Smartphone chipmakers MediaTek and Qualcomm are locked in a fierce competition to deliver next-generation performance with 2-nanometer technology, a race that reports suggest will also translate into higher prices for future flagship devices.
MediaTek’s Dimensity 9600, set for a September 2026 launch, is projected to outperform the standard version of Qualcomm’s upcoming Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6.
However, it is expected to fall short of the top-tier Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro, also slated for release in September 2026.
This technological advancement, particularly the move to cutting-edge manufacturing processes, is linked to significantly higher production costs for these chipsets.
Industry observers warn that these increased costs could lead to a rise in prices for premium smartphones hitting the market in 2027.
The insights come from Chinese tipster Digital Chat Station, who has detailed both companies’ strategies.
Both the Dimensity 9600 and the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 variants are expected to utilize TSMC’s advanced 2-nanometer N2P manufacturing process.
TSMC, or Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited, is a global leader in semiconductor fabrication.
A key architectural difference will distinguish the rivals: MediaTek’s Dimensity 9600 will retain the ARM CPU architecture.
In contrast, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 will leverage its proprietary Oryon CPU architecture.
Qualcomm is reportedly planning two versions of its flagship chip, internally designated SM8950 for the standard model and SM8975 for the Pro version.
MediaTek has no such multi-version plan for the Dimensity 9600.
The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 is anticipated to feature a 2+3+3 core configuration.
This setup includes two Prime cores for demanding tasks like high-end gaming.
It also features three Performance cores for general high-efficiency workloads, and three Efficiency cores designed for balanced processing and power conservation.
Further differentiating the Qualcomm variants, the Pro model will be the sole version supporting LPDDR6 RAM.
This RAM is expected to operate at speeds between 10.6 and 14.4 Gbps.
Currently, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 leads the industry with a peak processing speed of 4.61 GHz, setting a high bar for its successors.