Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite and MediaTek’s Dimensity 9400 are both cutting-edge flagship chipsets that bring significant advancements over their predecessors. Each processor leverages innovative architecture to boost performance, efficiency, and AI capabilities. But how do they stack up against each other?
In this comparison, we’ll explore core cluster design, benchmark scores, AI performance, and power efficiency to help you decide which chipset better suits your specific needs.
Core cluster and clock speeds
Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 (8 Elite):
The Snapdragon 8 Elite employs an All Big Core design, consisting of eight cores:
- 2 Prime Cores: Clocked at an impressive 4.32 GHz
- 6 Performance Cores: Clocked at 3.53 GHz
This architecture is designed to maximize processing power, particularly for demanding applications and multitasking.
Dimensity 9400:
MediaTek’s Dimensity 9400 also features an All Big Core design, comprising:
- 1 Cortex-X925 Prime Core: Running at over 3.62 GHz
- 3 Cortex-X4 Cores
- 4 Cortex-A720 Cores
This setup enables strong performance in both single-threaded and multi-threaded tasks, delivering a 35% increase in single-core and a 28% increase in multi-core performance compared to its predecessor, the Dimensity 9300.
Benchmark Results
In real-world testing, both chipsets have showcased remarkable performance:
Snapdragon 8 Elite:
- GeekBench 6: single-core score of around 2800, multi-core score of over 10,000 (outperforms Apple A18 Pro)
- AnTuTu: exceeded 3 million points
These results place the Snapdragon 8 Elite at the forefront of Android processors, rivaling even Apple’s A18 Pro in single-core performance.
Dimensity 9400:
- GeekBench: Achieved a single-core score of 2818 and a multi-core score of 8847
- AnTuTu: Also crossed the 3 million mark
While the Dimensity 9400’s single-core performance is slightly lower, its multi-core scores are competitive, demonstrating its capability for heavy multitasking.
AI Performance
AI capabilities have become a critical aspect of modern chipsets:
Snapdragon 8 Elite:
Features a new Hexagon NPU with a 45% improvement in AI processing speed. It supports a range of AI models through Qualcomm’s QI Engine, enhancing multimodal AI capabilities.
Dimensity 9400:
Introduces the company’s 8th Gen NPU with capabilities for on-device LoRA training and high-quality video generation. The Dimensity Agentic AI Engine (DAE) boasts an 80% increase in large language model (LLM) prompt performance and a 35% improvement in efficiency.
Both chipsets demonstrate significant advancements in AI performance, but the Snapdragon 8 Elite’s edge in processing speed may offer advantages in real-time applications.
Power efficiency
While chips are getting more and more capable, power efficiency is also equally important. It determines how long the phone can last without the wall adapter and also how long it can sustain the peak performance during heavy workloads.
Snapdragon 8 Elite:
Built on TSMC’s 3nm process, it boasts a 45% increase in CPU performance and a 44% enhancement in power efficiency.
Dimensity 9400:
Also manufactured on TSMC’s 2nd Gen 3nm process, it achieves up to 40% greater power efficiency compared to its predecessor.
Both chipsets show significant improvements in efficiency, but the Snapdragon 8 Elite leads in CPU power efficiency metrics.
Final verdict
In conclusion, the Snapdragon 8 Elite and Dimensity 9400 offer a compelling blend of performance and efficiency. The Snapdragon 8 Elite excels in clock speeds and AI processing capabilities, making it ideal for high-performance applications.
Meanwhile, the Dimensity 9400 presents a robust alternative with competitive performance and innovative AI features.
As real-world testing progresses with new flagship devices, users can expect both chipsets to deliver top-tier performance in currently available and upcoming flagships. Ultimately, the choice between the two may come down to specific needs, such as gaming, AI tasks, or general usage, but both processors represent the pinnacle of mobile technology available today.
Phones with Dimensity 9400:
- Oppo Find X8 / Find X8 Pro
- Vivo X200 / X200 Pro / X200 Pro Mini
Next year’s Galaxy S25FE and even the S25 and S25 Plus have been rumored to boast this chipset.
Phones with Snapdragon 8 Elite:
- Galaxy S25 Ultra
- iQOO 13
- OnePlus 13
- Entire Xiaomi 15 series
- vivo X200 Ultra
- Realme GT7 Pro
- Oppo Find X8 Ultra
