MediaTek unveils new 5G chip for low-power applications

MediaTek has announced a new 5G chip for low-power devices. It is a part of the company's line of RedCap (reduced capacity) chips tailor-made for peripherals that need a barebones 5G connection, such as smartwatches, IoT modules and AR/VR devices. The MediaTek T300 series leverages the company's M60 modem IP.

The chip, which is said to be the world's first Radio Frequency System-On-Chip (RFSOC), is manufactured on TSMC's 6 nm process node and consists of a solitary Arm Cortex-A35 core. MediaTek claims the MediaTek T300 consumes 75% lower power than existing 4G LTE solutions and 70% over 5G equivalents thanks to the company's UltraSave 4.0 technology.

Additionally, it is up to 60% smaller than existing 4G LTE modules. Downlink and uplink speeds for the MediaTek T300 max out at 227 Mbps and 122 Mbps, respectively. While it might seem low for a 5G connection, this is about it as good as it gets in a power-restrained environment. Devices running the MediaTek T300 will enter mass production in mid-2024 and hit shelves by the late-2024.