MediaTek launches Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 rival with AI at its core

The chipset serves as the backbone of any smartphone or tablet, fundamentally shaping the device’s performance and increasingly facilitating advanced AI functionalities.

If you’re in the market for a flagship Android phone or tablet in 2026, your two primary contenders will be Qualcomm’s newly branded Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and MediaTek’s robust offering, the Dimensity 9500. Ignoring MediaTek may be a significant oversight this time around.

With several substantial upgrades on the table, the Dimensity 9500 might even surpass Qualcomm’s solution. Below are the crucial elements you should consider.

A Significant Performance Enhancement

The Dimensity 9500 continues to leverage TSMC’s cutting-edge 3nm manufacturing process—similar to Google’s Tensor G5 in the upcoming Pixel 10 models—while evolving to a third generation of its ‘All Big Core’ CPU architecture.

This new chip configuration features a powerhouse ultra-core that can reach clock speeds of up to 4.21 GHz, complemented by three high-performance cores and four efficiency cores.

MediaTek asserts that the new chipset will boost single-core performance by up to 32% and enhance multi-core capabilities by 17% compared to last year’s Dimensity 9400, although exact scenarios for these gains are yet to be detailed. One exciting claim is its ability to facilitate “console-class gaming.”

Martyn Casserly

In addition to this, the Dimensity 9500 incorporates an advanced Arm G1-Ultra GPU, which supports ray tracing at 120 FPS alongside real-time rendering and “immersive lighting effects” through Unreal Engine.

Power efficiency is also optimized, with MediaTek claiming a 42% improvement generation-over-generation, a significant factor for maintaining robust battery life while accommodating power-hungry performance upgrades. They specifically highlight enhancements in multitasking for gaming and social media applications.

However, the critical question remains: Will this chipset deliver a gaming experience on par with the likes of a PS5 or Xbox Series X? For many users, the quality and variety of games available on platforms like the Play Store may overshadow raw performance.

AI Capabilities

Artificial intelligence (AI) has indeed played an instrumental role in the development of the Dimensity 9500.

The chipset is equipped with MediaTek’s new NPU 990, featuring the second generation of the Generative AI Engine. Claims suggest it can double the output speed for large language models (LLMs) with 3 billion parameters while cutting loading times by 40%.

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

Moreover, MediaTek has taken note of AI’s environmental impact, stating they have managed to trim peak power consumption for large AI workloads by 40%. A significant emphasis is also placed on on-device AI processing, which generally avoids relying on internet-based cloud bodies, enhancing both performance and security.

Future Devices Featuring the Dimensity 9500

MediaTek has made bold claims regarding the performance, efficiency, and AI capabilities of the Dimensity 9500, but the real test will be how these specifications translate into everyday user experiences.

Currently, we know that the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 will feature in new devices like the Xiaomi 17 series, alongside devices from OnePlus, Honor (Magic 8 series), and the Samsung Galaxy S26.

In contrast, specific devices utilizing the Dimensity 9500 have yet to be announced, with MediaTek announcing that the first models powered by this chipset are projected to debut in the fourth quarter of 2025.

If past trends with the Dimensity 9400 are any indicator, we can anticipate a wave of devices from Chinese brands such as Oppo, Vivo, and Realme, and possibly the Galaxy Tab S12 series in the tablet segment.

Overall, the Dimensity 9500 is poised to make a significant mark, charting a strong competitive trajectory against Qualcomm. Expect to see Qualcomm’s counter-move shortly, as the battle of the chipsets heats up.