MediaTek has not yet officially unveiled its next-generation Dimensity 9600 mobile processor, but early reports suggest it is already shaping flagship smartphone strategies. As Qualcomm prepares to launch the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and the higher-end Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro, concerns around pricing appear to be influencing OEM decisions. Several smartphone brands, particularly those with strong market presence in Asia, are reportedly looking for alternatives that balance performance with cost.
According to information shared by Weibo-based tipster Digital Chat Station, Oppo and Vivo are likely to power the Pro Max versions of their upcoming flagship smartphones with the Dimensity 9600 instead of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro. While Qualcomm’s Pro-tier chip is expected to offer features such as a faster GPU, LPDDR6 memory support, and UFS 5.0 storage, its higher price point may limit adoption in certain models. This view differs from earlier claims suggesting that pricing would not significantly affect demand for Qualcomm’s premium application processors.
The Dimensity 9600 is expected to be built on TSMC’s N2P manufacturing process, which is reported to deliver a modest performance improvement over the standard N2 node. Apple is expected to rely on the N2 process for its upcoming A20 and A20 Pro chips, placing MediaTek’s next flagship SoC in a competitive position from a manufacturing standpoint. However, efficiency will remain a focus, especially after the current Dimensity 9500 faced criticism for higher power consumption due to its core configuration.
Memory support could further influence OEM interest. MediaTek’s Dimensity 9600 is expected to support LPDDR6 RAM, offering higher bandwidth compared to LPDDR5-based solutions. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro is also expected to support LPDDR6, while the non-Pro variant may continue with LPDDR5. If these specifications hold, the Dimensity 9600 could emerge as a practical choice for flagship devices that aim to manage costs without major compromises on performance.
As more details surface, chipset selection from major Android brands will provide clearer insight into how pricing pressures are reshaping the high-end smartphone market.
