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Do you feel overwhelmed by the number of smartphone choices? Check out our Snapdragon 8 Elite vs Dimensity 9400 comparison.
Smartphones are evolving faster than PCs and are already leveraging TSMC’s most advanced and efficient nodes. Companies like Intel, Nvidia, and AMD must wait in line at the foundry because Apple, Qualcomm, and MediaTek have secured wafer allocations for their latest-generation technology. The reason is simple: RISC architectures are generally more power-efficient and more straightforward to manufacture and implement than the x86-x64 (CISC) architecture.
As technology advances, we may reach a point where everything becomes fully portable. Just look at your smartphone—its capabilities are already impressive. While it’s not yet powerful enough to run large-scale LLMs natively, who knows what the future holds?
In this article, we compare the Snapdragon 8 Elite and Dimensity 9400 based on official manufacturer specifications and share our opinions based on real-world experience and use cases. Let’s get started.
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite
Specifications
- Lithography – 3nm, TSMC (N3E).
- Core Configuration- 2x Oryon Cores, 6x Performance Cores.
- Max Frequency up to 4.32 GHz.
- Adreno 830 GPU
- Hexagon AI Engine NPU.
- Memory Type – LPDDR5X.
- Snapdragon X80 5G modem (up to 10 Gbps download, up to 3.5 Gbps upload)
- Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, UWB connectivity
- Qualcomm AI ISP fused with Hexagon NPU.
Strengths
- Raw CPU Performance is up to 10% more powerful than the Dimensity 9400. As per the official Geekbench / Antutu
- One of the fastest mobile GPUs out there
- Stronger AI performance and image processing capabilities.
Weaknesses
- Power Consumption: Generally higher than the Dimensity 9400.
- Devices utilizing the 8 Elite are typically more expensive than MediaTek options.
MediaTek Dimensity 9400
Specifications
- Lithography 3nm, TSMC (N3E).
- Core Configuration: 1x Cortex-X925, 3x Cortex-X4, 4x Cortex-A720.
- Max Frequency up to 3.62 GHz.
- Immortalis G925 GPU.
- MediaTek 890 NPU.
- Memory Type – LPDDR5X.
- 3GPP Release-17 5G Modem (up to 10 Gbps download, up to 3.5 Gbps upload).
- Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, Connectivity options.
- ISP: Imagiq 1090.
Strengths
- It’s generally more power-efficient than the Snapdragon 8 Elite.
- Devices utilizing the 9400 are often priced lower than their Qualcomm counterparts.
- Offers well-rounded performance across various tasks.
- Significantly better in its heat management
- It is more stable than the Qualcomm counterparts.
Weaknesses
- CPU and GPU Performance is slightly inferior to the Snapdragon 8 Elite.
- Sub-par AI performance.
Final Verdict: Snapdragon 8 Elite vs Dimensity 9400
Both the 8 Elite and the 9400 are excellent processors, excelling in different areas:
- Snapdragon 8 Elite is ideal for users seeking top-tier raw CPU and GPU performance and advanced AI capabilities.
- Dimensity 9400 is more suitable for those prioritizing power efficiency and cost-effectiveness without compromising overall performance.
Snapdragon 8 Elite vs Dimensity 9400 Comparison Table:
| Specification | Snapdragon 8 Elite | Dimensity 9400 |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | TSMC N3E (3nm) | TSMC N3E (3nm) |
| Core Configuration | 2x Oryon + 6x Performance Cores | Cortex-X925 + X4 + A720 |
| Max Frequency | Up to 4.32 GHz | Up to 3.62 GHz |
| GPU | Adreno 830 | Immortalis G925 |
| NPU | Hexagon AI Engine | MediaTek NPU 890 |
| Memory Type | LPDDR5X | LPDDR5X |
| Modem | Snapdragon X80 (10 Gbps) | Release-17 Modem (10 Gbps) |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, UWB | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 |
| ISP | Qualcomm AI ISP | Imagiq 1090 |
| Power Efficiency | Moderate | High |
| Smartphones Powered | Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, OnePlus 13, Xiaomi 15 Ultra | Vivo X200 Pro, OPPO Find X8 Pro, iQOO Neo10 Pro |
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