The battle for mobile dominance intensifies in 2024 as tech titans Qualcomm and MediaTek unleash their newest flagship processors: the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 12 and the Dimensity 9300. Qualcomm struck first in late October with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, followed closely by MediaTek’s Dimensity 9300 in early November.
These Systems-on-a-Chip (SoCs) promise to fuel the next generation of smartphones, delivering blazing-fast performance and cutting-edge features. But which one reigns supreme?
We’ll dive deep into the specs and unique strengths of each chip to help you decide which powerhouse deserves to be in your pocket. Buckle up, because we’re about to get technical!
Table of Contents
4-nanometer fabrication process
Let’s start with the foundation. Both the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and Dimensity 9300 utilize TSMC’s 4nm fabrication process. However, there’s a subtle difference. MediaTek claims their Dimensity 9300 leverages a “third generation” 4nm process, while Qualcomm specifies their Snapdragon chip uses the N4P variant. The exact distinctions between these versions remain to be seen, but they could potentially influence performance or efficiency.
Furthermore, the MediaTek chip also supports the newer LPDDR5T RAM standard, while Qualcomm sticks with the older but still fast LPDDR5X standard.
CPU Performance
Flagship phone processors have traditionally used a 1+3+4 core layout (one prime core, three efficiency cores, and four performance cores). Qualcomm deviated in the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 with a 1+4+3 layout, swapping an efficiency core for a mid-range core.
This trend continues with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, adopting a 1+5+2 layout. That translates to:
- 1x ultra-high performance 3.3GHz Cortex-X4 core
- 5x mid-range Cortex-A720 cores (three at 3.2GHz, two at 3.0GHz)
- 2x low-power Cortex-A520 Refresh cores at 2.3GHz
Six out of eight cores inside the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 run at or above 3GHz, prioritizing raw power.
Meanwhile, MediaTek takes a bolder approach with the Dimensity 9300, ditching efficiency cores entirely. It boasts:
- 4x top-tier Cortex-X4 cores (one at 3.25GHz, three at 2.85GHz)
- 4x mid-range Cortex-A720 cores at 2.0GHz
Both SoCs boast significant performance upgrades. MediaTek, with its all-big-and-mid combo, suggests the Dimensity 9300 might have the edge.
Qualcomm claims a 30% performance boost and 20% efficiency improvement for the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 compared to its predecessor. MediaTek counters with even more impressive numbers for the Dimensity 9300: 40% better peak performance and 33% lower power consumption than previous iteration.
Interestingly, Arm’s data shows the mid-range Cortex-A720 cores used by MediaTek consume less power than the low-power Cortex-A520 cores in Qualcomm’s chip for lighter tasks like web browsing or file decompression. This suggests the Dimensity 9300 might be more efficient for everyday activities.
Graphics Performance
Let’s talk about the graphics powerhouses driving these new flagships. Qualcomm’s been the king of mobile graphics for a while, and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 ain’t messing around. They’re claiming a 25% jump in both performance and efficiency for their Adreno GPU, plus a crazy 50% speed boost for ray tracing. Basically, smoother graphics and way less battery drain for those fancy lighting effects.
But MediaTek’s Dimensity 9300 isn’t messing around either. They’re throwing down a brand-new Arm Immortalis-G720 MC12 GPU, which they say brings a whopping 46% performance leap over the previous Dimensity. That’s paired with a 40% reduction in power consumption, because efficiency is the new black, apparently. They’re also bragging about a 46% boost in ray tracing, because everyone loves ray traced explosions, right?
Refresh Rate Rundown:
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 can hit a crazy 240Hz refresh rate, but only when you connect it to an external display. Otherwise, it maxes out at 144Hz for QHD+ resolutions or 4K at a 60Hz.
MediaTek’s Dimensity 9300 goes for a more balanced approach, offering up to 180Hz for sharper WQHD resolutions and 120Hz for 4K. It also throws in support for dual-active displays, which is a big deal for foldable phones.
Camera Capabilities
The Dimensity 9300 focuses on tightly integrating its AI processing unit with its image signal processor (ISP). This translates to several practical features that enhance everyday videography and photography.
For videographers, the Dimensity 9300 boasts “always-on HDR” for 4K recordings. This ensures balanced lighting and detail across bright and dark areas, even in high-resolution videos. It also offers stunning bokeh effects at 30fps in 4K resolution, with automatic subject tracking for a professional-looking blur.
Photographers will appreciate the chip’s ability to differentiate up to 16 objects within a scene. This allows for more precise adjustments like exposure and focus based on the content of the photo. Additionally, the Dimensity 9300 features a dedicated core for optical image stabilization (OIS), leading to sharper and steadier photos, especially in low-light conditions.
A common pain point for smartphone photography is zoomed-in pictures. The Dimensity 9300 tackles this with a dual-lossless zoom engine, prioritizing image quality when using cropped zoom. This ensures sharper details even when you zoom in on a specific area. The chip also boasts “HDR audio noise reduction” technology, although the specifics of this feature remain unclear.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 takes a different approach, leveraging generative AI for a unique set of camera features that haven’t been seen before. One standout feature is “Photo Expansion.” This lets you essentially “zoom out” of an image by intelligently filling in the additional space using generative AI. Imagine taking a picture with a slightly tight frame and then using the Snapdragon chip to expand the background while maintaining realistic detail.
Videographers will be intrigued by “Video Magic Eraser.” Similar to removing unwanted objects in photos, this feature lets you erase objects or people from your videos. This opens doors for creative editing possibilities. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 also allows you to replace the background in your videos with completely different, AI-generated content.
Beyond these headline features, the Snapdragon boasts a robust set of more traditional functionalities. Night Mode Video uses AI processing to enhance low-light video recordings, converting a 4K/30fps video to a smoother 4K/60fps for playback. The chip can also identify and differentiate up to 12 objects in real-time within photos and videos, allowing for more precise adjustments.
For the vlogging crowd, the Snapdragon offers “Vlogger’s View,” which creates a unique dual-screen view. This allows vloggers to see both the recording and themselves simultaneously, perfect for capturing engaging content. Additional features include support for TruPic image authentication and Dolby HDR photo capture for stunning high dynamic range photos.
Connectivity
While Qualcomm traditionally held the lead in mobile connectivity, MediaTek is slowly catching up.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 boasts the cutting-edge X75 modem, supporting the latest Release 17 cellular technology and prepping for the upcoming “5G Advanced” era with Release 18 readiness. That translates to blazing-fast speeds: up to 10Gbps download and 3.5Gbps upload.
MediaTek’s Dimensity 9300 offers a compelling alternative. While it supports the slightly older Release 16 cellular capabilities, it boasts impressive downlink speeds of up to 7Gbps. Interestingly, MediaTek highlights its innovative Multi-Link Hotspot technology, promising a threefold improvement in tethering speeds compared to rivals.
Both chipsets offer the latest Bluetooth 5.4 and WiFi 7 connectivity. However, Qualcomm takes a step further with its XPAN technology, enabling superior coverage and performance when using compatible wireless earbuds via WiFi.
Generative AI
Finally, let’s talk about their AI capabilities. Qualcomm’s rocking a crazy upgrade with their Hexagon NPU. We’re talking a 98% performance jump and 40% better efficiency compared to last year. That translates to handling massive language models, way over 10 billion parameters, at a blazing 15 tokens per second. Plus, you can whip up unique images with just a text prompt in under a second – that’s Stable Diffusion for you tech folks.
MediaTek’s Dimensity 9300 ain’t sleeping though. Their APU 790 cuts power consumption by 45% while doubling the performance of its predecessor. It handles big language models too, but with a twist. They can do 7 billion parameters at a slightly faster 20 tokens per second.
Both use INT4 to shrink those language models so they don’t eat up all your storage. Qualcomm focuses on personalizing your on-device experiences using your phone’s sensors for chatbots and stuff. Plus, they hint at supporting Google’s core AI features on future Snapdragon phones. They’re even teaming up with Snapchat to bring Stable Diffusion right into the app.
MediaTek counters with hardware memory compression to run those bigger models with less power, which is a win for devices with less RAM. On the partnership front, they’re working with Baidu and Meta for LLM development, which could lead to some unique AI experiences on Dimensity-powered devices.
Current phones powered by Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, Dimensity 9300
While the Dimensity 9300 boasts impressive specs on paper, its availability is currently limited to a few Chinese phones (i.e. vivo X100 series, iQOO Neo 9 Pro, and OPPO Find X7). In contrast, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 powers several global flagships like the Xiaomi 14 Series, Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and more. This makes real-world comparisons challenging.
On paper, both chipsets are absolute powerhouses. The Dimensity 9300 boasts a CPU design that prioritizes raw power, ditching efficiency cores for a potential CPU performance edge. However, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 likely retains the graphics crown thanks to its proven Adreno GPU.
Efficiency is another key consideration. While both chips are powerful, the Dimensity 9300’s use of mid-range cores for everyday tasks suggests it might offer better battery life.
Ultimately, the “better” chip depends on your needs. If cutting-edge camera features and the latest cellular technology are your priorities, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 with its wider availability is the way to go. But if you value efficiency, strong AI capabilities, and a focus on video enhancements, the Dimensity 9300 could be a compelling choice once it hits the global market.
Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 vs. Dimensity 9300
| Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Dimensity 9300 | |
|---|---|---|
| Process | TSMC 4nm (N4E) | TSMC 3rd generation 4nm |
| CPU design | 1x 3.3GHz (Cortex-X4) 3x 3.2GHz (Cortex-A720) 2x 3GHz (Cortex-A720) 2x 2.3GHz (Cortex-A520 Refresh) | 1x 3.25GHz (Cortex-X4) 3x 2.85GHz (Cortex-X4) 4x 2GHz (Cortex-A720) |
| RAM and storage | LPDDR5x, UFS 4.0 | LPDDR5T, UFS 4 + MCQ |
| Graphics | Qualcomm Adreno | Arm Immortalis-G720 MC12 |
| Digital signal processor (DSP) | Qualcomm Hexagon NPU Supports INT4 | MediaTek APU 790 Supports INT4 |
| Display | 4K @ 60Hz QHD+ @ 144Hz 8K @ 30Hz (external) | 4K @ 120Hz WQHD @ 180Hz |
| Cameras | Qualcomm Spectra Up to 200MP single shot | Imagiq 990 Up to 320MP single shot |
| Connectivity | X75 LTE/5G (integrated) 10,000Mbps down 3,500Mbps up Wi-Fi 7 Bluetooth 5.4 | LTE/5G (integrated) 7,000Mbps down Wi-Fi 7 Bluetooth 5.4 |
