Key Takeaways
1. Qualcomm and MediaTek are launching their next high-end chips sooner than previous models, with MediaTek’s Dimensity 9500 expected mid-2025 and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 in early October.
2. Smartphones using these new chips may also be released earlier than planned, with rumors suggesting some devices could debut as soon as late September.
3. Vivo or Oppo is likely to be the first to launch a phone with the Dimensity 9500, while Xiaomi may introduce a device with the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2.
4. The Dimensity 9500 will feature a redesigned 2+6 CPU cluster layout, moving away from the previous all-big-core design.
5. Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 is expected to support ARM’s SME instruction set, potentially enhancing its performance to compete with Apple’s upcoming M4 chip.
Qualcomm and MediaTek are currently developing their next high-end chips, and both companies are expected to release their new SoCs sooner than their last models. Reports suggest that MediaTek may debut the Dimensity 9500 around mid-2025, while the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 could be revealed in early October.
Early Smartphone Releases
Not only could the chips be launched sooner, but the smartphones that use them might also come out ahead of schedule. A recent rumor from China claims that manufacturers are planning to introduce devices a month earlier than initially anticipated.
Digital Chat Station shared on Weibo that the first batch of phones powered by Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 and Dimensity 9500 is “definitely” set for an October launch. Some manufacturers may even release their devices sooner, possibly by late September.
Who Will Launch First?
Following past patterns, either Vivo or Oppo is likely to be the first to release a phone with the Dimensity 9500, while Xiaomi could be among the initial brands to introduce a device with the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2.
Major Changes for Dimensity 9500
We have gained some early insights into the features of these new chips, and it looks like MediaTek’s Dimensity 9500 is set for a significant redesign. A previous report indicates that the upcoming MediaTek flagship will use a 2+6 CPU cluster layout, which is a notable shift from the all-big-core design of the Dimensity 9300 and 9400.
The reason for this change isn’t completely understood, particularly since MediaTek was a pioneer in the big-core approach, but the new chip is expected to include two Cortex-X930 “Travis” cores along with six Cortex-A730 “Gelas” cores.
On the other hand, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 is said to support ARM’s SME (Scalable Matrix Extension) instruction set, which could enhance its performance to be more in line with Apple’s forthcoming M4 chip.