Helio P60 chipset, we turned to a new product from BQ Mobile - the flagship model BQ-6200L Aurora.

A little background

At the end of 2022, Finbarr Moynihan, , announced that the company was abandoning its flagship line of Helio X processors and refocusing on producing budget, mid-range and sub-flagship solutions.
The release of such processors as Helio P40 and P70 was planned. However, Mediatek surprised the mobile market and presented a new mobile chipset Helio P60 with an artificial intelligence unit at the MWC 2022 international exhibition in Barcelona.

By mid-summer, this chipset was already used in a number of smartphones from Chinese manufacturers and was successfully tested in practice. In terms of power, the Helio P60 is a budget analogue of the Snapdragon 660 (the 700 series will already be presented at the beginning of 2022), but built using a 12-nm process technology and with better energy efficiency, and also equipped with an AI unit.

Why Helio P60 is interesting and useful

As the manufacturer notes, Helio P60 is one of the company’s best chipsets, which includes not only 8 powerful cores, but also an artificial intelligence unit. What can this platform offer the user?

- CPU and GPU performance has increased by 70% compared to previous P-series chipsets. The system can easily cope with resource-intensive games and tasks

— the AI ​​unit works simultaneously with the central and graphic processors, helping to maximize the performance and energy efficiency of the device, which is made possible thanks to the MediaTek NeuroPilot platform. The data processing speed of the AI ​​unit reaches 280 GMAC/s

— high-tech compatibility in cellular networks. MediaTek Helio P60 integrates 4G LTE WorldMode modem, Dual 4G VoLTE and TAS 2.0 smart antenna technology to provide users with uninterrupted connectivity anywhere in the world.

— the chipset supports two cameras with resolutions of up to 20 megapixels and 16 megapixels or one camera with a resolution of 32 megapixels. Thanks to AI technologies, high quality and fast shooting speed are achieved. The neuromorphic block is used for face and scene recognition. High data processing speed ensures recording and playback of HDR images in real time. The user can immediately see what result he will get in the photo.

— high energy efficiency and low heating. The use of 12nm FinFET technology provides unrivaled power efficiency. The system monitors the operation of applications and does not allow them to waste energy, which extends the battery life of the device. CorePilot4.0 technology includes thermal regulation and monitoring of user actions, adapting to it and ensuring maximum performance

— The P60 supports a 20:9 aspect ratio and can work with screens with a notch at the top.

Are there any disadvantages to this chipset? Of course there are, and one of them is a very weak video core. The graphics are represented by the Mali-G72 accelerator with only three cores that can operate at frequencies up to 800 MHz. Yes, this limits the processor’s operating modes in resource-intensive games, automatically setting the settings to average values. But this can also be called a significant plus - after all, on a small smartphone screen in the heat of battle, action is more important than an ultra-detailed picture. The result is less load on the CPU, less heating, and a healthier battery.

Camera and sample photos

It was a pleasant surprise for me when I found good camera performance on the budget rugged smartphone UMIDIGI Bison. For example, the main camera module has a 48-megapixel resolution with an f/1.79 aperture.

The second module is used for ultra-wide shots and has a resolution of 16 megapixels. But the third and fourth modules are designed for portrait and macro modes, and both sensors have a 5-megapixel resolution.

The camera app on your smartphone is very simple and intuitive. At the bottom you can find five modes - beauty, video, photo, portrait and extra. In the photo settings you can select resolution and other parameters. And in the video settings I did not find any stabilization and the maximum resolution was 1080p.

Below I will leave examples of photographs taken with UMIDIGI Bison. On my own behalf, I can note that the main camera takes very high-quality pictures, both during the day and at night. I also liked the performance of the ultra-wide mode and portrait mode. But the macro mode is not for everyone and I don’t really like using this mode, since the quality of the photos is not the best.

How this is implemented in the BQ-6200L Aurora

The capabilities of the Helio P60 chipset are clearly demonstrated in our test BQ-6200L Aurora. This is a large 6.2-inch FullHD+ screen with a cutout at the top, and a dual main camera, as well as a 16 MP front camera (both with artificial intelligence function), and support for simultaneous operation of SIM cards in LTE mode, as well as very fast and smooth operation in the interface and applications. About everything in order - below.

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UMIDIGI Bison: Characteristics

Appearance and equipment

Although we are talking about the new chipset, it is worth talking about our impressions of the device itself. The BQ-6200L Aurora looks great - its appearance almost completely replicates the image of flagship models from leading smartphone manufacturers such as Apple and Xiaomi. The large frameless display, covered with protective glass Corning Gorilla Glass 3, is not without a cutout at the top.

The arrangement of the elements is classic: on the bottom there is only a USB Type-C port, on the right there is a conveniently located power button and volume rocker. On the left is a retractable tray for SIM cards (Micro and Nano types), where instead of a second SIM card you can install a MicroSD memory card.

On the back side, in the upper part in the middle of the body, there is a fingerprint scanner, and in the left corner there is a dual camera unit with a flash. The back cover is made of glossy plastic.

It is worth emphasizing that both the screen and the back cover have 2.5D rounded edges and an oleophobic coating. Although fingerprints remain, they are instantly erased with one pass over the surface with a napkin. You won't have to scrub them painfully. This means that your smartphone will always look neat. The only pity is that the manufacturer does not include a silicone case with the smartphone. But, as the test showed, the protection from Xiaomi Mi 8 is excellent.

Important point. The body of the smartphone is made of metal, which affects its weight—about 190 grams. The case is slippery and can easily slip out of your hands. To protect against breaking in the event of a fall or impact, a plastic damping layer, barely noticeable to the touch, is laid between the glass and the body.

Unpacking and packaging

Many users already know that all smartphone models from the UMIDIGI brand come in black packaging. But with the Bison, the manufacturer decided to make a big change. Now, the protected device comes in a white box and this was also a bit of a shock for me.

As for the box itself, it is made of durable cardboard, and the company logo is located on the front. But on the back of the box you can see a list of technical specifications.

Inside the box I found the protected smartphone itself, instructions, a Type-C charging cable and an 18 W power adapter. There is no protective silicone case included, as it is not needed for a rugged smartphone.

What did you save on?

Although the BQ-6200L Aurora is positioned by the manufacturer as a flagship, it is very inexpensive - about 16,000 rubles. Therefore, of course, one should expect gaps in its equipment. For example, there was no way to place an LED notification and charge indicator above the screen. Also, at the top we did not see a second microphone to cut out background noise during a call. Perhaps it still exists somewhere, because... During calls, we noted high sound quality without interference.

Alas, this model does not have an NFC module. We also note the not very large capacity of the built-in battery at 3000 mAh. But, as our tests have shown, thanks to the competent operation of the P60 chipset, with a light load in everyday tasks it will last for more than 3 days without recharging.

Price and where to buy cheaper?

Currently, you can buy a modern rugged UMIDIGI Bison smartphone at an amazing price - only $149.99 with a 40% discount.

But I also want to share with you information about the upcoming Black Friday, which starts on November 23rd. If you haven't yet managed to purchase the item you need during the 11.11 sale, then don't miss this opportunity now.

UMIDIGI Bison with 49% discount

★★★★★

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Helio P60 performance test

In almost all benchmarks, this chipset demonstrated good performance in the BQ-6200L Aurora smartphone, which is not inferior to mid-segment products from leading smartphone manufacturers. Experts note that this processor was created as a strong competitor to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 processor, installed in a number of popular models, including Xiaomi Mi Note 3, Vivo X20 and many others.

We tested the chip in AnTuTu, Geekbench, GFXBench and Basemark GPU. The result was at the level of very recent flagships based on Snapdragon 808 and even 835.

For example, in AnTuTu the chipset scored about 140,000 points , which is almost equal to the result of the Vivo X21 (also 140,000 points), built on the Snapdragon 660. In Geekbench, the single-core test result was 1515 points (at the level of the Samsung Galaxy S6 on Snapdragon 820), and in multi-core - 5820 (just below the Samsung Galaxy S8 on Snapdragon 835). In Basemark GPU, our BQ-6200L Aurora test unit earned a whopping 947 points , which is decently higher than the OPPO F7 (670 points), also built on the MediaTek Helio P60.

Test in games

Why else do you need super performance in a smartphone?
For games of course! We checked how quickly the Helio P60 chipset performs in the most popular gaming bestsellers. The result exceeded all expectations. Unkilled and Dead Trigger 2 run smoothly at maximum settings , and the chipset also performed well in the game World of Tanks Blitz . At medium graphics settings, you can comfortably play Into the Dead 2 , PUBG and Last Day on Earth .

Sound quality

This device does not have a dedicated DAC and amplifier, but even without them the sound here is quite decent: with deep bass and pleasant high frequencies. But hardcore music lovers shouldn’t expect miracles.

During calls, the speaker demonstrated good clarity, retaining all the shades of the interlocutor's voice. The ringing speaker is loud with good polyphony. There is a reserve of volume, the vibration will be felt both in the coat and in the backpack.

Camera and artificial intelligence

The smartphone has a dual main camera, one of which is 16 megapixels (with a frame ratio of 4:3), and the second is 5 megapixels. There is also a 16 MP front camera. The camera manufacturer is not specified, but all have an f/2.0 aperture. These are not the best lens clarity indicators, however, tests showed very high-quality results that are not inferior to such recognized cameras as Xiaomi Mi 8.

Of course, there is no image stabilizer and there is no ability to shoot video in 4K, but all the pictures we took, including those in dimly lit places, turned out to a high level. When shooting video in Full-HD, the camera displays static objects well, but moving objects are not clear enough.

Additional tools include support for slow-motion video shooting, time lapse, and a manual settings mode. So, the camera in the BQ-6200L Aurora can be safely recommended both for family and tourist photography, as well as for creative individuals.

1 out of 10

You can download examples of photos in original quality from our cloud storage.

To obtain good quality images, the artificial intelligence unit built into the chipset came in handy here. It automatically detects the type of scene, objects in the frame and selects the best shooting settings. The same can be said for the selfie camera. The pictures from it are juicy and detailed even in poor lighting conditions.

Display and screen quality

Considering the fact that UMIDIGI Bison is a secure smartphone, there can be no talk of a modern screen. The manufacturer installed a 6.3-inch IPS screen with Full HD+ resolution or 2340 x 1080 pixels.

At the same time, the screen aspect ratio was 19.5: 9, and the pixel density was about 409 PPI. I was pleasantly surprised that an inexpensive rugged smartphone uses a high-quality, high-resolution screen, which is quite rare.

If we talk about parameters such as color rendering, viewing angles and brightness levels, then everything is just perfect here. I didn't find any major problems with the picture display quality. And even when using the smartphone almost the whole day, my eyes did not feel very tired.

On guard of safety

As we have already said, the artificial intelligence unit takes an active part in recognizing images received from smartphone cameras. This was used in identification mode to enter the smartphone interface by scanning the owner’s face. As the test showed, unlocking occurs instantly, just look at the screen. It works even at an angle and when the device is moving. Phenomenal! Tested on other faces and even on photos: there are simply no false positives.

Energy Saving

Another field for active AI activity is the creation of energy-efficient operation of the device. Mediatek CorePilot 4.0 technology perfectly understands where and when it is necessary to turn up the power to full, but also does not allow energy to be wasted. In particular, one of the most resource-intensive processes is the camera. The Helio P60 uses three image processing processors (ISPs) to reduce power consumption from the two cameras by 18%. In games, the chipset provides savings of up to 25%.

In addition, when you unlock your smartphone, a special service automatically unloads unnecessary processes from memory, which is indicated by a pop-up message.

Speaking of battery performance. Our test smartphone, as we have already noted, uses a 3000 mAh battery. The Geekbench benchmark results - 4144 points - demonstrated its superiority over the batteries installed in OnePlus 5 (3300 mAh) and Samsung Galaxy S8 (3000 mAh) .

Our battery charge test showed that you can charge a smartphone from 12 to 100% in 1 hour 45 minutes (according to the smartphone indicator). The tester showed complete completion of the charge and a capacity of 2650 mAh pumped into the battery. If you add 15% of the residual capacity before charging, you will get about 3000 mAh.

In general, the energy conservation technology in this model has shown the ability to work under heavy load for about 10 hours. In normal mode, the smartphone will last about 4 days before charging.

Battery and operating time

An important aspect for any smartphone is battery life. On board the UMIDIGI Bison there is a 5000 mAh battery capacity that can last about 7 hours when the screen is on.

Considering that the smartphone has Full HD resolution and pretty good performance, battery life is not the worst indicator. For example, during my tests, 1 hour of watching videos on Youtube, the device was discharged by 12% and 1 hour of gaming by 18%. This is taking into account the maximum screen brightness level.

Charging time using the included power adapter and Type-C cable was 2.5 hours.

Product summary:

The Helio P60 chipset used in the BQ-6200L Aurora smartphone provides the device with excellent performance, fast response to gestures and touches, and smooth operation in the interface and applications. The artificial intelligence used in the cameras is not in vain and really allows you to get high-quality pictures even in darkened rooms. The security system when unlocking with a face scanner is also impressive, which works reliably and is almost invisible to the user. The only pity is that the manufacturer saved on such useful things as an LED notification and charge indicator, as well as an NFC chip. But this can also be attributed to trifles against the backdrop of owning a smartphone with a beautiful design and a rich set of functions.

Advantages

High performance Modern design Large FullHD+ screen Metal body High-quality dual and front camera Support for memory cards

Flaws

No notification light No NFC Not very long lasting battery