# MediaTek is Gradually Making Headway in the Premium Segment
For several years, MediaTek has excelled in the budget and mid-range smartphone categories, yet it struggled to penetrate the high-end market typically dominated by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 series. However, recent progress suggests that MediaTek is now making noteworthy advancements in the premium smartphone sector, challenging Qualcomm’s supremacy and establishing a presence in this profitable segment.
## A Change in the Landscape
Up until just a few years ago, the high-end Android smartphone arena was almost entirely driven by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 series. Qualcomm maintained a stronghold on flagship devices, with the majority of manufacturers opting for its chipsets due to their established performance and reliability. In contrast, MediaTek was mainly recognized for its budget-friendly chipsets that powered economical and mid-range smartphones.
Nevertheless, this landscape is gradually shifting. MediaTek has executed a series of strategic initiatives, including the launch of its Dimensity 9200 and 9300 chipsets, which have enabled the company to attain significant design victories in the premium segment. These chipsets have garnered positive reception, providing MediaTek with a crucial advantage in the high-end market.
### Dimensity 9200 and 9300: A Revolutionary Shift
The Dimensity 9200 and 9300 chipsets have played a critical role in MediaTek’s advancement into the high-end market. These chipsets are able to directly compete with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 series, showcasing similar performance and efficiency. Even more notably, MediaTek has surpassed Qualcomm in various significant aspects, achieving design victories with leading smartphone manufacturers.
A key factor behind MediaTek’s success is its emphasis on performance cores. While Qualcomm has only recently integrated performance cores throughout its Snapdragon 8 Elite platform, MediaTek has been implementing them for over a year. Both the Dimensity 9300/9300+ and the forthcoming Dimensity 9400 are fully powered by performance cores, granting MediaTek-equipped devices an advantage in multi-core performance.
### Performance Results: A Robust Challenger
In practical evaluations, devices driven by MediaTek’s Dimensity 9300/9300+ chipsets, such as the **Vivo X100 Pro** and **Xiaomi 14T Pro**, have achieved some of the highest scores in Geekbench’s multi-core assessments. While these devices may not yet rival the performance of Apple’s A18 Pro chip found in the **iPhone 16 Pro Max**, they outperform the majority of Android devices, including those equipped with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 series.
This performance enhancement has enabled MediaTek to establish itself as a credible alternative to Qualcomm in the high-end segment. The ability of MediaTek’s chipsets to compete with Qualcomm’s flagship offerings serves as a clear indication of the company’s advancements in this domain.
## Samsung’s Endorsement: A Significant Achievement
One of the most substantial endorsements of MediaTek’s endeavors in the high-end segment stems from Samsung. The South Korean technology leader has opted to exclusively utilize the Dimensity 9300+ chipset in its **Galaxy Tab S10** series tablets worldwide. While Samsung’s high-end tablets don’t achieve the same sales volume as its flagship **Galaxy S24** series smartphones, the decision to adopt MediaTek hardware across all regions, including North America, reflects considerable confidence.
This decision by Samsung illustrates that MediaTek’s chipsets are now perceived as reliable and robust enough for deployment in premium devices, even in markets where Qualcomm has historically dominated.
## The Dimensity 9400: MediaTek’s Flagship Competitor
Looking forward, MediaTek’s upcoming **Dimensity 9400** chipset is poised to compete directly with Qualcomm’s **Snapdragon 8 Elite**. The Dimensity 9400 includes the latest **Cortex X925** core along with **Cortex X4** and **A720** cores, indicating potential for enhanced performance and efficiency.
The Dimensity 9400 will drive flagship devices from prominent manufacturers like **OPPO** and **Vivo**, such as the **OPPO Find X8** and **Vivo X200** series. Although these devices may not yet have a strong footprint in Western markets, they are anticipated to achieve substantial sales in China and other areas. OPPO and Vivo are also gaining traction in the premium segment in countries such as India, further broadening MediaTek’s influence in the high-end market.
## Customizability: A Notable Advantage
One of the motivations behind some manufacturers opting for MediaTek over Qualcomm lies in the level of customizability that MediaTek provides. Industry insiders reveal that MediaTek enables smartphone makers to customize its Dimensity platform according to their unique requirements. This adaptability has attracted brands like **OnePlus**, which has successfully utilized MediaTek’s chipsets in its mid-range products.
