MediaTek is taking a page out of Qualcomm’s playbook and prepping a strategic move in the sub-flagship space. What was once expected to be the Dimensity 9350 is now likely launching under a new name: Dimensity 9400e. It’s a rebranding move that suggests MediaTek wants this chip to feel a lot closer to the company’s flagship lineup rather than just another entry in the mid-high tier Dimensity 9300 family.
According to a consistent string of leaks from trusted Chinese tipster Digital Chat Station, the Dimensity 9400e isn’t just a marketing rehash. It’s expected to deliver genuine performance gains—enough to warrant a “9300++” label, which is a subtle nod that it goes beyond even the already-enhanced Dimensity 9300+.
Performance: Familiar Core Layout, Pushed Harder
At the heart of the Dimensity 9400e is reportedly the same core configuration that powers the 9300 and 9300+: one Cortex-X4 prime core, three additional Cortex-X4 performance cores, and four Cortex-A720 cores. That’s eight performance-oriented cores and zero efficiency cores—MediaTek is sticking with its all-big-core CPU design here, a bold strategy first seen with the 9300.
The difference this time? Clock speeds. The 9400e is rumored to push those frequencies even further than the 9300+, which already bumped the prime Cortex-X4 to 3.4GHz. That alone could deliver measurable gains in burst performance and sustained multitasking. Expect benchmark scores that outpace the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 and possibly challenge Qualcomm’s upcoming 8s Gen 4 chip—its own rebranded sub-flagship effort.
Graphics, AI, and Efficiency
While there’s no official word on GPU changes, the Dimensity 9400e is expected to retain the Immortalis-G720 GPU, which proved capable in the 9300 series, especially with its 46% improved ray tracing support. AI performance could see incremental boosts too, potentially through better tuning of MediaTek’s APU 790 and improvements to its “NeuroPilot” architecture.
Efficiency is also part of the story. The Dimensity 9400e could be fabricated on TSMC’s 4nm process node, similar to its predecessors. While exact details are still unclear, any improvements in power tuning or thermal management could make a noticeable difference—especially in a chip that prioritizes performance across all cores.
Phones and the Bigger Picture
The Dimensity 9400e is expected to power a number of performance-centric mid-premium Android phones launching later this year. Leading the charge could be the OnePlus Ace 5V—a device tipped to pack a massive 7,000mAh battery and a flat 1.5K display. This is likely to be the successor to the Ace 3V, which itself was rebranded as the Nord 4 for global markets. It’s a safe bet that the Ace 5V could eventually launch outside China under the Nord 5 moniker.
Realme is also reportedly interested in using the 9400e, making this chip a real contender in the upper-midrange space where value and performance intersect.
Calculated Counter to Qualcomm
MediaTek’s decision to rename the 9350 to Dimensity 9400e seems to echo Qualcomm’s own rebranding of the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 (previously tipped as the 8s Elite). Both companies are blurring the lines between flagship and sub-flagship categories, offering near-top-tier performance in phones that won’t necessarily carry four-digit price tags.
It’s a smart move. For MediaTek, the Dimensity 9400e could help maintain momentum after the success of the 9300 series and show that it’s not just Qualcomm that can play the high-performance game. It also sets the stage for a more crowded, more competitive premium mid-range smartphone market in 2025.
No official launch date has been announced yet, but if the leaks are any indication, MediaTek is nearly ready to pull the trigger. And if the performance and efficiency gains materialize as expected, the Dimensity 9400e might just be the sub-flagship chip to watch this year.
Meanwhile, MediaTek is also set to launch the Dimensity 9400+ on April 11th, which has already surfaced on various benchmark charts.
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