MediaTek has built a strong reputation in the budget and mid-range smartphone markets through consistent product releases.
However, until recently, it struggled to break into the high-end segment, which has long been dominated by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 platform.
Just two years ago, Snapdragon was the go-to choice for most premium Android devices, effectively giving Qualcomm a monopoly in this category.
Now, that dynamic is shifting. MediaTek has achieved significant design wins with its Dimensity 9200 and 9300 chips over the past two years, securing a crucial foothold in the premium market and even managing to outpace Qualcomm in some respects.
Part of MediaTek’s success stems from its innovative use of performance cores; while Qualcomm has only recently started incorporating performance cores throughout its Snapdragon 8 Elite, MediaTek has been doing so with its Dimensity 9300/9300+ and 9400 series for over a year.
This approach has translated to stronger multi-core performance, as evident in devices like the Vivo X100 Pro and Xiaomi 14T Pro, which consistently deliver some of the highest multi-core scores in Geekbench.
Though these scores still trail Apple’s A18 Pro in the iPhone 16 Pro Max, they represent the best performance available in Android today.
One of the strongest endorsements of MediaTek’s recent success comes from Samsung, which has chosen the Dimensity 9300+ exclusively for its Galaxy Tab S10 series tablets worldwide.
While Samsung’s high-end tablets don’t rival the sales of its Galaxy S24 smartphones, the company’s decision to use MediaTek hardware across all regions — including North America — is a clear show of confidence.
Similarly, the Dimensity 9400, MediaTek’s competitor to the Snapdragon 8 Elite, is powered by the latest Cortex X925, Cortex X4, and A720 cores. It’s featured in OPPO’s Find X8 and 8 Pro, as well as Vivo’s X200 series.
Although these devices are not yet widely available in Western markets, they have strong sales in China and are helping OPPO and Vivo gain traction in the high-end segment in markets like India.
Cost may be one factor in a manufacturer’s decision to choose MediaTek over Qualcomm, but many brands also highlight the customization options MediaTek offers.
The Dimensity platform can be tailored to specific device needs, a feature that brands like OnePlus have used effectively for their mid-range models.
While Qualcomm remains the dominant player, MediaTek’s rise is refreshing for the industry, providing more competitive options at the high end.
The Vivo X100 Pro, one of the standout devices of 2024, performs as well as many Snapdragon 8 Gen 3-powered phones released this year.
With Qualcomm returning to fully-custom chip designs after nearly a decade, it will be fascinating to see how MediaTek’s Dimensity 9400, with ARM’s latest cores, compares in real-world performance.
