Snapdragon 8 Elite vs Dimensity 9400: A Comprehensive Comparison

Qualcomm and MediaTek have both released their flagship processors for 2024, the Snapdragon 8 Elite and the Dimensity 9400, respectively. Both chipsets are built on TSMC’s advanced 3nm process, promising significant performance and power efficiency improvements. Let’s dive into the key differences and similarities between these two powerful mobile platforms.

CPU Configuration

• Snapdragon 8 Elite: Features Qualcomm’s second-generation custom Oryon CPU cores with two high-performance cores clocked at 4.32 GHz and six efficiency cores at 3.53 GHz1.
• Dimensity 9400: Utilizes MediaTek’s Armv9.2 architecture with one prime core (Cortex-X925) clocked at 3.63 GHz, three Cortex-X4 cores at 3.3 GHz, and four Cortex-A720 cores at 2.4 GHz1.

GPU

• Snapdragon 8 Elite: Equipped with the Adreno GPU, which supports ray tracing and offers a 40%  performance and power efficiency improvement over its predecessor1.
• Dimensity 9400: Comes with the Mali-G925 Immortalis MP12 GPU, which also supports ray tracing and claims to deliver 40% better graphics performance while being 44% more power efficient1.

DSP

• Snapdragon 8 Elite: Features the Hexagon DSP with fused scalar, tensor, and vector units, supporting mixed-precision operations (INT8, INT16, INT4)1.
• Dimensity 9400: Includes MediaTek’s NPU 890, which enhances AI functionality and supports on-device LoRA training and high-quality video generation1.

RAM Support

• Both chipsets support LPDDR5X RAM, ensuring fast data access and efficient multitasking.

Camera Support

• Snapdragon 8 Elite: Supports up to 320MP single shot, 108MP single with zero shutter lag, and 48MP triple camera with zero shutter lag1.
• Dimensity 9400: It also supports up to 320MP single shot, with similar advanced camera features.

Video Capture

• Snapdragon 8 Elite: Allows 8K video capture at 60fps and 4K UHD at 120fps1.
• Dimensity 9400: Offers similar video capture capabilities, ensuring high-quality recording.

Charging

• Snapdragon 8 Elite: Supports Quick Charge 5 technology for rapid recharging1.
• Dimensity 9400 also features fast charging capabilities, though specific details may vary.

Modem

• Snapdragon 8 Elite: Integrated X80 LTE/5G modem with download speeds up to 10,000 Mbps and upload speeds up to 3,500 Mbps1.
• Dimensity 9400: Integrated MediaTek Release-17 5G modem with download speeds up to 7,000 Mbps on sub-6GHz networks1.

Other Networking

• Snapdragon 8 Elite: Supports Bluetooth 6.0, Wi-Fi 7, Wi-Fi 6/6E, Wi-Fi 5, and earlier Wi-Fi standards1.
• Dimensity 9400 also supports Bluetooth 5.4 and Wi-Fi 7, ensuring robust wireless connectivity.

Process Technology

• Both chipsets are built on TSMC’s 3nm process, offering unmatched performance and energy efficiency1.

The Snapdragon 8 Elite and Dimensity 9400 are potent contenders in the mobile processor market, each with its strengths. The Snapdragon 8 Elite excels in CPU performance and AI capabilities. At the same time, the Dimensity 9400 offers slightly better graphics performance and AI functionality. Ultimately, the choice between the two will depend on users’ specific needs and preferences.