The importance of the chipset in a phone cannot be understated. It is crucial for the performance of the device and plays a significant role in enabling AI capabilities. In 2026, when choosing a flagship Android phone or tablet, you will have two main options to consider: Qualcomm’s rebranded Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and MediaTek’s new Dimensity 9500. While Qualcomm may seem like the obvious choice, MediaTek should not be overlooked.
The Dimensity 9500 boasts some impressive upgrades that might give it the upper hand in the competition. It is built on TSMC’s 3nm process, the same as Google’s Tensor G5 in the Pixel 10 phones, and features a third generation ‘All Big Core’ CPU design. With an ultra core capable of reaching speeds up to 4.21GHz, three premium cores, and four performance cores, MediaTek claims up to 32% more single-core and 17% better multi-core performance compared to its predecessor, the Dimensity 9400. The chip also includes an Arm G1-Ultra GPU with support for ray tracing at 120fps and real-time rendering, promising an enhanced gaming experience.
In terms of power efficiency, MediaTek has not compromised. They claim a 42% improvement in power efficiency compared to the previous generation, which should help offset the increased power demands of the performance upgrades and contribute to strong battery life. The Dimensity 9500 is designed to excel in multitasking scenarios, especially in gaming and social call applications.
Artificial intelligence is a key focus of the Dimensity 9500, with MediaTek introducing their new NPU 990 and Generative AI Engine 2.0. These enhancements aim to double the speed of output on LLMs with 3 billion parameters and reduce loading speeds by 40%. MediaTek has also prioritized on-device AI processing to reduce the environmental impact and enhance security.
While the performance, power efficiency, and AI capabilities of the Dimensity 9500 sound promising, it remains to be seen how they will translate into real-world performance. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 has already secured partnerships with popular brands like Xiaomi, OnePlus, Honor, and Samsung. On the other hand, MediaTek’s first devices powered by the Dimensity 9500 are expected to arrive in the fourth quarter of 2025, with Chinese manufacturers like Oppo, Vivo, and Realme likely to be early adopters.
Overall, the Dimensity 9500 represents a significant step forward for MediaTek, challenging Qualcomm in the chipset market. It will be interesting to see how Qualcomm responds to this competition in the near future.
