Qualcomm has been the preferred choice among Android users for years, but MediaTek has worked really hard to close the gap. Take the Dimensity 9500, for example: it goes toe-to-toe with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 in benchmarks and real-world use. This year will be much more crucial for the two brands as they gear up to unveil their first 2nm chips.
The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and Dimensity 9600 will be among the first smartphone chips to utilize the cutting-edge 2nm process node. The two chips will also bring upgraded hardware and software features. So, it’s exciting to see how these two flagship chipsets will stack up against each other.
When will the chips be announced?
Qualcomm will announce its new chips at the upcoming Snapdragon Summit, scheduled to take place from September 22nd to 24th. Alongside the standard Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6, the chip giant is expected to unveil the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro.
MediaTek hasn’t announced a date for its next event, where it will unveil next-generation mobile chipsets, but it usually happens a few days before Qualcomm’s event. So, we can expect the new Dimensity flagships to drop around the second or third week of September.
Much like Qualcomm, MediaTek will also reportedly have multiple chips in the Dimensity 9600 series. Leaks say there could be at least three variants: the standard Dimensity 9600, Dimensity 9600 Pro, and Dimensity 9600s.
While there are still a few weeks left for official announcements, we’ve already gathered enough details from credible leaksters to give you a bigger picture of what’s to come.
Note: A recent leak suggests MediaTek may skip the standard Dimensity 9600. Instead, it’s said to announce three chipsets in the lineup: Dimensity 9600s, Dimensity 9600 Pro, and Dimensity 9600 Pro Max. Since there isn’t enough solid evidence around that, it’s best to take it with a pinch of salt.
Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 vs Dimensity 9600: Here’s what to expect
One of the biggest highlights of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and Dimensity 9600 is that both chipsets will use TSMC’s most advanced 2nm process. It is expected to bring a major reduction in power consumption. This means the chips would consume less power for the same level of performance and deliver better thermal efficiency.
Regarding the CPU layout, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 is said to feature a new “2+3+3” layout instead of the regular “2+6” arrangement, prioritizing efficiency over raw CPU performance. It could come with 16MB of L2 cache and 6MB of system-level cache.
The Dimensity 9600 is also said to feature the same “2+3+3” CPU layout, but it will use new-generation ARM cores, whereas the Snapdragon chip uses custom-designed Oryon cores.
Leaks suggest that the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 will feature a new Adreno 845 GPU with 12MB of GMEM (dedicated graphics memory). In contrast, the Dimensity 9600 is said to feature ARM’s next-generation Immortalis GPU, codenamed “Magni”. The GPU is said to have hardware-level support for frame generation, which will allow games running at 60fps to be upscaled to 120fps directly on the silicon, bypassing software-based interpolation that can introduce latency.
Both chips are expected to offer support for LPDDR5X memory and UFS 5.0 storage.
According to leaks, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 will feature an upgraded Snapdragon X90 5G modem with advanced AI hardware directly on the baseband chip. Rumor has it that it could reach a peak cellular speed of 15Gbps, up from 12.5Gbps on the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. The Dimensity 9600 should also bring connectivity upgrades, but those are yet to surface in any leaks.
Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 vs Dimensity 9600: Spec sheet (leaked)
This spec sheet is based on leaked and rumored details about the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and the Dimensity 9600.
| Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 | Dimensity 9600 | |
| Launch | September 2026 | September 2026 |
| Process node | 2 nm (TSMC) | 2 nm (TSMC) |
| CPU | 2 x prime cores 3 x performance cores 3 x efficiency cores | 2 x prime cores 3 x performance cores 3 x efficiency cores |
| Cache | 16MB (L2) 6MB (SLC) | – |
| GPU | Adreno 845 12MB GMEM memory Snapdragon Elite Gaming features ray tracing support | next-gen Immortalis GPU (codenamed “Magni”) native resolution upscaling ray tracing support MediaTek HyperEngine Gaming features |
| Memory | LPDDR5X | LPDDR5X |
| Storage | UFS 5.0 | UFS 5.0 |
| Connectivity | Snapdragon X90 5G modem download speed: up to 15Gbps Wi-Fi 8 Bluetooth 7 | – |
We’ll update the article regularly as we receive fresh details. You can bookmark this page or join our Telegram channel to stay updated.
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