In the ever-evolving world of mobile chipsets, Qualcomm and MediaTek are two of the industry’s leading giants. With the release of the Snapdragon 8 Elite and Dimensity 9400, the competition for mobile supremacy has reached a new high. Both chipsets come with groundbreaking innovations, pushing the boundaries of performance, AI, imaging, and more. In this article, we’ll dive deep into their key features and discover how MediaTek’s Dimensity 9400 outshines Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite in one specific area.
Table of Contents
Introduction
When it comes to mobile chipsets, Qualcomm and MediaTek have been long-time rivals. With Qualcomm unveiling its Snapdragon 8 Elite, featuring the second-generation Oryon CPU, and MediaTek countering with the powerful Dimensity 9400, the battle for smartphone superiority is fiercer. In this comparison, we’ll explore how these two heavyweights stack up against each other and how MediaTek manages to outperform Qualcomm surprisingly.
What Are Mobile Chipsets?
The Importance of Chipsets in Mobile Devices
Mobile chipsets are essentially the brains of your smartphone, controlling everything from processing power and graphics performance to AI capabilities and battery efficiency. As mobile devices evolve, so do the chipsets, which are becoming more powerful and efficient with every generation.
Qualcomm and MediaTek: Industry Leaders
While Qualcomm has long dominated the premium smartphone market, MediaTek has been closing the gap by delivering high-performance chipsets like the Dimensity 9400, designed to challenge Qualcomm’s dominance in high-end devices.
Overview of Snapdragon 8 Elite
Features of Snapdragon 8 Elite
The Snapdragon 8-Elite comes packed with high-end features like the 2nd-generation Oryon CPU, Adreno 830 GPU, and Hexagon AI Engine. It’s built on TSMC’s 3nm N3E process, making it one of the most advanced chipsets in terms of fabrication technology.
CPU, GPU, and Architecture Breakdown
The Snapdragon 8-Elite boasts an octa-core setup, including two prime cores running at a blazing 4.32 GHz and six performance cores clocking in at 3.53 GHz. This powerhouse structure is backed by a 12MB L2 cache, ensuring fast and efficient processing.
Overview of Dimensity 9400
Features of Dimensity 9400
The Dimensity-9400 is MediaTek’s response to the Snapdragon 8 Elite, and it doesn’t disappoint. It uses the latest Arm Cortex-X925 CPU and Mali-G925 Immortalis MP12 GPU to deliver cutting-edge performance, especially in gaming and graphics-intensive tasks.
CPU, GPU, and Architecture Breakdown
The Dimensity-9400 also features an octa-core configuration, but its core structure is slightly different, with one Cortex-X925 core running at 3.63 GHz, three Cortex-X4 cores at 3.30 GHz, and four Cortex-A720 cores clocked at 2.4 GHz.
Snapdragon 8 Elite vs Dimensity 9400: A Specification Showdown
| Details | Snapdragon 8 Elite | Dimensity 9400 |
|---|---|---|
| Process Node | TSMC’s 3nm process (N3E) | TSMC’s 3nm process (N3E) |
| CPU | Octa-core 2nd-gen Oryon CPU | Octa-core Arm CPU |
| CPU Cores | 2x 2nd-gen Oryon (4.32GHz) 6x 2nd-gen Oryon (3.53GHz) | 1x 3.63 GHz (Cortex-X925) 3x 3.30 GHz (Cortex-X4) 4x 2.40 GHz (Cortex-A720) |
| GPU | Adreno 830 GPU | Arm Mali-G925 Immortalis MP12 GPU |
| Storage / Memory Support | UFS 4.0 LPDDR5X at 5.3GHz 10.7 Gbps | UFS 4.0 LPDDR5X at 5.3GHz |
| Machine Learning and AI | New Hexagon AI Engine On-device multimodal AI support | MediaTek NPU 890 Support for Multimodal and MoE LLMs Agentic AI, LoRA training |
| ISP | AI Spectra ISP Up to 320MP photo capture 8K HDR video at 60 FPS | Imagiq 1090 ISP Up to 320MP photo capture 8K HDR video at 60 FPS |
| Modem | Snapdragon X80 5G modem Up to 10 Gbps Peak Download Up to 3.5 Gbps Peak Upload | MediaTek Release-17 5G Modem Up to 7 Gbps on sub-6GHz 5G networks with 4CC-CA support |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0 and UWB | Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 |
Process Node and Manufacturing
Both chipsets are fabricated using TSMC’s 3nm N3E process, making them comparable in terms of manufacturing technology. This allows for smaller transistors, leading to better performance and energy efficiency.
Core Structure and Clock Speed
While the Snapdragon 8-Elite has an advantage in terms of clock speed (with two cores at 4.32 GHz), the Dimensity 9400 offers a more balanced core setup, which may provide better efficiency in multi-threaded tasks.
CPU Comparison
Snapdragon’s Oryon vs Dimensity’s Arm Cortex-X925
The Snapdragon’s Oryon cores outperform the Cortex-X925 in terms of raw speed, but MediaTek’s efficient core layout ensures more balanced performance in a wider range of tasks.
| Geekbench 6.3 | OnePlus 13 (Leaked Snapdragon 8 Elite Score) | OPPO Find X8 Pro (Leaked Dimensity 9400 Score) |
|---|---|---|
| Single-core | 3,224 | 2,949 |
| Multi-core | 10,067 | 9,297 |
Single-Core vs Multi-Core Performance
In Geekbench 6.3 scores, the Snapdragon 8-Elite leads by around 10% in both single-core and multi-core tests. However, in real-world use, this performance difference may be barely noticeable.
Geekbench 6.3 Scores Analysis
- Snapdragon 8 Elite (Leaked):
- Single-core: 3,224
- Multi-core: 10,067
- Dimensity 9400 (Leaked):
- Single-core: 2,949
- Multi-core: 9,297
GPU Battle
Adreno 830 vs Mali-G925 Immortalis MP12
The Adreno 830 GPU in the Snapdragon 8 Elite claims a 40% performance boost compared to its predecessor. However, MediaTek’s Mali-G925 Immortalis MP12 has shown to edge out Qualcomm in GPU-heavy tasks like gaming, offering 44% power efficiency alongside its 40% graphical improvement.
Graphics Performance and Ray Tracing Capabilities
Both chipsets support ray tracing, but early benchmarks suggest that the Dimensity 9400 may hold a slight edge in graphics performance, particularly in demanding tasks like 3D rendering and gaming.
AI Capabilities
Qualcomm’s Hexagon AI Engine vs MediaTek’s NPU 890
When it comes to AI, the Snapdragon 8-Elite features the Hexagon AI Engine, which is optimized for multimodal AI applications. MediaTek’s NPU 890 is designed for image generation and LLM (Large Language Model) training, giving it an edge in generative AI applications.
AI in Image Processing and Generative AI
The Dimensity 9400 supports Google’s Gemini Nano AI system, allowing for more advanced AI-driven tasks, particularly in image enhancement and multimodal AI.
Imaging and Camera Features
AI-Powered Spectra ISP vs Imagiq 1090 ISP
Both chipsets offer AI-powered ISPs capable of capturing stunning 320MP photos and 8K HDR videos at 60FPS. However, MediaTek’s Imagiq 1090 ISP is said to offer better HDR video quality throughout the zoom range.
5G and Connectivity
Snapdragon X80 vs MediaTek Release-17 5G
The Snapdragon X80 modem offers download speeds of up to 10 Gbps, while the Dimensity 9400 trails slightly with 7 Gbps. However, both chipsets support Wi-Fi 7, ensuring future-proof connectivity.
Battery Efficiency and Power Management
Power Efficiency in CPUs and GPUs
In terms of power management, both chipsets are highly efficient thanks to the 3nm process. However, MediaTek’s GPU offers slightly better battery efficiency during gaming and graphics-heavy tasks.
Impact on Battery Life in Real-World Usage
Expect slightly longer battery life with devices running the Dimensity 9400, especially during tasks like gaming, where the Mali-G925 excels in power management.
Which Chipset Leads in Performance?
Snapdragon’s Advantage in Processing Power
The Snapdragon 8 Elite leads in terms of processing power, particularly in single-core tasks. However, the difference may not be noticeable in everyday use.
Dimensity’s Advantage in GPU Performance
The Dimensity 9400 shines in GPU performance, particularly in gaming and graphics-heavy applications. This is where MediaTek truly outperforms Qualcomm.
How MediaTek Outperforms Qualcomm in One Key Area
Dimensity’s GPU Supremacy
The Dimensity 9400 takes the crown when it comes to GPU performance. In benchmarks focused on graphics, MediaTek consistently outshines Qualcomm, making it the better choice for gamers and those who prioritize graphics-heavy tasks.
The Real-World Impact on Gaming and Graphics
For users who value gaming performance, the Dimensity-9400 provides a noticeable advantage, thanks to its superior GPU and power efficiency.
Final Verdict
In conclusion, both chipsets are packed with features that push the envelope of mobile performance. The Snapdragon 8 Elite excels in CPU metrics, while the Dimensity 9400 pulls ahead in GPU performance. Ultimately, choosing between the two comes down to what you prioritize: processing power or graphics performance.
