MediaTek Dimensity 9400 vs Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 4: A detailed comparison

MediaTek recently unveiled its latest flagship chipset, the Dimensity 9400, designed to power next-generation Android smartphones. With improved performance, efficiency and new features, it is one of MediaTek’s most powerful chips. However, MediaTek’s chipsets are often compared to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon series, and the upcoming Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 (supposedly branded Snapdragon 8 Elite) is expected to be a strong competitor. But the big question remains: Can Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 outperform the Dimensity 9400? In this article, we have done a quick comparison between Dimensity 9400 and Snapdragon 8 Gen 4.

Specifications Comparison: Dimensity 9400 vs. Snapdragon 8 Gen 4

MediaTek Dimensity 9400

The Dimensity 9400 is MediaTek’s flagship chip and features the company’s 2nd generation “All Big Core” architecture. This includes the powerful ARM Cortex-X925 core with over 3.62 GHz, complemented by three Cortex-X4 cores and four Cortex-A720 cores. MediaTek claims a 35 percent improvement in single-core performance and a 28 percent increase in multi-core performance compared to its predecessor, the Dimensity 9300.

The chipset is based on TSMC’s 2nd generation 3nm process, which offers up to 40% better power efficiency. This results in significant improvements in battery life. The Dimensity 9400 also features an advanced NPU (Neural Processing Unit) for enhanced AI functionality and a 12-core ARM Immortalis G925 GPU. The GPU delivers 40% faster ray tracing performance, which is a big leap in gaming and graphics-intensive tasks.

Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 4

Although the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 (or Snapdragon 8 Elite) hasn’t officially launched yet, leaks and rumors offer a glimpse into its capabilities. Based on the same TSMC 3nm process, this chipset features a 6-core CPU setup consisting of two high-performance cores clocked at 4.05GHz and four efficiency cores clocked at 2.2GHz. There are also rumors of a 4.37GHz variant specifically designed for Samsung’s Galaxy devices.

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 will feature a 6-core Adreno 830 GPU that delivers 56% faster performance than the previous generation Adreno 750. In addition, the chipset will be equipped with a 16-core Neural Engine capable of processing up to 35 trillion operations per second (TOPS), further improving AI-driven tasks such as photography, voice recognition and AR/VR applications.

Benchmark performance

Dimension 9400

The Dimensity 9400 is already causing a stir in benchmark tests. On GeekBench, it scored 2,818 points in the single-core test and 8,847 points in the multi-core test. On AnTuTu, the Dimensity 9400 managed to cross the 3 million mark, showcasing its pure computing power and making it one of the most powerful chips. These results highlight the chipset’s ability to handle heavy workloads, be it gaming, multitasking or AI-driven tasks.

Snapdragon 8 Gen 4

Although Qualcomm hasn’t officially launched the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 yet, some early benchmark results have surfaced. In GeekBench testing, it reportedly scored 2,884 points in the single-core test and 8,840 points in the multi-core test. On AnTuTu, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 reportedly achieved a score of over 3 million, similar to the Dimensity 9400. However, some leaks suggest that higher clocked versions of the chip could do even better.

See also: Leaked Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 component layout reveals big upgrades

Energy efficiency and AI performance

Both chipsets are manufactured using TSMC’s 3nm process, meaning they are extremely power efficient. This should result in better battery life for the devices that use them. Both chips are also very competitive in terms of AI capabilities. The Dimensity 9400’s new NPU enables faster AI calculations, while the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4’s Neural Engine can process up to 35 trillion operations per second, making it a leader in the field.

Conclusion: Which one is better?

Although it is still too early to declare a winner, the available information suggests that both the MediaTek Dimensity 9400 and the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 are neck and neck in terms of performance and efficiency. MediaTek has significantly upped the ante with the Dimensity 9400, especially in terms of AI functionality and ray tracing. However, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 could still have the edge in terms of GPU performance and AI processing capabilities.

Ultimately, the choice between these two chipsets may depend on user preferences and specific device implementations. For now, both chips will lead the next generation of flagship smartphones, and the real comparison will take place once both processors have been fully tested in real-world scenarios.