How to find the processor (CPU) on Android: all methods from simple to advanced

Have you ever wondered what processor is installed in your Android smartphone? This information may be needed to install custom firmware, check game compatibility, perform performance diagnostics, or even when purchasing a used device. Unfortunately, manufacturers rarely indicate the CPU model on the box or in the basic settings - you have to look for it yourself.

In this article we will look 7 proven methodshow to find the processor on Android: from standard system tools to specialized applications and even commands via ADB. You will learn where to look for information about Qualcomm Snapdragon, MediaTek Helio/Dimensity, Samsung Exynos and other chips, as well as how to distinguish an original CPU from a fake (yes, this happens!). We will pay special attention to the nuances for devices with a locked bootloader and without rights root.

1. Through standard Android settings

The easiest way is to look into the system settings. However, there is a pitfall here: on different versions of Android and shells (MIUI, One UI, ColorOS, etc.), the path to information may differ. We have collected current instructions for popular brands.

For pure Android (Pixel, Motorola, Nokia) or devices with minimal shells:

1. Open Settings → System → About the phone.
2. Find the section Hardware information or Model information.
3. Look for lines like Processor, Chipset or SoC model.

On smartphones Samsung (One UI) the path is different:

• 📱 Settings → Device maintenance → Information about phone
• 🔍 Scroll down to the block Hardware —the model may be indicated there Exynos or Snapdragon.

On Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO (MIUI):

• ⚙️ Settings → About phone → All characteristics
• 🛠️ Look for the line Processor — usually the full model is indicated there (for example, Snapdragon 778G+).

⚠️ Attention: On some budget smartphones (especially Chinese brands) the settings may display incorrect information about the processor —this is a marketing ploy to hide the outdated chip model. Always double-check the data through third-party applications.

2. Using a USSD code or engineering menu

Few people know, but on some Android devices the processor model can be found through service codes or a hidden engineering menu. This method does not work on all. smartphones, but it’s worth a try - it does not require the installation of additional apps.

The most common codes:

• 📞 ##4636## - will open a menu Testing, where the model can be indicated in the section Device information chip.
• 🔧 #0# —on some Samsung shows hardware information, including the processor.
• 🔍 ##2222## —works on devices with chips MediaTek (shows hardware version).

If the codes do not work, try entering engineering menu (Engineer Mode):

1. Open the application Phone.
2. Enter ##36446337## (for MediaTek) or ##4636## (universal).
3. Go to the section Hardware Information or Device Information.

⚠️ Attention: Do not change the settings in the engineering menu if you do not know their purpose! to loss of network, overheating or even failure of the smartphone.

3 Applications for viewing. characteristics

If system methods do not produce results, specialized utilities will come to the rescue. They will not only show the processor model, but also provide detailed information about each core, frequencies, architecture and even chip temperature.

Top 5 applications for checking the CPU:

How to use CPU-Z (step-by-step guide):

Install the application from the Play Market|Open the tab SoC (System on Chip)|Find the line Model —this is your processor|Check section Cores for details about the cores|Compare the data with the official specifications on the manufacturer's website-->

If the application shows an unknown model (for example, msm8998 instead of Snapdragon 835), use code name correspondence table c FAQ.

4. Via ADB (for advanced users)

If you have a computer and are not afraid of the command line, ADB (Android Debug Bridge) will help you find out the processor model even without rights. root. This method is useful if the smartphone does not turn on or its screen is broken, but USB debugging was activated earlier.

Instructions:

1. Install ADB and Fastboot Tools on PC.
2. Connect your smartphone via USB and enable debugging (a request will appear on your phone).
3. Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the folder with adb.exe.
4. Enter the command:

   adb shell cat /proc/cpuinfo

5. Search line Hardware or Processor —there will be a chip code (for example, qcom for Qualcomm, mt6768 for MediaTek Helio G90).

For more detailed information, use:

adb shell getprop ro.product.cpu.abi
adb shell getprop ro.chipname

If the command getprop ro.chipname returned an empty value, try:

adb shell cat /system/build.prop | grep "ro.chipname"

⚠️ Attention: On some smartphones (especially Chinese brands), manufacturers can replace the output of ADB commandsto hide the real chip model. In this case, the data from /proc/cpuinfo will be more. reliable.

5. By smartphone model (online database)

If your smartphone turns on, but none of the above methods worked, you can find out the processor by the device model. To do this:

1. Find the exact smartphone model:
   • 📱 B. settings: Settings → About phone → Model (for example, SM-G991B for Samsung Galaxy S21).
   • 🔍 On the box or under the battery (if removable).

fastboot oem device-info