MediaTek Puts Dimensity 9600 Pro on TSMC's 2nm N2P Process, Moving Ahead of Qualcomm
MediaTek's flagship Dimensity 9600 Pro is its first smartphone processor built on TSMC's 2-nanometer N2P process, adopting the node before rival Qualcomm, which is expected to follow with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 next week.
Qualcomm is expected to move to TSMC's 2nm N2P process with its Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6, which is set to arrive next week.
MediaTek said the Dimensity 9600 Pro uses a 2+3+3 "all big core" CPU design. Compared with the previous generation, it raises single-core speeds by 17 percent and multi-core performance by 15 percent, while cutting multi-core power consumption by 61 percent.
The chip carries a dual-NPU architecture that combines GPU and AI computing, along with an Agentic AI Engine intended to power on-device AI. MediaTek claims 27 percent higher peak performance for gaming, 18 percent faster raytracing and 24 percent lower power consumption at peak speeds. Devices using the processor will support camera capture at up to 4K at 120 frames per second.
MediaTek described itself as the "number one manufacturer of mobile chipsets" and said its market value is larger than Qualcomm's. Handset brands using the chip include Oppo, Xiaomi, Samsung, Motorola and Realme, along with a number of smaller manufacturers.
The company's plan to adopt TSMC's N2P process was first revealed a year ago, alongside similar moves by Intel, AMD and other chip manufacturers. Apple said at its Surprise and Shine event last week that it is using TSMC's 2-nanometer process for all of its newly announced iPhone 18 models.
MediaTek keeps a lower public profile than some of its customers, but Engadget noted that it remains a major supplier in the smartphone chip market.