Winner: Mali-G31 For Call of Duty: Mobile, Among Us, League of Legends: Wild Rift (low settings), the G31 is the only viable option. The Mali-450 will either refuse to install the game (API mismatch) or crash due to memory addressing limits.
In the world of mobile processors, the spotlight often shines on flagship chips like the Snapdragon 8 Gen series or Apple’s A-series Bionic. However, the vast majority of the world’s smartphones—particularly entry-level and feature phones—run on far more modest silicon. At the heart of these budget devices lie two of the most ubiquitous graphics processing units (GPUs) in history: ARM’s Mali-450 and the more modern Mali-G31 MP2.
If you are shopping for a low-cost phone, a TV box, or a wearable, you will likely encounter these two names. On paper, the numbers “G31” suggest it is newer than “450.” But is it actually faster? Can a modern ultra-efficiency core beat a decade-old workhorse?
This article dissects every technical aspect—architecture, shader cores, API support, power efficiency, and real-world performance—to determine which GPU reigns supreme for budget consumers in 2025.
There is no contest. The Mali-G31 MP2 wins in every category that matters for a modern user:
The Mali-450 belongs in a museum. If you see a new device for sale with a Mali-450 in it, run away. It is likely old stock intended for Android 6.0 (Go Edition). The Mali-G31 MP2, despite its "low" name, is a remarkable piece of engineering that proves you don’t need a flagship GPU to enjoy a decent smartphone experience.
Buy the G31. Avoid the 450. Your thumbs—and your battery—will thank you. Mali-g31 Mp2 Vs Mali-450
Specs current as of 2025. Always check the exact CPU model (e.g., Unisoc SC9863A or MediaTek MT6739 contains a G31; MediaTek MT6580 contains a Mali-450).
Mali-G31 MP2 vs. Mali-450: Comparing Entry-Level GPU Performance
If you are looking at budget smartphones, affordable tablets, or Android TV boxes, you will frequently encounter two names in the specs sheet: the Mali-G31 MP2 and the Mali-450.
While both serve the entry-level market, they belong to different eras of mobile computing. 1. Architecture: The Generational Gap The biggest difference lies in the underlying technology.
Mali-450: Based on the aging Utgard architecture. It is a legacy GPU that powered popular devices years ago (like the original Fire TV Stick or older budget phones). It uses a "Fixed Function" pipeline, which is less efficient for modern apps.
Mali-G31 MP2: Built on the Bifrost architecture. This is significantly more modern and is designed to handle the complex instructions used in today’s software. The "MP2" designation means it has two cores working in tandem. 2. Graphics API Support (The Dealbreaker) This is where the Mali-450 shows its age. Winner: Mali-G31 For Call of Duty: Mobile ,
Mali-450: Only supports up to OpenGL ES 2.0. Many modern games and even some UI elements in newer versions of Android require OpenGL ES 3.0 or higher to run.
Mali-G31 MP2: Supports OpenGL ES 3.2, Vulkan 1.0, and OpenCL 2.0.
Why this matters: If you try to run a modern game or a high-definition streaming app on a Mali-450, it might not even launch, or it will suffer from broken textures. The Mali-G31 is compatible with almost everything on the Google Play Store today. 3. Performance and Efficiency The Mali-G31 MP2 isn't just newer; it's faster and smarter.
Clock Speed: The Mali-G31 typically runs at higher clock speeds (up to 650MHz) compared to the older Mali-450.
Energy Consumption: Because the G31 is built on a smaller nanometer process (usually 12nm or 28nm depending on the chipset), it consumes less power while delivering better frame rates. This means better battery life and less heat.
Resolution: While both can technically handle 1080p, the Mali-G31 MP2 is much smoother at rendering high-resolution UI elements and 4K video playback interfaces in TV boxes. 4. Gaming Comparison There is no contest
Mali-450: Strictly for casual, 2D games like Candy Crush or very old 3D titles. It will struggle significantly with anything like PUBG Mobile or Free Fire, often failing to render the graphics correctly.
Mali-G31 MP2: Can handle popular titles like Mobile Legends, Free Fire, and PUBG on Low to Medium settings. It provides a playable experience for budget-conscious gamers. Summary Table Mali-G31 MP2 Architecture Utgard (Legacy) Bifrost (Modern) Vulkan Support OpenGL ES Best Use Case Basic TV Boxes / Retro UI Budget Gaming / 4K Streaming Performance Balanced (Entry-level) The Verdict: Which should you choose?
There is no contest here: The Mali-G31 MP2 is vastly superior.
The Mali-450 is essentially obsolete for 2024 and beyond. If you are choosing between two devices, always go for the one equipped with the Mali-G31. It offers better app compatibility, smoother video playback, and a much longer lifespan as software continues to evolve.
Are you looking at a specific phone model or TV box that uses one of these chips?
| Metric | Mali-450 MP2 | Mali-G31 MP2 | |-----------------------|----------------|----------------| | Peak power (500 MHz) | 410 mW | 340 mW | | Power at T-Rex 30 fps | 380 mW (throttled) | 260 mW | | GFLOPS/W (FP32) | 3.8 | 6.2 |
The Mali-G31 MP2 achieves 63% better performance per watt in shader-heavy scenes.