MediaTek Dimensity 9400e: A New Contender in Flagship Chipsets
MediaTek just threw down the gauntlet with its new flagship chipset, the Dimensity 9400e. It dropped last week, and the new chip is for those "almost flagships," the ones that pack a serious punch but fall short of the top-dollar price tag. And from MediaTek's own numbers, it's going to take on some big guns.
The Showdown: Dimensity 9400e Takes Aim
At its launch event, MediaTek did not hesitate to do comparisons. They matched its Dimensity 9400e against Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 – its nearest competitor in this "sub-premium" segment – and even the powerhouse Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. Verdict. Let us just say it's a true eye-opener.
Let's discuss CPU performance. On the widely used Geekbench 6.2 multi-core benchmark, the Dimensity 9400e allegedly returned a respectable 8,000 points. For context, the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 tends to fall around 7,300 on the same test. That's quite a lead for MediaTek's new chip. No single-core score was given, but the multi-core performance alone is causing heads to turn.
But the shock may be in the graphics department. For GPU performance, the lead doubles up significantly. On GFXBench's 1440p Aztec Ruins Vulkan benchmark, a demanding test for any processor, the Dimensity 9400e hit a healthy 99 fps. The Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 topped out at around 77 fps. Do the calculations, and that is a 28.5% advantage for the MediaTek processor on this particular graphics test.
What Does This Mean for Your Next Phone
Of course, it's always best to take manufacturer tests with a grain of salt. Companies love to brag about tests where their device comes out on top. But the figures released seem to show that the Dimensity 9400e isn't just keeping up; it seems to be beating the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 at processing and graphics, and even matching the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.
Of course, we'll get the true test in real-world, hands-on testing. We won't be waiting long to do that, since the OnePlus Ace 5 Racing Edition will be launching with the Dimensity 9400e later this week. That'll be our first chance to see if or how these incredible benchmark scores carry through into an actually improved user experience.
One thing's certain, though: competition in the mobile chipset game is on the rise, and that's excellent news for us consumers.
