Performance is where these two siblings finally diverge in a meaningful way. The Note 100 5G is powered by the Unisoc T765, built on a modern 6 nm process, while the Note 100A relies on the older Unisoc T615 at 12 nm. The manufacturing node gap matters significantly: a smaller process translates to greater power efficiency and thermal headroom, meaning the Note 100 5G can sustain performance under load while drawing less battery. The CPU clock speed advantage reinforces this — the T765 runs its performance cores at 2.3 GHz versus the T615's 1.8 GHz, a difference users will feel in app launch times, multitasking, and any moderately demanding workload.
The AnTuTu benchmark scores quantify this gap clearly: the Note 100 5G posts 408,601 against the Note 100A's 308,681 — roughly a 32% advantage in raw throughput. Equally impactful for everyday use is the RAM configuration: the Note 100 5G ships with 8 GB of faster 2133 MHz memory, compared to the Note 100A's 4 GB at 1866 MHz. Less RAM means the Note 100A will struggle more visibly with background app retention, forcing more frequent reloads when switching between applications — a noticeable friction point in daily use.
The Note 100 5G holds a clear and decisive performance edge in this category. The newer chipset, faster CPU cores, more efficient process node, and double the RAM combine to produce a substantially snappier experience. The Note 100A is not without merit for light use cases, but users who multitask, game casually, or simply want a device that feels fluid over a multi-year lifespan will find the Note 100 5G to be the stronger choice by a significant margin.