MediaTek Corp unveiled its Dimensity 9500 flagship processor, setting an aggressive target to capture nearly 40% of the premium smartphone chip market as the Taiwanese company challenges Qualcomm’s dominance in high-end devices.
The chip, manufactured on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co’s advanced N3P process, promises 32% faster single-core performance and 17% multi-core improvements over its predecessor, according to MediaTek executives speaking Monday. The company claims power consumption drops 37% during peak performance scenarios.
MediaTek General Manager Chen Guan-zhou said the company already holds close to 40% of the global 5G smartphone chip market through its Dimensity brand, but flagship device penetration remains “slightly lower.” Reaching parity would mark a significant milestone for the Hsinchu-based chipmaker.
The announcement comes as smartphone market growth remains tepid, with industry analysts projecting just 1-2% expansion in 2025. Research firms forecast global smartphone shipments will grow modestly, with IDC estimating 1% growth to 1.24 billion units.
The Dimensity 9500 will debut in fourth-quarter devices, starting with Vivo’s X300 series in China. MediaTek faces intensified competition as Qualcomm prepares to launch its rival Snapdragon 8 Elite processor this week.
MediaTek has gained market share in 5G smartphones, rising from 22.8% in Q1 2023 to 29.2% in Q1 2024, while Qualcomm’s share declined from 31.2% to 26.5%, though the companies largely compete in different price segments.
