What you need to know

• OPPO was present during MediaTek's "AI for Life" keynote during MWC 2026 in which it showcased Omni, a feature that lets AI perceive the physical world for assistance.
• The companies detailed AI Portrait Glow, which helps clean up photos that were taken in "challenging" light scenarios.
• MWC 2026 showed just how "foundational" AI has become on Android, and the IDC estimates that over 37% of phones shipped this year may be Gen AI-enabled.

MWC 206 is almost over, but OPPO and MediaTek held their conference just before closing, showcasing what new AI innovations are headed to consumers.

In a press release, the companies shared details about an "AI for life" showcase that MediaTek held during MWC 2026. AI Phones was a big part of this keynote. OPPO and MediaTek each seemed to agree on their "shared vision" for progressing such devices with the newest innovations. One of the major highlights was Omni, "the industry's first on-device full-modal AI model designed for multi-modal understanding and interaction."

OPPO explains that Omni is capable of understanding live scenes and providing users with interactive Q&A sessions on a phone. Moreover, this feature will support voice, video, and text inputs. Of course, with details like this, MediaTek and OPPO see Omni as a tool to help AI "perceive" and "interpret" the physical world.

On the other side, OPPO stated during MediaTek's keynote that it's looking to advance its AI strategy. At the center of this is "On-device Compute." Jason Liao, president of the OPPO Research Institute, said "On-device Compute is a cornerstone of OPPO's AI strategy, making AI a perceptible, real-time experience integrated into everyday usage."

The idea is to also facilitate AI that's privacy-conscious with a personalized experience, as well as boasting low-latency. OPPO's developed on-device AI Translate and AI Portrait Glow; however, MediaTek states that its Dimensity 9500 helped to empower these further with performance akin to cloud-based solutions. The two announced that these features will be available soon on the OPPO Find X9 series. AI Portrait Glow is said to enhance photos that were taken in "challenging" light.

Then, OPPO explained that its Find X9 series will soon support Android's Quick Share after MediaTek and Google's close collaboration. Users will be able to transfer files between their phone and an OPPO device, alongside Apple's iOS devices.

MWC 2026 has been interesting

As we were getting ready for MWC 2026, we expected to see MediaTek. Specifically, we were privy to the company's plans for its "AI for Life" keynote. The company explained that its keynote would focus on highlighting how it's "integral" to advancing on-device AI features through its Dimensity chips. Global mobile connectivity and even automotive solutions were discussed.

MediaTek's partnerships were also teased, which we've now seen one with OPPO, and what's coming up for the Find X9 series in a future update.

It's that time of the year again. CES 2026 is behind us, and now our attention turns to Europe as MWC 2026 Barcelona is just a couple of weeks away. For those unfamiliar, MWC, or Mobile World Congress, is one of the biggest annual events in the mobile industry. It is a trade show similar to CES, where brands from around the world showcase their latest gadgets and innovations.

Like in previous years, the Android Central team will be on the show floor bringing you hands-on coverage and highlighting what truly matters. Several brands, including Honor, Meta, and Tecno, have already confirmed their presence at MWC, and we expect plenty of new product announcements.

With that in mind, here's everything we know will be there and what we anticipate seeing at MWC 2026. In the meantime, if you want a sense of what to expect, you can revisit the best products from our 2025 Best of MWC awards and the coolest things we saw at MWC 2025.

MWC 2026: Cheat Sheet

• What is it? Mobile World Congress, or MWC, is the world's largest consumer and business trade show where brands showcase their latest innovations. Expect new smartphones, wearables, consumer tech, and of course, plenty of AI-focused products on display.
• Who is it for? Tech enthusiasts, industry professionals, telecom experts, analysts, and members of the media who want to see what is next in communications and consumer technology.
• Where is it? MWC 2026 will take place at Fira Gran Via in Barcelona, Spain.
• When is it? MWC typically runs in late February or early March. This year, it will take place from March 2 to March 5, 2026.
• What does it cost? Standard exhibition passes start at €989 and can be purchased directly from the official MWC website.

What companies will be there at MWC 2026?

Given the scale of MWC 2026, you can expect just about every major player in mobile tech to have a presence in Barcelona. That said, in recent years, some brands have chosen to host their own standalone events around the same time to grab headlines.

Samsung, for instance, is holding its Galaxy Unpacked event on February 25 to launch the Galaxy S26 series, while Nothing has the Phone 4a series event scheduled for March 5. Even so, many brands are expected to be on the show floor. Here are some notable ones we expect to see:

• Google
• TECNO
• Honor
• Nothing
• Xiaomi
• Samsung
• Dell
• RedMagic
• Vivo
• Lenovo and Motorola
• Qualcomm
• MediaTek
• Microsoft
• Arm
• Meta
• TCL
• ZTE
• Adobe
• Huawei

What to expect from MWC 2026?

Unlike the past few years, not many brands have officially confirmed their presence at MWC 2026 just yet. That could change soon, though, since the main show is still a couple of weeks away and announcements typically ramp up closer to the event.

Even so, we already have confirmation from a few companies. Here are the brands that have confirmed so far, along with those we expect to see at MWC 2026, although this is by no means an exhaustive list.

Google

Google typically has a big presence at MWC with a sizeable booth on the show floor, but it usually reserves its biggest software announcements for Google I/O, which is now confirmed for May 19, 2026. So if you're hoping for major Android 17 news, this probably isn't the event for it.

The Pixel 10a launched recently, so we could see it showcased on the show floor. That said, you can still expect some AI and Android-related updates from Google during MWC. It's also worth noting that Android 16 QPR3 is scheduled for March, so the company could officially roll it out around the event with a few new features.

Honor

Honor is one of the brands riding high right now. The company has posted strong growth recently and also impressed us with the Magic 8 Pro. It's also one of the few major names that has officially confirmed its presence at MWC 2026. While Honor hasn't revealed the exact date and time of its keynote yet, we're expecting at least two big hardware launches from the brand.

There's a good chance we'll see a new foldable as a follow-up to last year's Magic V5. In addition, Honor's microsite hints that its anticipated Robot Phone will be on the show floor. We still don't know exactly what the Robot Phone will offer, but it appears to be a smartphone paired with a gimbal-style camera setup and AI features on top.

Samsung

Samsung usually has a big presence at MWC, but this year it's hosting its Galaxy Unpacked event just days before the show, on February 25 in San Francisco. That means the Galaxy S26 series will already be official by the time MWC kicks off.

Even so, MWC could be the first opportunity for both media and the public to go hands-on with the new Galaxy S26 series.

Last year, Samsung also showcased the Galaxy S25 Edge again at MWC after unveiling it at Unpacked, so we are hoping to see a few surprises from the Korean brand this time as well.

Tecno

Alongside Xiaomi and Honor, Tecno has also become a regular at MWC, and the company is hosting another showcase this year. Last year, Tecno grabbed attention with its Spark concept phone, which managed to pack high-end specs and a bigger battery than the Galaxy S25 Edge in a 'slim' form factor.

This year, we're expecting something equally fun. Tecno has already confirmed that it'll unveil the CAMON 50 Series and the POVA 8 Series at the show. And if past years are anything to go by, we won't be surprised to see another bold concept device or a few ecosystem products make an appearance alongside the new phones.

Nothing

Nothing has confirmed that it will host the Phone 4a series launch event in London on March 5, just after MWC 2026 wraps up. That said, the company is known for building hype ahead of its launches, and MWC would be the perfect stage to tease what's coming.

Rumors suggest Nothing will launch two devices as part of the lineup, the Phone 4a and Phone 4a Pro, with updated cameras, a slightly refreshed design, and a new chipset. Nothing has already confirmed that there will be no flagship release from the brand this year, so these could be the only smartphones we see from the company in 2026.

HMD

HMD usually has something interesting to unveil at MWC. Last year, the company showcased earbuds that doubled as a MagSafe power bank, and this year we're once again expecting something creative from the brand.

Xiaomi

For the past few years, Xiaomi has used MWC as its global launchpad for flagship phones, and 2026 should be no different. We're expecting to see the Xiaomi 17 and Xiaomi 17 Ultra make their international debut in Barcelona. The global variant of the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is rumored to feature top-tier specs, including the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and a sizeable 6,000+ mAh battery.

As usual, the real highlight will likely be Xiaomi 17 Ultra's Leica-tuned camera system. Beyond the phones, Xiaomi typically brings along a few ecosystem products as well, so we wouldn't be surprised to see new wearables, tablets, or smart home devices share the stage.

Qualcomm

Qualcomm typically has a large presence at MWC. While we do not expect the company to launch any new consumer hardware on the show floor, it usually showcases a range of demos highlighting its latest SoCs and chip capabilities. This year, however, could be slightly different.

Qualcomm's SVP of Engineering, John Smee, recently revealed in an interview that the company will showcase 6G technologies at MWC 2026 and "not just theoretical innovation but live applications."

MediaTek

MediaTek has confirmed that it will host its 'AI for Life' keynote on March 4 at 10:30 AM CET, which is 4:30 AM ET. The company says the keynote will highlight its newest products and innovations, along with insights into its latest partnerships, so this is one event we will be watching closely.

Beyond the big phone launches, expect plenty of AI gadgets across categories. Smart glasses had a major moment at CES, and I wouldn't be surprised to see even more brands push into that space at MWC. We'll be on the show floor all week, so make sure to check back for all the latest updates from the show floor.

What is Mobile World Congress and when is it?

Mobile World Congress (MWC) is an annual gathering of the biggest companies in the mobile tech world. It's where companies show off their latest devices, software, and everything awesome in-between. Pretty much anything used to keep you connected to the world around you, you'll find here.

The event happens in late February or early March and is always hosted in Barcelona, Spain. This year, it is from March 2 to 5.

Will Android Central be there — and what do we expect to see at MWC 2026?

Yes, Android Central is going this year! Managing Editor Derrek Lee, Senior Editor Harish Jonnalagadda, and senior contributors Brady Snyder and Sanuj Bhatia will all be present at MWC.

We expect a lot of announcements including some phone launches happening this year.

Here are a few of the companies we expect to be present at the event.

• AMD
• Arm
• AWS
• Meta
• Aurzen
• Clicks
• Fairphone
• Google
• Honor
• Lenovo
• MediaTek
• Nokia
• NVIDIA
• Qualcomm
• Samsung
• Samsung Display
• TCL
• Tecno
• TikTok
• Xiaomi

Keep checking this page, and check out our home page for all the news coming out of MWC 2026.

What you need to know

• MediaTek debuted two new chips: the Dimensity 9500s and the Dimensity 8500.
• The 9500s features a strong All-Big-Core structure, offering one ultra core with a top speed of 3.73GHz with NPU upgrades for AI features, and stronger GPU updates.
• The 8500 settles for a 4nm process; however, MediaTek still worked in upgrades to help prolong Android batteries and more for mobile games.

Before the week's over, MediaTek is unveiling a new SoC duo for Android phones, following its flagship release late last year.

MediaTek published a press release this morning (Jan 15) regarding the debut of the Dimensity 9500s and the Dimensity 8500 chips. Out of the gate, MediaTek states these chips are designed to bolster the flagship and premium phone markets, as it looks to bring more competition to Qualcomm. The Dimensity 9500s takes center stage, built on a 3nm process and rocking MediaTek's All-Big-Core structure.

This structure includes a Cortex-X925 ultra core, clocked at speeds up to 3.73GHz. MediaTek paired it with three Cortex-X4 premium cores and four Cortex-A720 performance cores.

Though it features that "S" tag, the company says this chip can still join the big leagues with a flagship NPU. This NPU is designed to handle "generative reasoning and multi-modal models" for a phone's camera and "content generation capabilities." Essentially, this concerns the post-processing of live photos, AI photo editing tools, AI summaries, and more.

Speaking of creating content, the Dimensity 9500s features the MediaTek Imagiq image processor for 30fps motion tracking and 8K full-focus Dolby Vision HDR recording.

Power and content generation are major highlights for the Dimensity 9500s; however, MediaTek's not shying away from its gaming power.

The 9500s features an Immortalis-G925 GPU, capable of handling intensive games, such as Genshin Impact, Wuthering Waves, and more. MediaTek teases that it also included support for ray tracing, alongside efficiency upgrades and battery life longevity updates.

The Dimensity 8500

The second chip, the Dimensity 8500, is built on MediaTek's 4nm process. This SoC was still equipped with the All-Big-Core structure. Unlike the 9500s, the 8500 offers eight Cortex-A725 cores with speeds up to 3.4GHz.

MediaTek focused its efforts elsewhere with the 8500, as it debuts it with "accurate scheduling technology and LPDDR5X 9600Mbps memory" support. The post states this was done to help foster a smoother phone experience for Android users, as well as a device battery life that can go further.

The Mali-G720 GPU aims to reduce power consumption by 25% when compared with MediaTek's older generation. This SoC also upgraded its gaming engine, bringing faster loading times, higher energy efficiency, and more to mobile gamers.

As mentioned earlier, Mediatek launched the Dimensity 9500 back in September, its response to Qualcomm's major flagship chip reveal. This chip is an Android powerhouse with an octo-core setup and a 32% power boost over the 9400. The GPU was upgraded, capable of pulling 120fps in games with ray tracing.

What is CES and when is it?

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is an annual gathering of the biggest companies in the technology space. It is known as the largest event that brings together companies from all categories to showcase new releases, concept products, and more. The event is hosted by the Consumer Technology Association. It's where companies show off their latest devices, software, and everything awesome in between. Pretty much anything used to keep you connected to the world around you, you'll find here.

The event happens every year during the first week of January in Las Vegas. This year, it will be held from January 6 to 8.

Will Android Central be there — and what do we expect to see at CES 2026?

Yes, Android Central is going this year! Senior Editor Harish Jonnalagadda will be present at CES and will be looking at all the cool technology companies intend to reveal.

We expect a lot of announcements, including some phone launches and potentially a closer look at the Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold.

Here are a few of the companies we expect to be present at the event.

• Major Confirmed Attendees
  • Google
  • Samsung
  • Qualcomm
  • Arm
  • MediaTek
  • Motorola
  • Meta
  • TCL
  • Rokid
  • Magic Leap
  • Pico
  • Viture
  • Xreal
  • LG Innotek
• Very Likely Attendees
  • Xiaomi
  • Honor
• Possibly Attending (but not confirmed publicly yet)
  • Nothing
  • OPPO
  • ZTE / RedMagic
  • Huawei
  • TECNO

Keep checking this page, and check out our home page for all the news coming out of CES 2026.

The Moto G Play hasn't been in play for a little while, with the last model launching at the top of 2024. Now, as we head into 2026 in just under two months, Motorola has finally unveiled the 2026 Moto G Play, bringing some welcome upgrades while keeping the phone at an extremely affordable price.

The phone features a better chip, display, and battery specifications than its predecessor, all of which sound promising on paper. That said, the cost of that affordability comes in the form of some compromises, which are front and center on this phone. After all, this is still a $179 phone, so you can't expect the very best.

So, what can you expect from a phone that costs less than $200? Well, not much, but that's really the point. You're getting what you pay for, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. It's still quite functional and can handle the basics (with a couple of extras)... so long as you're patient.

At a glance

The Moto G Play 2026 launched on November 4, 2025, and goes on sale through retailers and select carriers starting November 13. It's priced at $179, comes in one color, and is available in just one configuration.

Welcome to 2025... sort of

The last time I reviewed a Moto G Play model was in 2023. To be honest, I wasn't too impressed with what Motorola provided, so I approached this review with some apprehension. Fortunately, I can say that my time with the Moto G Play 2026 hasn't been a terrible experience.

Part of this is a result of the upgrades Motorola introduced with the 2026 model. The MediaTek Dimensity 6300 chipset is the very same one that powers the Moto G Power 2025. It's a chipset that worked quite well on that phone, and here it at least makes the performance more manageable than the last Play I reviewed. It also brings 5G connectivity, which is surprisingly a first for the Play series, and a welcome spec for a $179 phone in the year of our lord 2025.

The display also got a bump to a 120Hz refresh rate. Unfortunately, the resolution is still just HD+, but that has rarely been a concern for me in my use, and I feel like the smoother refresh rate makes up for it. You'll still have to deal with rather large bezels, but the LCD panel is bright enough at 1,000 nits.

One of the standout features of the Moto G Play 2026 is its impressive battery life. Motorola says the 5,200mAh battery should keep this phone going for up to two days, and while I haven't quite reached that, I easily get more than a day of use. In fact, I average about nine hours of screen-on time, which is something I can't claim with too many phones.

On the software front, the phone runs Android 16 out of the box. While there isn't much in the way of software or AI flourishes, it supports Circle to Search, which is one of our favorite Android features and almost makes up for the lack of... well, anything else.

Of course, you still get Motorola's gestures, including the chop to turn on the flashlight and the twist to enable the camera. Motorola also introduced Modes as a replacement for the Do Not Disturb button, similar to the Pixel, and making it easy to enable various preset or custom modes like Bedtime or Driving.

A camera only a mother could love

For under $200, you naturally should not expect much from the Moto G Play's camera. It looks like there are multiple rear cameras, but it only sports a single 3MP primary sensor and a secondary ambient light sensor. It's not exactly clear how, if at all, the secondary sensor is meant to help, but I'm not sure there's much that can help the rather mid camera.

Images aren't very detailed and can be a bit noisy, especially low-light photos. The 2x digital zoom also isn't much to sneeze at. If you have good enough light, you can probably squeeze out a decent image, but you shouldn't really count on it. Video and portrait mode are also

Living up to its price tag

The Moto G Play 2026 can deliver decent performance with the MediaTek chip, but the 4GB of RAM can cause some slowdowns. Apps don't open as fast, and there can be quite a bit of lag, so you may have to wait half a second or so to get any sort of response. This also applies to gaming, which is not this phone's strong suit.

In fact, this is probably the first time I've recommended keeping the RAM Boost feature on. It's not a magical remedy that turns the Play into a flagship, but it does appear to help even a little bit when it comes to performance.

Unfortunately, even if you want to play games on your phone, you may need to invest in a microSD card. Setting up the phone nearly filled up the 64GB of internal storage, some of which is taken up by the Android software. I couldn't play Honkai: Star Rail due to the enormous storage requirements after downloading the app resources.

Still, Pokémon Go plays relatively well if you can manage the lag.

As far as software goes, the Moto G Play 2026 is in a somewhat favorable position, as it already runs Android 16, before most of Motorola's phones have even received the update. That said, even with the phone's slightly better software promise of two OS upgrades and three years of security updates, it still falls behind other cheap Android phones, particularly those from Samsung.

On the downside, this cheap phone comes preloaded with its fair share of bloatware, some of which is optional. I had to uninstall a few apps after the initial setup and disable a gaming folder (which is really just a way to serve ads for games you can install). The Glance lock screen is here, too, although it wasn't enabled by default, which I appreciated.

Additionally, the phone is also inexplicably missing some of my favorite software gestures. The sidebar is one of the first features I set up on any Android phone that has it, but for some reason, it's not present here.

Charging speed is another area where the Moto G Play 2026 hasn't really evolved much, unfortunately. While the previous model features 15W charging, the 2026 model only supports 18W. That wouldn't be a huge problem, except for the increased battery capacity, meaning that it takes nearly two hours to charge the phone and roughly an hour just to reach 50%.

Should you buy the Moto G Play 2026?

Despite its downsides, the Moto G Play 2026 has some redeeming qualities. The vegan leather back provides a nice finish that you don't have to worry about breaking, the battery life is more than enough for most people, and the inclusion of 5G means this phone is already a step up from its predecessor.

That said, you would have to tolerate occasionally laggy performance, a subpar camera, and charging that's slower than molasses in an igloo. If you can't manage, consider other options for Android phones under $200, particularly older models that may perform just as well or better.

The Moto G Play 2026 doesn't feel like a bad phone; it just feels like a $179 phone. In that sense, you're getting exactly what you pay for, meaning you take the good with the bad. If you're looking for a temporary phone, a first phone for a young child, or a burner phone, this could be a suitable option. Just make sure you purchase a microSD card with it.

FAQ

MediaTek has been killing it the past couple of years when it comes to chips for high-end electronics. While you might think of the company as one that provides cheap, steady workhorse chips for budget gear, the Dimensity line boasts specs just as powerful as whatever name you think of when it comes to a premium smartphone chip. OK, it's Qualcomm, and we all know it's Qualcomm.

The latest, the Dimensity 9500, looks like it got every improvement possible, especially in the right places: AI processing. Like it or not, your smart devices are going to become more and more AI-centric, so whatever chip can process it all fast and efficiently is going to feel like it works "better" than the others. MediaTek is right there.

Everything I think about the Dimensity 9500 is based on what it does "on paper," just like the flagship Dimensity chips before it, simply because I live in the United States and buy phones designed for the United States. AKA: phones without a MediaTek Dimensity 9500 chip inside.

That makes me sad. Yes, I know I can easily buy a Xiaomi phone that uses the chip I want to try, but that's not exactly what I want. I want to try a Galaxy S26 or Pixel 11, for example, with one in it so I can see how it compares to the others. Since trying the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra and its MediaTek 9300 Plus, I've been itching to try it on a phone that I'm familiar with.

I had my hopes up at one time for Google to partner with MediaTek (the two companies are very friendly) in the Pixel phones, but designing its own chip is a smarter move, so I won't grumble.

I simply do not care about how it performs on paper. I do not give a flying, well you know, about benchmarks. I can say anything in a press release and be confident nobody will ever spend the time to prove it's not 100% accurate, and I can make a benchmark app tell you whatever number you want to see with a few minutes in Android Studio. Yeah, I'm saying companies tell little white lies to make their stuff look good. Always have, always will.

I have used plenty of products with a MediaTek chip, including the 2024 Motorola Razr with a Dimensity 7300X. It's a good chip designed specifically for a flip phone but it's not the flagship powerhouse its bigger brothers are. Having said that, its really good, and you would never think you had a "budget" chip inside your new phone.

I think MediaTek's improvements to the data path and chain AI processing needs are a good move. It's also something every company likes to remind us they did whenever something new comes along.

Someone has to do it best, right? It might be MediaTek. Most of us will never know.

What you need to know

• The MediaTek Dimensity 9500 is a 3nm, octo-core flagship chipset with a 32% performance boost over the Dimensity 9400.
• Its GPU is 33% faster and is capable of hitting 120FPS with raytracing.
• The NPU is 100% faster for LLM output and is designed to handle more AI tasks on-device.
• Flagship phones from Oppo and Vivo will use the Dimensity 9500 before the end of 2025.

MediaTek announced its new Dimensity 9500, a 3rd-generation 3nm TSMC chipset with no efficiency cores, on Monday. It will challenge the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 that Qualcomm plans to announce on Tuesday.

The Dimensity 9500 uses one Arm C1-Ultra core (4.21GHz), three C1-Premiums (3.5GHz), and four C1-Pros (2.7GHz), delivering a 32% CPU single-core boost and 55% improved single-core efficiency to hit the Dimensity 9400's old benchmarks. Multi-core improvements were slightly more subtle: 17% performance gains and 37% efficiency gains.

On top of faster benchmarks, the Dimensity 9500 adds four-lane UFS 4.1 support, offering the same doubled read/write speed as 4.0, but with greater efficiency, 40% faster Large AI Model loading, and zoned storage. Overall, the 9500 is 30% more efficient at "multitasking," such as when gaming and using Discord simultaneously.

MediaTek promises Android phones with the Dimensity 9500 will take only 42ms on average to launch apps, with "industry-leading responsive scrolling performance" and "jank free" animations. It even promises that the 9500 can handle a "simultaneous launch of 20 apps" if you're constantly swapping between them.

Its Mali G1-Ultra GPU delivers 33% improved peak performance and 42% improved efficiency to hit old benchmarks. MediaTek has also promised "console-level raytracing" that's 119% faster than the last-gen Immortalis-G925 GPU, hitting 120 FPS with raytracing enabled, as well as "AAA-level real-time rendering and immersive lighting effects."

MediaTek emphasized AI performance gains in its announcement. The new NPU 990 uses Compute in Memory (CIM), which MediaTek says is an industry-first that allows low-powered AI models and applications to run continuously on-device.

While MediaTek argues that the Dimensity 9500 is closer to delivering an "agentic AI," you can tangibly expect twice-as-fast token generation, on-device 4K image generation, and 50% reduced power consumption for on-device tasks. Practically, AI models like Gemini should run on-device applications much faster.

For image processing, MediaTek promises 200MP photos, 4K120 Dolby Vision videos with EIS, and 4K60 portrait videos.

Rounding out the list, the MediaTek Dimensity 9500 offers 5G, Bluetooth 6.0, Wi-Fi 7 tri-band up to 7.3Gbps, and AI-enhanced dual-band GPS accuracy.

MediaTek's flagship Dimensity lineup sales have grown by 350% since 2022. While the Dimensity 9500 will mostly appear in flagship phones in Asia and Europe, Dimensity chips have expanded more widely in recent years — most notably on the Galaxy Tab S10 and Tab S11 series.

It'll be fascinating to see how the Dimensity 9500 compares to the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for raw benchmarks; a leaked 9500 benchmark test showed the SoC clocked well below its 4.21GHz maximum. For now, we'll have to wait until the first Vivo and Oppo phones with the Dimensity 9500 are announced.

MediaTek has also announced that its next flagship chip — probably the Dimensity 9600 — will be built on TSMC's N2P process architecture in late 2026, with an 18% power boost and 36% increased efficiency.

What you need to know

• MediaTek will launch its next flagship chipset, likely the Dimensity 9500, on September 22, 2025.
• The Dimensity 9500 will reportedly use TSMC's 3nm node with a 1+3+4 CPU setup and cores clocked up to 4.21GHz.
• MediaTek is also working on a 2nm N2P-based chip, expected in late 2026 as the Dimensity 9600.

Qualcomm, on September 15, revealed that its upcoming chipset will be called Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and launch on September 23, 2025. Now, arch-rival MediaTek has announced that it will also debut its flagship chipset in the same week, on September 22, 2025.

MediaTek took to Weibo to announce that it will launch its next-generation flagship Dimensity processor on Monday, September 22, 2025, at 2 PM GMT+8 (2:00 AM ET). While the teaser video doesn't reveal much and the company hasn't confirmed the chipset's name, it's widely expected to be the flagship Dimensity 9500 SoC.

Previous leaks suggest the Dimensity 9500 will be based on TSMC's 3nm node architecture and keep the same 1+3+4 CPU configuration as the Dimensity 9400, which is found in phones like the Oppo Find X8 Pro and Vivo X200 Pro.

According to leaks, the Dimensity 9500 will feature one Arm C1-Ultra "Travis" core clocked at 4.21GHz, three Arm C1-Premium "Alto" cores clocked at 3.5GHz, and four Arm C1-Pro "Gelas" cores clocked at 2.7GHz.

As with past generations, the main improvements this time are expected in the GPU and an upgraded NPU with up to 100 TOPS output. There's no word on when the first Dimensity 9500-powered phones will launch, but reliable leaker Digital Chat Station says the Vivo X300 series will likely adopt it soon after debut.

MediaTek confirms 2nm chipset development with TSMC

In related news, MediaTek confirmed it has successfully taped out a flagship processor on TSMC's N2P process architecture — in other words, built on the 2nm node.

MediaTek says this chipset will deliver better performance and efficiency than the currently available 3nm chipsets. The company claims up to 18% better performance at the same power level and a 36% drop in power consumption at the same speed.

MediaTek added that the first chipset based on the new N2P process is expected in late 2026, likely debuting as the Dimensity 9600 SoC.

What you need to know

• MediaTek's next flagship SoC reportedly passed through Geekbench for some early testing with a 1-3-4 core structure.
• The chip's early test claims the chip features a single core clocked at 3.23GHz, which is strangely lower than the Dimensity 9400.
• It's been speculated that MediaTek's next chip will go against Qualcomm's (which is expected), so these early tests are likely just the beginning.
• The Dimensity 9400 launched with a 1-3-4 structure with speeds at 3.62GHz, 3.3GHz, and 2.4GHz, respectively.

We're expecting the next flagship SoC from MediaTek later this year for next-gen flagships, and a new leak is here to give an alleged early look.

MediaTek's upcoming chip has reportedly appeared in a Geekbench listing for its performance test, per Jukanlosreve on X (via NotebookCheck). What's immediately highlighted is the company's use of a 1-3-4 core architecture for the supposed Dimensity 9500 SoC. The listing claims the chip possesses a single core at 3.23GHz, which is surprising, but there may be a reason for this.

The Geekbench listing adds that the Dimensity 9500 contains three cores clocked at 3.03GHz and four cores at 2.23GHz.

After taking the platform's CL benchmark test, the chip allegedly received a score of 15,717.

Moreover, a comment on the tipster's thread on X highlights a new development: the existence of a Mali-G1-Ultra GPU. It appears that this GPU is from Arm; however, it's not the typical Immortatlis GPU we've seen consistently in recent history for SoCs.

MediaTek's next flagship

These rumored early specs for MediaTek's next flagship Dimensity are strange, especially considering the Dimensity 9400's power. The current generation's flagship features the same 1-3-4 core setup at 3.62GHz, 3.3GHz, and 2.4GHz, respectively. Moreover, it features a 12-core Immortalis-G925 GPU. We're still waiting to see more about this new graphics processor; the 9500 chip is supposedly rocking.

Though it's strange — the difference in power — the publication claims this is likely due to the early testing stage. More specifically, it says these lower clock speeds "clearly indicate it is not performing as per spec." In reality, it wouldn't make sense for MediaTek to release a "next-gen" flagship SoC that's weaker than last year's flagship. It would feel more like a mid-range chip in that case.

So, we'll most likely have to wait a little while longer before we see the true power of the Dimensity 9500, which the post claims will "trade blows" with Qualcomm's next Elite SoC.

It's also worth mentioning that MediaTek launched its Dimensity 9400 Plus SoC earlier this year. This model takes things up a notch over the original 9400 chip. For its single core, the chip clocks in at 3.73GHz, so it seems MediaTek is really trying to push toward the 4GHz mark.

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What you need to know

• MediaTek launched its newest Dimensity 9400 Plus SoC, which features a Big Core design with one Arm Cortex-X925 core at 3.73GHz.
• The chip also features the 12-core Arm Immortalis-G925 GPU, which brings "PC-level" gaming features and more lifelike vegetation, hair, and more.
• MediaTek also packed the DeepSeek R1 LLM into the chip for on-device assistance, boosting its generative AI by 20%.
• The Dimensity 9400 Plus SoC launches Q2 2025.

MediaTek announces a brand new SoC designed to "raise the bar" of flagship smartphone performance.

In a press release, the Taiwanese OEM states the new 3nm process Dimensity 9400 Plus SoC takes what the original 9400 did and builds upon it. To begin, the company explains its core structure, which features a Big Core design. With one Arm Cortex-X925 core at 3.73GHz, 3x Cortex-X4 cores, and 4x Cortex-A720 cores, MediaTek claims this chip will propel Android UX experiences.

The Dimensity 9400 Plus chip features integration with the 12-core Arm Immortalis-G925 GPU. MediaTek states this GPU enables "PC-level features to smartphones with opacity micromap support for realistic effects." In short, the Dimensity 9400 Plus should help bring a more lifelike experience to vegetation, character hair, and animal feathers. These upgrades bring a 40% power efficiency boost to MediaTek's latest chip.

Additionally, this GPU is said to "double" the effective FPS for phones and boost the chip's power efficiency by 50% for game developers. MediaTek appears confident that this GPU will help reduce gaming lag for users who are playing over longer periods.

MediaTek's Edge-AI Upgrades

As you might expect, MediaTek isn't holding back with its AI advancements with the Dimensity 9400 Plus. The post states the latest upgraded chip brings "exceptional edge-AI performance." Thanks to the NPU 890, the 9400 Plus supports the DeepSeek R1 LLM for on-device assistance. MediaTek states its chip is "the first" to incorporate support for R1's four technologies: Mixture of-Experts, Multi-Head Latent Attention, Multi-Token Prediction, and FP8.

Incorporating these is said to boost the AI's "reasoning speeds." The OEM also worked to improve the chip's generative AI models by 20% over the O.G. 9400.

In a statement, a MediaTek member said, "The MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ will allow developers to deliver innovative, personalized AI experiences on-device, offering a number of speed and privacy benefits." The chip's built-in Dimensity Agentic AI Engine gives developers an entry point into "sophisticated" agentic AI apps.

Closing Specs

There's more to the Dimensity 9400 Plus, such as its focus on enhancing the video recording experience for future users. MediaTek says its chip features Imagiq 1090 for HDR video recording "across the entire zoom range." The company pairs this with its Smooth Zoom technology for "seamless capture" of moving subjects.

Extra specs include the chip's inclusion of BeiDou satellite connection, which is 60% faster for users looking to utilize its capabilities with your cell signal drops. Phone-to-phone direct Bluetooth connections expand to 8km, which is roughly four times greater than the Dimensity 9400. Consumers will also be able to take advantage of 5G/4G dual-SIM and even greater Wi-Fi coverage.

MediaTek says its Dimensity 9400 Plus SoC will be available by Q2 2025 for the next wave of smartphones.

Over the past few years, I've written about how Chromebooks are the perfect devices for Arm processors. No, I'm not talking about the ones that we already have, I'm talking about the ones that are found in a lot of fantastic Windows laptops. Which includes Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite, which debuted in late 2023.

I was hopeful that, eventually, Chromebook makers would get around to at least offering something with a flagship Arm SoC; as it turns out, we are, just not from Qualcomm. Instead, MediaTek is swooping in with its recent announcement of the Kompanio Ultra, designed specifically "for the next generation of Chromebook Plus devices."

There are a couple of big selling points for processors using this architecture, as opposed to x86. Having a Chromebook that is both powerful and battery-efficient is pretty much the dream. As it currently stands, you can pick one or the other, but very few of the best Chromebooks manage to achieve both.

What matters most

Meanwhile, Arm-powered laptops are usually lighter and more compact, making them perfect for students. This is partially why Lenovo's Chromebook Duet line remains a fan favorite. It's compact and powerful (enough) while also being pretty affordable compared to other tablets and laptops.

While I love the Duet, especially the Duet 11, it still doesn't scratch the itch for me in the same way that my Surface Pro 11 does. To be clear, these are not competitors in anything other than form factor, as the Surface starts at $999 for the base model Snapdragon X Plus or $1,499 for the X Elite. Meanwhile, the Duet 11 retails for $399 in its base configuration, which happens to include a keyboard folio cover and a stylus, two things you'll have to pay extra for with the Surface.

That being said, when introducing the Kompanio Ultra, MediaTek hit all of the important talking points for someone who wants a powerful and efficient device. Battery life is rated for up to 20 hours on a single charge, thanks in part to it consuming up to "50% less power vs. competition."

The Ultra even supports LPDDR5X memory, is built on a 3nm process, and features an "all-big-core CPU structure." As a result, MediaTek claims the Ultra will provide "up to 18% faster CPU performance" while making it possible to play the best Android games at a stable 60fps. Oh, and for you AI enthusiasts, the Ultra's NPU 890 has you covered with its 50 TOPS NPU for "greater on-device generative AI processes."

Chromebook Plus expansion

So far, it seems that MediaTek absolutely nailed it, and now we just have to wait for new Chromebooks to arrive. This leads me to something that's arguably just as important as getting flagship Arm chips, and that's an expansion to the Chromebook Plus requirements.

This part of the announcement kind of flew under the radar and wasn't even something that I immediately noticed when going through the press materials. Until now, Chromebook Plus models have been required to rely on either an Intel Core i3 12th Gen or higher or an AMD Ryzen 3 5000 series or higher.

Which has left some very good options from receiving the Chromebook Plus branding on the lid. This includes the Chromebook Duet 11, which technically meets all of Google's requirements except for the Kompanio 838 processor. As such, the Duet 11 is just a Chromebook and not a "Plus."

Time for a refresh

This is huge, as it could spawn a wave of new and exciting Chromebooks, all powered by MediaTek. I don't want to put the cart before the horse just yet, but so far, things are looking promising. I just still can't help but wonder why Qualcomm stood by and did nothing, only to let MediaTek reap the rewards.

Funnily enough, maybe the here existence of this article will result in Qualcomm announcing a new chip for Chromebooks in the coming weeks. Hey, apparently, it worked after I wrote about whether we were witnessing a slow death for Chromebooks, so it could work for Qualcomm, too, right?

What you need to know

• MediaTek announced its newest laptop processor, the Kompanio Ultra, for the next generation of Chromebook Plus devices.
• The processor offers an all-big core CPY structure with one Arm Cortex-X925 processor (3.62GHz) and strong performance for intensive device tasks.
• MediaTek also delivers its 50 TOPS NPU for even greater on-device generative AI tasks.
• The Kompanio Ultra will arrive "in the coming months."

MediaTek is highlighting what's next for Chromebooks, which, spoiler alert, involves AI and souped-up performance.

Today (Apr. 2), MediaTek announced the new 3nm Kompanio Ultra processor designed to improve the overall performance levels of the Chromebook Plus. In a press release, the company kicks off with the chip's specs, which include an all-big-core CPU structure. The processor features an Arm Cortex-X925 processor (3.62GHz). MediaTek's vice president and general manager of computing and multimedia business, Adam King, said the chip delivers "groundbreaking computing performance and efficiency."

With that, the company states it's confident the Kompanio Ultra will deliver industry-leading performance during intensive uses when editing videos, content creation, high-res gaming, and more. MediaTek's other improvements are stated to eliminate lag and ensure all of your tasks remain smooth.

Power efficiency is another aspect of the Kompanio Ultra that MediaTek focused on. The post states will "ensure" all-day battery life "without sacrificing performance."

MediaTek AI on the Chromebook Plus

Similar to how Google has worked to bring more AI features to the Chromebook Plus, MediaTek states it has done the same in tandem with the former. Adam King adds, "We worked closely with Google to ensure the newest Chromebook Plus devices enjoy next-generation on-device AI capabilities, superior performance per watt, and immersive multimedia.”

The Taiwanese OEM announced it has integrated 50 TOPS NPU for "greater" on-device generative AI processes. This 8th-generation NPU also brings personalized computing capabilities, "seamless" AI-enhanced workflows, and more. Future consumers can also expect quicker local processing speeds, security, efficiency, and AI workload support even without a Wi-Fi connection.

Elsewhere, Google's VP and GM for ChromeOS and Google for Education, John Solomon, said, "We're excited for the next step in our MediaTek partnership." Solomon states this new venture will open up "new avenues for on-device AI" while also delivering "awesome power efficiency" when users are on the go.

All-around Specs

MediaTek closes its announcement with a look at multitasking and entertainment moments. The Kompanio Ultra contains multi-display support for two extra screens at 4K resolution. What's more, users can leverage its Advanced Hi-Fi audio for clearer calls and strong sound when watching videos or movies.

Wi-Fi 7 and low-latency, ultra-fast connectivity are also present with the Kompanio Ultra.

MediaTek states its newest processor will be available "in the coming months" to tackle the next wave of Google's Chromebooks.

The modern smartphone is a marvel of miniaturization, packing the power of a desktop computer into a device that fits in your hand. At the heart of this revolution lies the System on a Chip (SoC), a single integrated circuit that houses the CPU, GPU, modem, and a host of other specialized processors.

While companies like Apple and Google are known for "building" custom smartphone chips, they don't actually manufacture them. Samsung also designs chips and can build them, albeit in a different division of the company. Qualcomm has changed the industry forever by designing things nobody could ever build without them, and the company lets others build the actual products.

So, how do these tech giants design and bring these powerful components to life? The answer lies in a complex interplay of design expertise, intellectual property, and a specialized manufacturing ecosystem.

Turning an idea into a blueprint

The journey begins with the design phase, where teams of engineers, architects, and researchers conceptualize the chip's architecture. This involves defining the chip's functionalities, performance targets, and power efficiency goals.

For Apple, this means optimizing for iOS and its specific applications; for Google, it's about tailoring the chip to Android and its burgeoning AI capabilities. Samsung and Qualcomm need to build chips that anyone can use. It's not easy.

The core of the chip's design is its architecture. This dictates the arrangement of the various processing units and how they interact. Apple, for instance, invests heavily in its custom CPU and GPU designs, aiming for superior performance per watt. Google, with its Tensor chips, focuses on integrating specialized AI accelerators for on-device machine learning. Qualcomm strikes a balance between performance in all areas and connectivity options.

Each company knows what it needs better than anyone else does.

Once done on paper, engineers need to describe and build out the chip's logic. Hardware Description Languages (HDL) like Verilog or VHDL are used to "program" every behavior of the chip's circuits: every transistor, logic gate, and even the connections between them all.

Once someone is satisfied that this is going to work, the testing begins before anything is ever built. Software is used to simulate various behaviors, looking for bottlenecks in performance and potential errors and determining what other IP could be licensed to make a chip even better. Nothing is built in a vacuum, and no one company can do it all; the best products are a happy collaboration.

From there, the process is physically laid out by crazy smart people with backgrounds in electronics, physics, and manufacturing. Finally, parts can be built.

Apple or Qualcomm don't build their own chips. Neither does Google, and even the divisions at Samsung designing new products aren't usually the same ones creating them. For that, you need a semiconductor foundry. TSMC is one of the biggest, but there are others — including Samsung's own foundry.

The company that designed the chip works very closely with the foundry. There's a lot of back and forth to optimize the design for better performance and ease of manufacturing, and the final specifications are drawn out before the first chip rolls off the line.

The process of building a semiconductor is wild. Using complex masks and stencils, a chip is built layer by layer in rooms where not even a spec of dust is allowed. It's a total sci-fi vibe for a sci-fi product. The results are continually tested so the "good" chips make it to the customer who ordered them, then into your hands.

The fabless model has plenty of advantages

It's easy to think of fabless semiconductor design as sort of like outsourcing, but it's a lot more than just a cost-saving initiative.

It allows a company like Apple or Qualcomm, who are well known for building excellent smartphone chips, to focus on the design and licensing of outside IP to build a product that meets consumer's exact needs.

Instead of trying to build and maintain advanced state-of-the-art facilities, they can partner with a company that has both the means and the experience to do it right. This makes adapting to an ever-changing market much easier.

Expertise in chip design, combined with strategic partnerships with leading manufacturers, allows them to create some of the most powerful and efficient smartphone chips on the market. This intricate ecosystem, where design expertise meets manufacturing prowess, is what drives the relentless innovation in the world of mobile technology.

What you need to know

• Google could be collaborating with MediaTek to produce its next-generation Tensor chips.
• An internal source stated that the company would be relying on the Taiwan chipmaker for an economical way of producing its in-house chips.
• After nearly a decade of working with Broadcom, Google is looking at broadening its choices.

Google seems to be looking in a different direction for its next set of AI chips. According to a report by The Information, the tech giant could be collaborating with Taiwan's chip maker MediaTek.

These chips also known as Tensor Processing Units (TPUs), would be produced sometime next year, sources close to the project told the publication. It is important to note that Google makes its chips that help train its AI models. However, it relies on Broadcom, an American chip company, to design its TPUs with the help of blueprints provided by Google. This has been the case ever since Google produced its first-gen TPU back in 2015.

However, now, after almost a decade of working together, it has decided to broaden its reach. This collab with MediaTek doesn't indicate Google breaking ties with Broadcom but is being frugal about how much it spends on designing its TPUs.

As of today, Google TPUs are custom-designed chips used for training large AI models like Gemini and are ideal for training chatbots, code generation, media content generation, and personalization models, among others. It also produces another kind of TPU that deals with "interference needs" and powers its existing services like Search and YouTube, The Information added.

The reason it could be making the switch to MediaTek could be because it charges less per chip compared to Broadcom and has a strong relationship with TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited), The Information stated.

An internal source told the publication that it might be doing things differently with MediaTek; it will handle most of the design of its next TPU, including the processor. "MediaTek will aim to handle what are known as input/output modules, which manage the communication between the main processors and peripheral components, said one of the two people involved in the project."

But much like Broadcom, it will handle the chip production process, "which includes packaging and quality testing," another source from Google's TPU team told the Information.

Last year, Google seems to have spent between $6 billion and $9 billion to create one of the most powerful 6th-generation TPUs, according to Reuters. But if it does take the MediaTek route, it could be spending much less and will also give Google an upper hand over other AI companies like ChatGPT and Microsoft, which both rely on American-based chipmakers.

Android Central has reached out to both Google and MediaTek about this and will update the article when we have more information.

What you need to know

• MediaTek announced its upcoming M90 5G-Advanced cellular modem for phones.
• The modem leverages MediaTek's AI models to identify traffic patterns to "optimize power consumption and latency" and more.
• MediaTek states the M90 offers a downlink performance of 12Gbps and boosts its uplink capabilities by 20%.
• Recently, the company debuted the Dimensity 7400 and 7400X, which place the user's gaming and AI experiences in its crosshairs.

MediaTek is bringing consumers another tech debut; however, this one will be on deck for its MWC 2025 presence.

According to a company press release, MediaTek is introducing consumers and OEMs to its latest M90 modem for smartphones. The post states this new modem is a 5G-Advanced cellular modem solution that "aligns" with 3GPP Release 17 and the upcoming Release 18 specifications. Leading off its advancements is MediaTek's Modem AI technology. It's stated that this technology will "enhance" the modem's power efficiency and device performance.

To succeed, MediaTek states its AI models will assist the modem in identifying traffic patterns to "optimize power consumption and latency." The modem will also leverage its AI software to improve your connectivity by detecting usage scenarios and "device orientation." The M90 modem takes its AI models and incorporates them with MediaTek's Smart Antennae technology.

The Taiwanese company states this will allow the modem to boost data throughput by roughly 30% for an optimized experience.

With a focus on your data, MediaTek says the M90 modem offers a downlink performance of up to 12Gbps and boosts its uplink capabilities by 20%. The modem also supports sub-6GHz and mmWave, as well as dual 5G SIM dual-active support — with data capabilities for both.

MediaTek is integrating its satellite connectivity technology (NTN) with proper support for low-rate and high-rate data services. The modem's UltraSave tech is said to extend a device's battery life by reducing its power consumption by 18%.

The MediaTek M90 modem is still in the testing phase to ensure it meets industry standards. Samples of the new modem are expected to be available during the second half of 2025.

Aside from the latest modem, MediaTek was on a spree of new chipset debuts as we welcomed the Dimensity 7400 and 7400X. Both SoCs had a strong focus on improving the gaming and AI experiences on devices that would sit right under those rocking its flagship 9400. The 7400 pair features an octa-core configuration with MediaTek's Advanced Gaming Technology 3.0, which improves graphical performance, power-saving functions, and more.

That same announcement highlighted the company's more affordable Dimensity 6400 SoC for cheaper devices. Built on a 6nm process, the 6400 sought to improve the 5G capabilities on phones and reduce latency for users, thanks to its Bluetooth Wi-Fi HyperCoex Technology.

What you need to know

• MediaTek announced the launch of the Dimensity 7400 and 7400X chipsets, which focus on efficiency for gaming and AI.
• With an octa-core CPU configuration, both chips focus on improving graphical performance while also leveraging AI for optimization and power saving functions.
• MediaTek also highlighted the Dimensity 6400, which is designed for midrange devices with a keen eye on 5G connectivity and reducing gaming latency.

MediaTek is bringing an all-new set of smartphone chips to consumers looking for the next generation of devices early in 2025.

The Taiwanese company stated in a press release that its debut of the Dimensity 7400 and Dimensity 7400X are built off its 4nm process for "ultra-efficiency." At their core, MediaTek states both chips are focused on delivering "advanced gaming and AI camera technology to consumers."

This kicks off with the chip's integration of an octa-core CPU setup, consisting of 4x Arm Cortex-A78 cores with a max 2.6GHz speed. Joining that quadruplet will be 4x Arm Cortex-A55 cores at 2.0GHz with the Arm Mali-G615 MC2 GPU.

Aside from its internal architecture, MediaTek states the pair of Dimensity 7400 chips use anywhere between 14% and 36% power when gaming. Moreover, the company has empowered the SoCs with MediaTek Advanced Gaming Technology 3.0 to improve graphical performance, adjust game settings via AI optimizations, reduce input lag, and enhance power-saving functions.

MediaTek makes a callback to the Dimensity 7300, to which it states the 7400 and 7400X offer a 15% increase in overall performance thanks to its NPU 6.0 upgrade. The company touts the chips' capabilities to capture strong, high-quality photos, even in low-light situations. MediaTek taps Google's Ultra HDR to bring "vivid colors and better contrast for photos and videos" to devices with the 7400 and 7400X.

Speaking of, MediaTek states smartphones gearing up with the Dimensity 7400 and 7400X will arrive in Q1 2025.

That's not all as MediaTek is also highlighting the Dimensity 6400 SoC. The press release states this chip, which is the latest 6000 series addition, is designed for affordable/budget devices. With that, built off a 6nm process, the 6400 offers 2x Arm Cortex-A76 cores (2.5GHz), 6x Arm Cortex-A55 cores (2.0GHz), and the Arm Mali-G57 GPU.

MediaTek took strides toward 5G strength with the 6400, stating its Release 16 Sub-6 5G Modem supports 2CC-CA for "improved connectivity." Those leveraging a phone's Bluetooth connection will likely enjoy the Bluetooth Wi-Fi HyperCoex Technology's reduction in gaming latency by "up to 90%." The company states the Dimensity 6400 is already available for OEMs and their respective devices.

The company makes it clear that the Dimensity 7400 and 7400X are meant to "compliment" the flagship 9400 SoC and 8400. The former debuted last October as an "enabler of AI" with a 35% power boost. MediaTek wasn't shy in highlighting the chip's major Arm Cortex-X925 with a max 3.62GHz speed. The chip also features the "Argentic AI Engine," bringing "high-quality on-device video generation" and more.

The 8400 SoC was aimed at midrange devices with an "All Big Core" design and the NPU 888 for swift generative AI tasks.

What you need to know

• MediaTek announced its new MT7903 chipset at CES 2025, in collaboration with Google, arriving by mid-2025.
• This Filogic family chip supports tri-band Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 6, and IEEE 802.15.4 for smart home devices.
• It is designed for Google Home devices with support for Thread and Matter.

Google Home devices are about to get much faster and more consistent when connecting with or commanding one another. Google and MediaTek collaborated to create the new MediaTek MT7903 chipset, coming in the first half of 2025, in order to "facilitate widespread adoption of Thread."

This "Filogic-branded chipset" supports tri-band Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 6, and IEEE 802.15.4. The latter is a well-known WPAN standard used by Matter, Thread, and other smart home standards where devices communicate.

The MediaTek MT7903 has a low power feature called "Thread border router offload." If a Google Home device goes to sleep, the MT7903 will remain awake and connected with other smart home devices, saving energy in standby mode while remaining alert for commands at any moment.

While this chip may not hit Wi-Fi 7, the current speediest option, MediaTek says this chip is designed to "make it more affordable and seamless for manufacturers to integrate Thread into their devices." Cutting-edge wireless might price it out of the range of affordable smart home tech, and considering many smart home devices are stuck on 2.4GHz, Wi-Fi 6E with 6GHz support would still be a massive upgrade for many devices.

Google Home hubs like the Nest Hub or Google TV Streamer 4K are also Matter hubs, interoperable with any recent smart home tech that complies with the latest standards like Matter 1.4. The more devices that use chips like the MediaTek MT7903, the easier it'll be for Google Assistant or Gemini commands to trigger automation without frustrating delays.

Google, which just announced at CES 2025 that it would be bringing Gemini commands to Google TV, has been a major proponent of the Matter standard and Thread protocol. It's unsurprising to us that it would team up with MediaTek on this endeavor, laying out what partners will need to connect with its hub products.

This chip could also appear in the leaked Nest Hub Max successor, which we hope will arrive in 2025. Google's smart display also supported 802.15.4 and Thread, but remains stuck on Wi-Fi 5GHz and Bluetooth 5. A new Nest Hub with the MediaTek MT7903 and a faster NPU for Gemini commands could be a smart home game-changer.

What you need to know

• The Dimensity 8400 is shaking up mid-range phones with its "All Big Core" design, ditching the usual "little" cores for eight powerful Arm Cortex-A725 cores.
• It delivers a 41% boost in multi-core performance and cuts peak power consumption by 44% compared to the Dimensity 8300.
• The NPU 880 speeds up Generative AI tasks, while MediaTek’s Dimensity Agentic AI Engine (DAE) takes AI apps to the next level.

MediaTek’s Dimensity 8400 is here to shake up the mid-range phone segment. The big twist is that it scraps the usual "little" cores this time around.

The Dimensity 8400 goes all-in with an "All Big Core" CPU design, ditching the usual mix for eight high-power Arm Cortex-A725 cores clocked at 3.25GHz. Compared to the Dimensity 8300, this shift delivers a massive 41% bump in multi-core performance, as per MediaTek. Even better, it pulls off this power move while cutting peak energy use by 44%.

This design mirrors what we’ve seen in flagship Android chips, which have also ditched low-power cores. What makes it groundbreaking, though, is that it’s the first mid-range processor to embrace this bold design.

Backing up the CPU is a strong Neural Processing Unit (NPU) built to speed up Generative AI tasks. On top of that, MediaTek’s Dimensity Agentic AI Engine (DAE) takes regular AI apps to the next level, turning them into smarter, autonomous systems. This means the chipset predicts your device’s power needs, optimizing performance before you even notice a slow-down.

The Dimensity 8400 also packs a powerhouse GPU with the Arm Mali-G720 MC7, a big step up from the Mali-G615 MC6. MediaTek says this upgrade delivers a 24% boost in peak performance and a 42% jump in power efficiency. With extras like MediaTek’s Frame Rate Converter and Adaptive Gaming Technology 3.0, the Dimensity 8400 clearly wants to dominate mobile gaming.

Powered by the NPU 880, the chipset is built to handle large language models, making it capable of creating awesome media and giving smart, context-aware responses.

The Dimensity 8400 comes with a top-tier imaging system, led by the MediaTek Imagiq 1080 ISP. With remosaic tech, it captures more light, speeds up autofocus, and shoots super-sharp, high-res photos.

It also supports HDR video recording across the full zoom range, so you can capture footage with amazing dynamic range.

For connectivity, the Dimensity 8400 packs a 5G-Advanced modem with up to 3CC-CA, offering peak download speeds of 5.17 Gbps.

And when it comes to displays, this chipset supports WQHD+ screens with up to 144Hz refresh rates, plus dual-screen support for better multitasking and productivity.

The first phones with the Dimensity 8400 should hit by the end of 2024, but you'll mostly see it in 2025 models.

Before the Google Pixel 9 series was officially revealed, I was already looking ahead to the Pixel 10. That’s because the Pixel 10 is expected to gain a major performance boost since the Tensor G5 chip is expected to be fabricated using TSMC’s 3nm process. To my surprise, Google managed to ship a quite compelling product in the Pixel 9. Regardless, the Pixel 10 is still something to be excited about — even with this new wild card.

There’s a part of your smartphone that is absolutely crucial to how you use it to connect with others, access your favorite apps and sites, and more. It’s also one you probably don’t think about often: the modem. According to Android Authority, Google is reportedly exploring a switch from Samsung modems to a MediaTek modem on the Pixel 10, and it could have significant implications.

High-speed, reliable 5G modems are hard to come by, and only a few companies in the world can make them. Qualcomm dominated the space for years and still dominates to an extent. However, due to cost and other reasons, smartphone manufacturers have been trying to move away from Qualcomm modems.

That leaves Samsung and MediaTek as the only other companies with the capabilities of producing a modern 5G modem. That is, unless it wanted to make its own. Apple is an example of how difficult it is to take that path to building a new modem. It got a head start by purchasing Intel’s mobile modem business in 2019, and five years later, it is still trying to build one reliable and competitive enough to best the Qualcomm ones it uses in the iPhone 16 series.

That’s why it isn’t all that surprising that Google probably won’t make a modem in-house. Developing a custom system-on-a-chip, like Google’s Tensor series, is a different thing entirely. Modems can make or break the smartphone experience, and every switch carries the risk of potential disaster.

For years, Google has used Samsung modems in Pixel phones. The move correlated with the shift to Google’s in-house Tensor processor, which is fabricated by Samsung. The idea is simple — it’s easy to use an Exynos modem with an Exynos chip. The newest Google Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold all use Exynos modems to this day, likely for that reason.

However, all signs point to the next Tensor G5 chip being fabricated by a company other than Samsung. In fact, it’s nearly a lock that the Tensor G5 will be produced using TSMC’s advanced 3nm process node. Back in July, Google reportedly gave the green light to manufacture the Tensor G5 on TSMC’s 3nm process. If easy integration and cost were reasons for Google using Samsung modems, they wouldn’t be applicable to future Pixels now that Google is moving away from using Samsung Foundry for Tensor chipmaking.

That means Google is poised to make a switch, and its choice will be an interesting one. After all, only a handful of brands use external modems. Qualcomm integrates its modems with its systems-on-a-chip, so any phone using a Snapdragon 8 Elite processor will also feature a Qualcomm modem. So, Google could purchase an external modem from either Samsung, Qualcomm, or MediaTek to pair with its Tensor G5 chip.

Google reportedly settled on MediaTek, specifically on using an unannounced MediaTek T900 modem in the Pixel 10 series. Per the report, it considered a few options, including Qualcomm’s X75 modem, in its upcoming phones. It’s unclear what led Google to decide on MediaTek modems, but efficiency and cost are presumably two large factors. The tight integration between Samsung’s 5G modems and Google’s Tensor processors can be partially attributed to the excellent efficiency and battery life offered by Pixel phones.

It’s impossible to say how the MediaTek T900 modem will perform compared to the top options from Samsung and Qualcomm, considering it’s not even available yet. Additionally, since MediaTek, Samsung, and Qualcomm all integrate their in-house modems with their SoCs, there isn’t a lot of data covering how they’d perform as external modems.

With that caveat in mind, there’s still an adage that I think applies in this case: if it ain’t broke, don’t fit it. Google has found a great balance between 5G performance and efficiency with its current Samsung Exynos modems, and disrupting that carries a huge risk. Of course, it was probably inevitable since Google would disrupt the easy integration of Samsung-produced chips and modems when it moved to TSMC on the Tensor G5.

In that case, why not shoot for the best and use Qualcomm modems? The Qualcomm X75 is still clearly the industry standard for 5G modem technology, and it’s found inside the iPhone 16 series. Crucially, the X75 achieved the world record for the fastest 5G downlink. It’s an absolutely fantastic modem that’s reliable, and it beats anything that MediaTek, Samsung, and Apple currently have the ability to make.

I'll reiterate that while the reasons behind the MediaTek move will probably never be known, it’s likely that cost is a driving factor. In that case, I’m disappointed. Pixel phones are not exactly cheap anymore, and going for the best 5G modem available would’ve given Google even more credibility as a manufacturer of some of the best Android phones.

Instead, it appears that Google went the cheap route. Only time will tell whether that was the right or wrong decision. The modem is a part of your phone you hope you don’t have to think about. If this move works out in Google’s favor, no one will talk about the new modem on the Pixel 10.

However, it’s a move Google can’t afford to get wrong. It could completely undermine the real progress it’ll make with Tensor G5 on the Pixel 10.

MediaTek has a sizeable presence in the budget and mid-range segments on the back of strong releases, but it struggled to make progress in the high-end category. Even until two years ago, most Android phones were powered by the Snapdragon 8 platform, with Qualcomm effectively monopolizing this tier.

That dynamic is changing slowly; MediaTek was able to secure key design wins with the Dimensity 9200 and 9300 in the last two years, giving it a much-needed foothold in this lucrative segment. The fact that it was able to outmuscle Qualcomm to do so is all the more impressive.

A part of this has to do with the hardware itself; while Qualcomm is just now starting to use performance cores throughout in the Snapdragon 8 Elite, MediaTek has been at it for over 12 months, with both the Dimensity 9300/9300+ and 9400 powered entirely by performance cores.

Doing so allows MediaTek-powered devices to deliver better multi-core results, and that has been the case in my testing. Phones featuring the Dimensity 9300/9300+ — like the Vivo X100 Pro and Xiaomi 14T Pro — have among the highest scores in Geekbench's multi-core workloads, and while they still don't quite measure up to the A18 Pro in the iPhone 16 Pro Max, they're better than anything else available on Android.

The biggest endorsement for MediaTek's efforts in this segment is by Samsung, which is using the Dimensity 9300+ exclusively on its Galaxy Tab S10 series tablets globally. Sure, Samsung's high-end tablets don't rack up anywhere as many sales as the brand's Galaxy S24 series, but the fact that the manufacturer went with MediaTek hardware in all regions — including North America — is a vote of confidence.

It's a similar story with the Dimensity 9400, MediaTek's answer to the Snapdragon 8 Elite. The Dimensity 9400 uses the latest Cortex X925 core alongside Cortex X4 and A720 cores, and it is powering OPPO's Find X8 and 8 Pro as well as Vivo's X200 devices.

Although these devices don't have a huge presence in western markets yet, they sell in the millions in China, and OPPO and Vivo are making some progress in the high-end category in countries like India.

As to why a phone manufacturer would use MediaTek instead of Qualcomm, cost is likely a factor in the consideration, but most brands I talked to mention customizability as a big differentiator. MediaTek offers the ability to tailor its Dimensity platform to particular devices, and OnePlus used this to good effect in its mid-range devices in recent years.

Rivalry is a good thing in this industry, and while Qualcomm is still the dominant brand, it's good to see MediaTek offering a platform that can hold its own. Vivo's X100 Pro is one of my favorite phones of 2024, and it is just as performant as the dozens of Snapdragon 8 Gen 3-powered devices I used over the course of the year.

With Qualcomm going back to fully-custom designs after nearly a decade, it will be interesting to see how the Dimensity 9400 — which has Arm's latest cores — holds up in real-world usage against Qualcomm. 

What you need to know

• MediaTek has announced the new Dimensity 9400 SoC, its fourth annual flagship chip built on Arm v9.2 CPU architecture.
• It uses 1x Arm Cortex-X925 (3.62GHz), 3x Cortex-X4 (3.3GHz), and 4x Cortex-A720 (2.4GHz) cores, with 35% and 28% faster single- and multi-core performance.
• The 12-core Immortalis-G925 GPU has 41% boosted performance and 44% improved efficiency.
• The new NPU offers 80% faster LLM prompts and 100% diffusion generation performance.

MediaTek has announced the specs for its fourth-gen flagship SoC, the Dimensity 9400. With Qualcomm set to announce its Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 later this month, MediaTek is laying down its own AI-focused challenge now.

While the last-gen Dimensity 9300 topped out at 3.25GHz with its four Cortex-X3 cores, the Dimensity 9400 has one 3.62GHz core and three Cortex-X4s clocked slightly higher at 3.3GHz. The biggest gap is more subtle: MediaTek uses the same Cortex-A720 efficiency chips, but clocked at 2.4GHz instead of 2.0GHz.

The chip uses TSMC N3E processes technology and is up to 40% more power efficient at hitting last year's top benchmarks. The new Arm Immortalis-G925 is also 44% more power efficient.

Aside from the expected CPU gains, the Dimensity 9400 offers a 100% L2 Cache increase and 50% L3 Cache increase, as well as the new LPDDR5X memory interface for up to 10.7 Gbps. This should all help the Dimensity 9400 perform better in areas like loading times without relying as much on RAM.

MediaTek claims that the CPU hits 3,055 / 9,600 for single- and multi-core benchmark tests in Geekbench 6.2, or 2.8 million for AnTuTu performance.

The most intriguing change comes with a new NPU, which supports its new "Agentic AI engine." According to MediaTek, it's the "first mobile chipset to offer on-device LoRA training" (Low-Rank Adaptation of Large Language Models) and "high-quality on-device video generation." It offers 50 tokens per second and is 80% faster at LLM prompts than the Dimensity 9300.

The Dimensity Agentic AI Engine is a bit confusing for laymen, but essentially it's a framework to standardize how mobile AI applications work, both on-device and in the cloud; in the latter case, MediaTek plans to create an "Agentic Apps Store" in the cloud where mobile OEMs can access certain AI processes. 

"The MediaTek Dimensity 9400 will continue furthering our mission to be the enablers of AI, supporting powerful applications that anticipate users' needs and adapt to their preferences," says MediaTek President Joe Chen. "The Dimensity 9400 continues to build on our momentum of steady growth in market share."

During a MediaTek presentation, VP of Global Marketing Finbarr Moynihan explained that while the company's primary sales are in China, customers like Xiaomi and Oppo have expanded into Europe, leading to 30% market share and 50% year-over-year growth. 

Samsung will use a MediaTek 9300 Plus flagship chip in the Galaxy Tab S10 series for the first time, which felt like a major win for MediaTek over Qualcomm and makes us wonder if we'll see the Dimensity 9400 in more global devices as well.

Running through the rest of the Dimensity 9400 specs, it has a new 4nm Wi-Fi / Bluetooth chip (as opposed to two separate chips) that's 50% more power efficient, support for Qi-Fi 7 tri-band MLO, and support for tri-fold smartphones; we've seen more multi-fold phone concepts in recent months, and MediaTek wants their business.

What you need to know

• MediaTek announced the launch of its next wave of chipsets: the Dimensity 7300 and the Dimensity 7300X.
• The former is designed with AI, gaming, and photography in mind, while the 7300X focuses on flip-style foldables and dual display support.
• Both chips feature four Arm Cortex-A78 cores clocking out at 2.5GHz.
• Motorola's upcoming Razr 2024 has been rumored to feature the Dimensity 7300X, and considering MediaTek's description, this could happen.

Today (May 30), MediaTek announced its latest wave of chips aimed at powering the next wave of foldable and gaming phones.

According to a press release, MediaTek detailed the "ultra-efficient 4nm chips" known as the Dimensity 7300 and the 7300X. The Taiwanese company says the former is designed to target multitasking, AI, gaming, and photography. Its 7300X chip will handle flip-style foldables as it provides dual display support.

The post adds that the 7300 series chips feature an octa-core CPU comprising four Arm Cortex-A78 cores. The 4nm process is said to lower the cores' power consumption by nearly 25%. 

Together, these cores clock in at 2.5GHz speed and are complimented by four Arm Cortex-A55 cores.

Photography is a headliner for the Dimensity 7300 as the chipmaker upgraded it with the MediaTek Imagiq 950 with "premium grade" 12-bit HDR-ISP. This features support for 200MP primary cameras. New engines for the chip should help its noise reduction in photos alongside better face detection, and video HDR. Consumers will find 4K video recording capabilities with an increased 50% wider dynamic range for higher quality detail.

Gaming phones will likely benefit from the 7300 series' estimated 20% increase in FPS and energy efficiency. MediaTek states the chips take this further by optimizing 5G and Wi-Fi game connections, Bluetooth LE audio support, and Dual-Like True Wireless Stereo Audio.

On-device AI tasks will benefit from MediaTek's APU 655 and the chip's "mixed precision data types" help cut down on the memory strain from large AI models. Additionally, MiraVision 955 will boost device displays with 10-bit true color, global HDR standard support, and "enhanced" media playback.

With MediaTek announcing its latest wave of chips today, it's resurging memories of the leaks surrounding Motorola's upcoming Razr 2024. Since May, the device has been rumored to feature the company's Dimensity 7300X chip, which has been confirmed today to focus on flip-style foldables. Moreover, the chip's dual display support will likely benefit the phone, considering leaked renders show off its new, larger cover display, mirroring its sibling.

Another wave of leaks showcased the device's form factor, courtesy of a TENAA certification database listing. The Razr 2024 is rumored to feature a 6.9-inch FHD plus display and a 3.6-inch cover display. A 50MP primary camera is suggested to be paired with another 13MP sensor.

While we're likely approaching Motorola's China release for the new foldables, the devices aren't expected to hit the States until later this year.

What you need to know

• MediaTek's new flagship chipset, the Dimensity 9300 Plus, is here to build upon the Dimensity 9300 SoC released last November. 
• The Dimensity 9300 Plus has an improved APU for AI-based tasks, like running Meta's Llama 2 and Llama 3 large language models (LLMs). 
• There are a lot of similarities to the regular Dimensity 9300, such as the All-Big-Core structure with Arm Immortalis-G720 graphics.

MediaTek just revealed the Dimensity 9300 Plus system-on-a-chip, which is the mid-cycle refresh of the company's flagship processor. Compared to the regular MediaTek Dimensity 9300 that debuted last November, this new chip features a higher clock speed and an improved APU. That last point is how MediaTek is positioning the Dimensity 9300 Plus as a processor that can handle mobile AI features. 

The Dimensity 9300 Plus features a four-core APU that is said to provide 10% better performance in AI-related tasks. This is partly due to support for MediaTek's NeuroPilot Speculative Decode Acceleration, which enables this SoC to run large language models (LLMs) with seven billion parameters at 22 tokens per second. According to the company, that's double the current capabilities of comparable chipsets.

MediaTek is still using the All-Big-Core design to maximize performance in the Dimensity 9300 Plus processor. The top Arm Cortex-X4 core is now clocked at 3.4GHz, which is ticked up slightly from that core's 3.25GHz speed on the Dimensity 9300. The other three Cortex-X4 cores (non-prime) run at 2.85GHz, unchanged from last year's flagship chip.

The chip's graphics, powered by the Arm Immortalis-G720, is also the exact same as the Dimensity 9300. The 12-core GPU includes support for ray-tracing, too. 

Every chipmaker is targeting on-device processing for AI, and it's unsurprising that this is a focus for MediaTek with the Dimensity 9300 Plus. The APU translates to real usage with six supported LLMs, including Google's Gemini Nano and Meta's Llama 2 and Llama 3. 

We'll likely start seeing the MediaTek Dimensity 9300 Plus chipset on smartphones sometime this month, first on phones from Vivo and iQOO.

MediaTek announced at an industry event earlier this year that one of its processors would power a U.S. phone in the premium segment later this year, which would be a first. Whether the Dimensity 9300 Plus powers this "mystery phone" depends entirely on when it will be released. If the phone is set for release in late fall or early winter, it may be equipped with the Dimensity 9400 instead of the Dimensity 9300 Plus. Still, this seems to be a good step in the right direction as MediaTek aims to challenge Qualcomm in the premium North American market. 

What you need to know

• Information has leaked about which cores MediaTek could pack into its upcoming Dimensity 9400 flagship SoC.
• Rumors suggest it could offer Cortex-X5, Cortex-X4, and Cortex-A7 cores, but its exact CPU layout is still unknown.
• Previous rumors detailed its early benchmark scores, which saw MediaTek's chip beat Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 in one of the two tests.

Information on MediaTek's upcoming response to Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 has leaked, showing us how the competition might shake down.

According to Digital Chat Station (DCS) on Weibo, MediaTek's next flagship SoC may feature Cortex-X5, Cortex-X4, and Cortex-A7 cores (via WCCFtech). DCS didn't go into detail about the chip's CPU layout, though there is some speculation.

The publication suggests the Dimensity 9400 could feature five X5 cores, three X4 cores, and four A7xx cores. We're still left wondering what speeds the Dimensity 9400 could clock in at.

The Weibo post concluded with rumors about MediaTek's Dimensity 9300 Plus SoC. DCS states the chip could offer a "super-large" Cortex-X4 at 3.4GHz. The chip may also launch in May.

If the rumors are true, it seems as though MediaTek is ditching the idea of efficiency cores for its flagship Soc — like last year. However, the chip could offer further leaps over its predecessor, considering the speculation behind the inclusion of X5 cores. The Dimensity 9300 delivered four Arm Cortex-X4 cores and four Cortex-A720 cores.

Previous rumors about the upcoming flagship chip suggest it will be built off a 3nm process instead of the last-gen's 4nm process. Moreover, early leaked benchmark results suggest it could outperform Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 4. It was rumored in February that the Dimensity 9400 achieved a 2776 score on the single-core test and a score of 11,739 on the multicore test.

It's wise to take these results with caution until we know officially during the chip's official launch. Qualcomm's chip is expected to debut featuring its stronger Oryon cores, so that's another aspect to be aware of.

Meanwhile, MediaTek recently optimized their Dimensity 9300 and 8300 chips for Gemini Nano's capabilities in conjunction with Google. While the former was designed with generative AI in mind, further tuning ensured Google's latest AI model could work seamlessly on devices with the previously mentioned chips.

Considering this, perhaps we can expect more AI influence in MediaTek's upcoming reveal. The company isn't expected to debut its Dimensity 9400 chip until later this year, potentially in October.

MWC 2024 has come to an end, and there was so much to see, so many things to do, and tons of new tech toys to play with. The annual event gives companies a chance to show off their most recent products, launch and tease new or upcoming devices, or reveal concepts that may never reach store shelves (but are still fun to play with). This year was no different, with impressive showings from our favorite brands, such as Samsung, Xiaomi, Motorola, OnePlus, and more.

Android Central was present at the event to check some of these products out, but there were some that stuck out to us more than others. With that in mind, here's our list for the Best of MWC 2024.

Best phone — Honor Magic 6 Pro

Honor used MWC as the launching platform for its latest global release, the Honor Magic 6 Pro. Aside from some stylish looks and glass that's nearly impervious to scratches, Honor packed the phone with the best smartphone camera we've yet seen, and that's saying a lot, given all the big advancements in camera tech in the past few years.

At the core of the new Magic OS 8.0 experience is onboard AI processing powered by Meta's Llama 2 LLM. This AI model allows for more onboard processing than any other phone currently supports, including offline translation, questions and answers, generative AI, and the best motion capture performance we've seen from any smartphone camera.

It's also got a brilliant display that uses a 4,380Hz pulse rate that's helpful for everyone, especially PWM-sensitive users. It's Honor's best phone in years, and it's now available globally.

Android Central's Harish Jonnalagadda and Nick Sutrich have been using the flagship phone for a few weeks now and have an initial Honor Magic 6 Pro review that covers the basics of what you would expect from Honor's latest and greatest. We'll have a final review in the coming weeks based on the final release software.

Best budget phone — TECNO Pova 6 Pro

TECNO is known for making affordable phones with tons of value, like the Phantom V Flip, and the company is back with a new gaming phone that will barely make a dent in your wallet. The TECNO Pova 6 Pro is a new 5G gaming phone with a rather striking design that's enhanced by the rear MiniLED lights that you can customize with notifications.

Thanks to the MediaTek Dimensity 6080, up to 24GB of RAM, and TECNO's Pova SuperCooled System, you'll be able to squeeze out more performance without having to worry about throttling or overheating. The 6,000mAh battery also ensures longer gaming sessions, while the company's first 108MP camera promises better clarity with in-sensor zoom.

The good news is the phone starts at just $229 when it goes on sale. The bad news is that availability will be fairly limited.

Best foldable phone — Porsche Design Honor Magic V2 RSR

Honor has made quite a name for itself over the past couple of years, and the new Porsche Design Honor Magic V2 RSR is the pinnacle of foldable design. The phone is sleek and incredibly thin while offering great performance and a large battery.

In his review of the Porsche Design Honor Magic V2 RSR, Jonnalagadda points out the displays as highlights of the phone, both of which are 120Hz OLED panels that support stylus input. You also get much faster charging speeds than what you'll find on other foldable phones, and the battery can easily last more than a day.

The phone is powered by the flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, which is already a year old, but that doesn't seem to slow it down at all. Jonnalagadda says the Honor Magic V2 RSR has "terrific" performance, which is likely aided by the 16GB of onboard storage.

Fortunately, you'll be able to pick the phone up in Europe now that it is available globally, although you'll have to be willing to spend €2,699 to get it. Also, you're probably out of luck if you want to buy one in the United States.

Best flip phone — Nubia Flip 5G

TECNO isn't the only company with a cheap foldable. ZTE has entered the game with the new Nubia Flip 5G, a flip phone that might look a bit familiar, especially if you've seen Huawei's flip phones. Nonetheless, the company shows us just how low it can take the price of a foldable, making the Nubia Flip a very tempting buy.

The phone features a 6.9-inch 120Hz display, a 50MP dual camera system, and a circular cover screen for notifications and selfies. It also has a rather large 4,310mAh battery with 33W charging support, and the phone is powered by the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1, the same chip powering the Motorola Razr (2023).

Even better, the phone goes on sale for just $599 in global markets, meaning it'll give the Razr a run for its money.

Best concept phone — Motorola Adaptive Display Concept

Motorola's wearable smartphone first made its appearance at Lenovo Tech World in 2023, but the device made another cameo at Mobile World Congress, and we got some hands-on time with it. The idea of a wearable phone may seem outlandish, but the device is actually very cool when you play with it.

For it to work, the user must wear a metal bracelet that the phone's magnets can attach to. The back of the device is a rather soft material with a series of hinges underneath, making the phone look like one of those slap bands from back in the day (although we don't recommend slapping this on).

When you're not wearing it, you can have the phone tented or stand it up by bending the bottom portion, negating the need for a tripod when taking selfies. It seems there are a number of possibilities for a bendable, wearable smartphone, but whether it's actually practical is another story.

Best AI innovation — MediaTek's new generative AI features

MediaTek had quite a presence at MWC this year, showing off the new generative AI capabilities of its latest chips. While some gen-AI features are already present on chips like the Dimensity 9300, MediaTek demoed some pretty impressive features, like SDXL Turbo, a stable diffusion engine that's capable of generating an image on the spot as you type. The image will continue to change as you type to reflect what you might want until you're done typing, and it works incredibly fast, showing how far we've come with generative AI in just a short time.

MediaTek also showed off Video Diffusion Generation, which is basically the same concept but with video. However, the downsides to this feature for now are processing and clarity. The demo takes roughly 50 seconds to complete a three-second video, and the result won't always be legible. Still, with everything processed on-device, it's amazing to see current chipsets capable of such feats.

Best upcoming product — Samsung Galaxy Ring

Samsung first teased the Galaxy Ring at Unpacked earlier this year, and the device was on display at Mobile World Congress. The ring looks more or less the same as it did when it was first shown off, with a relatively concave design, glossy finishes, and visible sensors on the inside. This is, without a doubt, a gorgeous piece of tech that's bound to take advantage of the best Samsung has to offer, which includes Galaxy AI.

We're still waiting for Samsung to fully launch the Galaxy Ring, but the company did divulge more details about its upcoming health wearable. According to Samsung, the Galaxy Ring will have various battery sizes depending on the actual ring size, and it should be able to last somewhere between five to nine days on a single charge. That's roughly in line with the Oura Ring, which lasts about a week on a single charge.

Unfortunately, we couldn't get our hands on it, but we could see the different sizes and finishes, and we can't wait to try it out. We may have to wait a little while, however, as Samsung says it will launch in the second half of 2024.

Best wearable — OnePlus Watch 2

Wear OS is finally taking off, with brands like Xiaomi and OnePlus finally getting on board. The OnePlus Watch 2 is the latest flagship Wear OS smartwatch, featuring the Snapdragon W5 Plus Gen 1 chipset, multi-day battery life, and a unique hybrid interface to help carry the load with background tasks.

In his OnePlus Watch 2 review, Harish Jonnalagadda was impressed with the watch's design, battery life, and impressive 60Hz OLED display. The phone has surprisingly good performance, and fitness enthusiasts will like that it has dual-band GPS and IP68 water and dust resistance.

The OnePlus Watch 2 goes on sale on March 4 and will be available for $299. That's a lot less than the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, which is a more targeted Wear OS smartwatch with somewhat equally impressive battery life.

Best software feature — Motorola Smart Connect

Motorola's Ready For is a great way to connect your phone to external displays to enhance your productivity, but the company is taking things to the next level with Smart Connect. This new feature builds on Ready For by allowing seamless interaction between your phone, laptop, and tablet, all at the same time.

For instance, you can use a single mouse or keyboard between all three devices, share files easily with a connected hub, or copy and paste images from one device to another. You can also start a Spotify session on your phone, then swipe it over to your computer, where it'll open an instance of the app and continue right where you left off.

Motorola also showed off a feature that lets you have two separate instances of your phone, one on the actual phone, and another on your computer. This lets you, for instance, hand your phone to your child to play a game while you continue to do other things like send text messages.

Smart Connect has a lot of promise and is one of the best multi-device solutions we've seen.

Best XR device — Xreal Air 2 Ultra

Smart glasses are rising in popularity, and Xreal is one of the most innovative in the space with its series of spatial computing glasses. While the latest Xreal Air 2 Ultra don't look revolutionary from the outside, they do something no other pair of AR glasses have: 6DoF tracking. In short, that means they can track the space around you like a VR headset, mapping it out in 3D and allowing you to move around virtual objects as if they were real.

Android Central's Nick Sutrich, who got to try on the glasses, writes about his experience with the Xreal Air 2 Ultra, saying they were the "most compelling AR product" he saw at MWC 2024, which is high praise coming from him. A representative told him that soon, users will be able to anchor their smartphone apps using the glasses, meaning they'll be able to better use the Air 2 Ultra as an extension of their phone.

The best part is that the glasses actually look like something you'd wear around, which isn't often the case with smart glasses such as these.

What you need to know

• MediaTek said that it designed the Dimensity 9300 and 8300 systems-on-a-chip with artificial intelligence in mind.
• Now, MediaTek is announcing that Google's Gemini Nano model can run on-device using Dimensity 9300 and 8300 processors. 
• Both MediaTek's NeuroPilot toolkit and the Dimensity 9300 and 8300's APU made running Gemini Nano possible. 

Last year, MediaTek touted the artificial intelligence capabilities of its Dimensity 9300 and 8300 systems-on-a-chip. Now, the company revealed that it has worked with Google to support and optimize Gemini Nano on Dimensity 9300 and 8300 phones, it said in a press release. Smartphone manufacturers and developers can now make use of on-device AI features powered by the Gemini Nano model. 

MediaTek was careful to note the Dimensity 9300 and 8300 chips' integrated APU and NueroPilot AI platform. These were a future-proofing effort at the time, but it has enabled real AI features with Gemini Nano support. The move comes as major smartphone OEMs, such as Samsung and Google, emphasize on-device and could-based AI features on their best phones. 

"As part of our ongoing investment in creating ecosystems necessary to ensure a strong future for AI," the company wrote, "MediaTek and Google have worked together to successfully integrate and optimize Gemini Nano, Google’s Large Language Model (LLM) designed to bring on-device Generative AI to smartphones, so it can run effectively and efficiently on the MediaTek Dimensity 9300 and 8300 chipsets. "

MediaTek also noted what it views as the benefits of on-device AI processing, such as "seamless performance, greater privacy, better security and reliability, lower latency, the ability to work in areas with little to no connectivity, and lower operation cost."

While the cost savings mostly benefit the companies, MediaTek is absolutely right that on-device AI is more private and more reliable than cloud-based processing. Instead of having to use cloud servers for AI features, the phones can now use Gemini Nano. It's the smallest large language model (LLM) from Google, announced last year, and it was designed specifically for smartphones. 

Notable devices that feature the MediaTek Dimensity 9300 SoC:

• Vivo X100 series
• Oppo Find X7 series
• Tecno Phantom V2 Fold
• iQOO Neo 9 Pro

Notable devices that feature the MediaTek Dimensity 8300 SoC:

• Oppo Reno 12
• Xiaomi Redmi K70E
• Poco X6 Pro 5G

While there aren't a lot of phones using MediaTek's Dimensity 9300 and 8300 systems-on-a-chip, this announcement still holds a lot of weight. It means that you won't need a smartphone with a Qualcomm, Samsung, or Google chip inside to access valuable AI features. 

This is great news for owners of flagship phones powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9300 chipset, like the Vivo X100 and the Oppo Find X7 series. However, it might be even better news for budget and midrange smartphone owners using the Dimensity 8300 processor. 

MediaTek and Google are planning to release an APK for the Dimensity 9300 and 8300 systems-on-a-chip with Gemini Nano support. With this APK, developers, and smartphone manufacturers can work together to bring on-device Gemini Nano support to Dimensity 9300 and 8300 devices. No official date or timing information has been revealed on that front yet.

What you need to know

• MediaTek announced a partnership with Meta to develop custom silicon for future AR glasses at its 2023 summit.
• Meta says it needs silicon that's "high-power compute, but also low power and low latency."
• Meta has traditionally used Qualcomm silicon for its virtual and mixed reality.
• Meta has a custom silicon unit, but recently laid off many of its employees.

After years of rumors about Meta and Reality Labs' struggles to create augmented reality glasses, Meta is turning to MediaTek to create exclusive, custom silicon to power its future AR glasses. 

At the MediaTek Summit 2023 in Laguna Beach, California, MediaTek VP Vincent Hu and Meta Reality Labs VP Jean Boufarhat announced the partnership. Hu emphasized that it is an exclusive partnership, meaning whatever silicon it develops for Meta won't be offered to other smart glasses brands.

Boufarhat, speaking on stage, stressed that "new silicone needs to be developed" to make AR glasses a reality. He noted that they need high performance, low power consumption, low latency, and a compact design to fit inside the glasses form factor, and called MediaTek a "key partner" in making that happen.

Considering how closely Meta has worked with Qualcomm in the past to develop silicon for its VR headsets — the Meta Quest 3 uses a Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chip, for example — this announcement proved a surprise to industry experts. Qualcomm also has a Snapdragon XR1 lineup for AR glasses. 

Meta chose another direction, likely coveting the chance to have MediaTek implement its own vision instead of following Qualcomm's. 

Although Meta sells Ray-Ban Smart Glasses, these aren't actual AR glasses. To actually augment your vision with a compact glass display that doesn't require wires or a bulky design, Meta needs a new solution.

We heard back in July that Meta had pushed its first AR glasses launch to 2027 because its current prototype hadn't achieved a form factor that would work for a widespread consumer launch. We can assume that MediaTek's custom silicon won't appear in a product for a few years; in theory, though, a positive partnership will prevent any future delays.

Meta originally hoped to make custom silicon for its own Quest headsets, built by its Facebook Agile Silicon Team (FAST) unit but eventually abandoned those plans. We recently heard that Meta laid off some FAST members around the Quest launch, but we assume the remaining team will work closely with MediaTek during this partnership. 

MediaTek, meanwhile, is quietly making a name for itself in the "metaverse" space. Last year, MediaTek announced that its SoC would power the PSVR 2, in addition to the PS5. Now, this MediaTek-Meta partnership will further that XR growth.

MediaTek also announced the new Dimensity 9300 chip for flagship phones in the past week.

What you need to know

• MediaTek has announced its next chip for 2024, the Dimensity 9300, which uses an "All Big Core design" for enhanced performance and efficiency.
• The latest chip also utilizes large language models (LLM), such as the Meta Llama 2, for an AI boost in the modern-day industry.
• The Dimensity 9300 leverages generative AI features for usage with text, images, and music on phones arriving later in 2023 and into 2024.

MediaTek is moving into the next generation of phones with its newly revealed Dimensity 9300 chip. The newly revealed chip from the Taiwanese maker apparently features a "one-of-a-kind All Big Core" design, with four Arm Cortex-X4 cores clocked at a max speed of 3.25GHz and four Cortex-A720 cores clocking in at 2.0GHz. The chip is built on a 4nm process.

This differs significantly from Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, which uses just one prime X4 core, five performance cores, and two efficiency cores. However, MediaTek's design omits the efficiency cores completely while leaning heavily into the powerful prime cores.

Getting into the meat of things, MediaTek's Dimensity 9300 APU 790 AI processor is said to reduce power consumption by 45%. This is an even more significant reduction in energy usage when comparing it with last year's Dimensity 9200 chip. Moreover, the processor is "eight times faster" than its predecessor.

For gamers, MediaTek is leveraging the latest flagship Arm Immortalis-G720 in its new SoC. The company is hopeful it will "supercharge" mobile gamers as the chip boosts graphical performance by almost 46% while using no more power than its 2022 variant did. Additionally, the chip will also drop power consumption while gaming by around 40%. With the upgrade, Android phones utilizing the Taiwanese brand's SoC should see games run at 60fps.

The MediaTek Dimensity 9300 takes advantage of the generative AI advancements the industry has been striving for this year. Much like the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, the Dimensity 9300's APU 790 AI processor gains some much-needed help from the brand's AI ecosystem to allow it to leverage large language models (LLM) such as Meta Llama 2, Baichuan 2, Baidu AI LLM, and others.

With regard to Meta's Llama 2, we knew for quite some time the two companies were meeting to figure out a way to integrate the model into MediaTek's new chip. The company says such an AI tool will help the chip provide on-device generative AI features such as text, images, and music to users with the help of developers.

These AI advancements are also coming through with its camera upgrades, as it will detect primary and background objects in real-time. Alongside its MiraVision Picture Quality, the 9300 SoC can adjust contrast levels, sharpness, and color of the main object in your camera's focus. It'll additionally bring a sense of "depth" to your recordings.

MediaTek explains that the Dimensity 9300's photography and recording capabilities are furthered by utilizing a low-power AI-ISP and always-on HDR (up to 4K resolution) for 60fps videos. Real-time bokeh tracking and "professional-quality" bokeh enhancements are other perks of the chip's camera efforts.

Some more technical bits state the 2023 MediaTek chip supports LPDDR5T 9600Mbps memory. In terms of connectivity, the chip supports Wi-Fi 7 up to 6.5Gbps with MediaTek Xtra Range integration, which extends the range of connectivity for users.

MediaTek, unfortunately, didn't comment as to what phone brands consumers may find sporting its latest chip. However, the company states the first phones with the Dimensity 9300 SoC will begin arriving at the end of 2023 and into next year.

What you need to know

• MediaTek announced the launch date of Dimensity 9300 SoC.
• It will likely have a 1+3 CPU combination involving all four Cortex X4 cores.
• The upcoming chipset will soon power some of the best Android phones.

Qualcomm has just wrapped the Snapdragon Summit, unveiling the powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 that will power the upcoming flagship Android phones. The counterpart MediaTek is also gearing up to launch its premium tier chipset next month, the company announced.

MediaTek will be launching the Dimensity 9300 on November 6 (via GSMArena), the company revealed on its Weibo account. The chipset maker's flagship SoC will be put against the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, and Samsung's Exynos 2400 chipsets — all aim to power the best Android phones slated to launch soon.

While the Weibo teaser doesn't reveal much about the chipset besides the launch date. The earlier reports have revealed what to expect from the flagship chipset, including unique CPU placement. It will involve four Cortex X4 cores instead of one. For reference, the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 also has one. 

One of the four Cortex X4 cores is likely to run at 3.25GHz, coupled with the other three running at 2.85GHz. Additionally, Cortex-A720 cores are running at 3.0.GHz and an Arm Immortalis G720 GPU for graphics.

An earlier leak revealed that this unique placement of four powerful Cortex X4 cores makes the chips run hot. This issue is concerning for OEM makers willing to incorporate the chipset on their upcoming phones. However, MediaTek later denied the rumor, which Evan Blass first reported on Android Headlines.

"The rumor started by Android Headlines about MediaTek's yet to be announced chipset is completely false and has no source or basis in fact," a MediaTek spokesperson told Android Central.

Consumers and OEM manufacturers may now breathe a sigh of relief; it would be interesting to see MediaTek introduce a less throttle-free experience with the new chipset as promised to take on the SoCs mentioned above from Samsung and Qualcomm since the launch is now weeks away.

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Update (Sep 13, 12:20 pm ET): MediaTek says the claims are false about its unannounced chip.

What you need to know

• The next Dimensity 9300 is tipped to feature an unconventional octa-core design.
• Tipster Evan Blass reveals that it will only have fast and high-performance cores, which may lead to overheating.
• MediaTek has denied the rumors regarding its yet-to-be-announced chipset running into problems.

Original story:

MediaTek is likely gearing up to launch its next flagship chipset, which is said to be a top-tier one to take on Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 series of chipsets. However, the chipset appears to be running into issues before the launch, according to a new rumor.

The tip comes from leaker Evan Blass (via Android Headlines), claiming that the next flagship chipset, apparently dubbed the Dimensity 9300, has been too hot to handle for OEMs, according to people familiar with the chipset maker's firm. Blass further notes this has been a significant issue for OEM makers, who are said to have been promised performance benefits for their best Android phones likely to be released with the new chipset in the near future.

Blass says the issue boils down to the design aspect of the upcoming chipset, which is apparently an unconventional one. The octa-core Dimensity 9300 is believed to utilize all powerful cores while ditching the slow-performance cores altogether. These powerful performance cores include four Cortex A720 and another four Cortex-X4 cores.

Generally, ARM-based chips are said to have an even distribution of throttle performance with the utilization of high-performing and slow cores. MediaTek is reportedly opting for only high-performing cores in favor of boosting its chip, raising concerns between the chipset and OEM makers, as the end consumers would have to bear the heat on their hands if the alleged chipset makes its way to their smartphones.

With the chipset, which is also equipping on-device generative AI, rumored for an October launch, Blass notes that MediaTek has to figure out a way to address the concerns around the Dimensity 9300 before it is released. Of course, if the report is to be believed, and with the next Snapdragon flagship chipset also set to launch in October, this could give Qualcomm a much-needed boost as Android OEMs figure out what to do.

Update

MediaTek vehemently denies the rumors that it's running into issues with its upcoming chip, stating that claims regarding its unannounced chipset overheating are false.

"The rumor started by Android Headlines about MediaTek’s yet to be announced chipset is completely false and has no source or basis in fact," a MediaTek spokesperson told Android Central.

As such, it seems there may be absolutely nothing to worry about regarding MediaTek's next flagship chipset. The company has yet to reveal when the chip will be announced, but we expect a launch to occur before the end of the year, where we will learn more about its capabilities and hopefully the upcoming phones that it will power.

What you need to know

• MediaTek launches its Dimensity 6000 series with the Dimensity 6100+ as its headliner.
• The chip brings stable sub-6 5G connectivity as developed markets shift customers from the old 4G LTE.
• Stronger AI camera technology, 10-bit display, and Non-ZSL up to 108MP camera support are included.
• MediaTek states the first phones utilizing the Dimensity 6100+ should arrive in Q3 2023.

MediaTek has announced the launch of a new Dimensity 6000 series with a chip designed to push the boundaries of 5G devices' connectivity. According to a press release, the Dimensity 6100+ SoC will bring vivid displays, AI-powered camera technology, sub-6 5G connectivity, and more to phones "at an accessible price point."

The company is also looking to capitalize on assisting developed markets with transitioning customers from 4G LTE connectivity over to the next-gen 5G. To achieve this, MediaTek has equipped the Dimensity 6100+ with an enhanced 5G modem with support for 3GPP Release 16 standard. The standard can reach up to 140MHz 2CC 5G Carrier Aggregation and supposedly reduces power consumption thanks to the company's UltraSave 3.0+ technology, which can reduce 5G power consumption by 20% when compared to its competitor.

The 6100+ chip sits under the Dimensity 7000 series which launched last year, and contains two ARM Cortex-A76 big cores and six ARM Cortex-A55 efficiency cores to support AI-powered cameras. The Dimensity 6100+ supports Non-ZSL cameras up to 108MP and can handle up to 2K 30fps video capture.

MediaTek has worked alongside Arcsoft to develop the new chip, bringing in AI-color technology to mainstream devices (read: cheap Android phones) "so users can showcase their creativity." An AI-Bokeh feature is another addition the Dimensity 6100+ will have, which should enhance captured portraits and selfies.

To bring in more vivid displays, the chipset features support for premium 10-bit technology. MediaTek states the chip can reproduce over one billion colors for "vibrant images and videos" and also allows for a smoother display experience with 90Hz and 120Hz refresh rate options.

Lastly, the 6100+ chipset contains UX and GPU performance upgrades as well as unnamed rich peripheral features, which we may see launch with the first phones scheduled to arrive with the chip sometime in Q3 2023.

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Update (June 29, 7:45 pm ET): The Defy Satellite Link is available for purchase.

What you need to know

• The new Motorola Defy Satellite Link gets detailed during MWC 2023.
• The company, along with Bullitt Group, brings the ease of satellite connectivity via a Bluetooth accessory for Android and iOS devices.
• Users can also use the Bullitt Satellite Messenger for sending messages using geostationary satellites, sharing location data, and an SOS Assist option.

Motorola debuts its efforts in bringing satellite communications to smartphones with ease.

According to a Bullitt Group press release, both the rugged device producer and the Lenovo-owned company have partnered to create the Motorola Defy Satellite Link Bluetooth accessory. This dongle delivers satellite connectivity to any Android or iOS device to solve the issues of not having a cellular connection due to a variety of situations. Motorola's satellite connectivity Bluetooth dongle will work in tandem with the new chips MediaTek is currently producing for added support.

Showcased at MWC 2023 in Barcelona, the Motorola Defy Satellite Link is small and lightweight but delivers a full range of functions like two-way satellite communication, location sharing, and SOS assistance. This satellite hotspot was designed to provide ease and reassurance when trying to contact someone when a typical network is otherwise unavailable.

The accessory is also utilizing the Bullitt Satellite Messenger. Users will be connected to geostationary satellites for affordable and continuous international coverage so long as there is a clear view of the sky. With the Bullite Satellite Messenger app, users can send text messages to another person. If they do not have the corresponding app, the recipient will receive an SMS message instead.

Recipients will not be charged for a message, but the sender will be charged as part of their subscribed plan. SOS Assist is also included in the satellite messaging plans, with 24/7 access to emergency responders beginning at $4.99 a month.

The Motorola Defy Satellite Link features an IP68 waterproof and dustproof rating alongside a 600mAh battery. The accessory will be available for purchase beginning in April 2023 for $99, and you can sign up now for pre-order details.

Motorola is also prepping for the launch of its upcoming Defy 2 smartphone with satellite connectivity built into the device. The new phone uses the Bullitt Satellite Messenger in conjunction with the MediaTek-produced chips. The Motorola Defy 2 is touted as a rugged 5G smartphone with a 6.6-inch FHD+ display and 120Hz refresh rate.

The device is strengthened by a MediaTek Dimensity 930 2.2GHz processor with 6GB RAM and 128GB of internal storage. With a 5,000mAh battery, the Defy2 provides 15W fast charging for up to two days of power. On its back, the Defy2 contains a triple camera array with a 50MP main shooter, 8MP ultrawide lens, and a 2MP macro lens.

Unfortunately, the Motorola Defy 2 will launch with Android 12 out of the box but has an update lifespan of two additional OS updates beyond what it ships with. The Motorola Defy 2 will launch in Q2 2023 for $599, and you can sign up now for preorder details.

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Update

After debuting at Mobile World Congress earlier this year, the Defy Satellite Link is now available to purchase in the United States. The dongle can be purchased for $150 at various carriers and retailers, including AT&T, REI, B&H Photo Video, BassPro.com, and more.

While that's more than the $99 originally teased when the device was announced, the price includes a one-year subscription to the Essentials Messaging service plan and satellite-enabled SOS assist.

What you need to know

• MediaTek and Nvidia are likely to bring a new mobile SoC next year.
• It is said to be a flagship SoC, which features advanced Nvidia GPU prowess.
• The partnership will also include the development of chips for WOA notebooks.

MediaTek is reportedly working on a new-gen processor for mobile in partnership with Nvidia. The new processor is said to be a flagship-level chipset, which incorporates Nvidia’s GPU.

According to DIGITIMES Asia, the top-tier processor is gearing up to power mobile handsets, which we expect may include future Android phones, bringing enhanced AI and gaming functionalities. 

Alongside bringing the top-tier SoCs, the co-development between MediaTek and Nvidia will also develop WOA (Windows on ARM) platform products for notebook applications, industry sources familiar with the matter have reportedly stated to DIGITIMES Asia.

The WOA products will also incorporate GPUs made by Nvidia and its AI technologies, and the partnership between the companies is to enter into the notebooks business next to SoCs with the same GPU and AI enhancements for mobile.

The approach of collaboration between companies is not new to the industry, even though they haven’t gone official yet. Samsung partnered with AMD to bring the latter’s GPU prowess to the Korean manufacturer’s Exynos chipsets. They entered a multi-year agreement to bring high-performance, ultra-low-power AMD Radeon graphics to the portfolio of Exynos mobile platforms.

Such collaborations will bring enhancements to mobile gaming experiences. For instance, the Samsung AMD partnership has brought ray tracing capability to mobile SoCs. Similar exciting capabilities are also expected with the rumored MediaTek and Nvidia collaboration.

In addition to the mobile SoCs, the WOA platform products co-developed by MediaTek and Nvidia are likely to enhance the chipset maker’s presence in the mid-range to high-end notebooks and make entry-level Chromebooks, notes DIGITIMES Asia report.

Similarly, Nvidia is also expected to see performance improvements towards the end of the year as GPU manufacturing is likely to increase as part of seasonal demand in the gaming segment, the report added.

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What you need to know

• MediaTek announced its new Dimensity 9200+ chipset on Wednesday. 
• This 4nm TSMC chip has the same CPU, GPU, and APU as the 9200, only pushed to higher clock speeds, up to 3.35GHz. 
• The 9200+ will begin to appear in Android phones starting this May.

The MediaTek Dimensity 9200 surprised us last year with its energy-efficient performance, Wi-Fi 7 support, hardware-based ray tracing, and other innovations. On Wednesday, MediaTek took that same processor and turned the performance knob up to 11.

Comparing the MediaTek Dimensity 9200+ against the original 9200, you'll see a clock speed boost with the main Arm Cortex-X3 core (3.35GHz vs. 3.05GHz), while the three Cortex-A715 performance cores jump from 2.85GHz to 3GHz. 

Even the efficiency cores improved from 1.8GHz to 2GHz. And the Immortalis-G715 GPU received a 17% boost as well. 

While the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy exclusive barely tops the Dimensity 9200+ with a 3.36GHz top clock speed for its Cortex-X3, the performance cores remain fixed at 2.8GHz. 

When phones running the 9200+ launch this May, they could even beat the Galaxy S23 Ultra in raw speed. We don't believe we've seen another mobile processor that's broken this 3GHz threshold with secondary cores, and we're excited to see if this translates into real performance gains.

"We continue to raise the bar for flagship performance and power efficiency with the Dimensity 9200+, ensuring device makers have access to the most powerful mobile gaming features available today,” said Dr. Yenchi Lee, MediaTek Deputy GM of Wireless Comms.

Besides overclocking its CPU cores and graphics card, MediaTek appears to have left the Dimensity 9200+ largely unchanged from the original 9200 CPU. 

Thus far, we've only seen the Dimensity 9200 in Chinese flagships like the Vivo X90 Pro and Find X6 Pro. Our Senior Editor of Asia, Harish Jonnalagadda, tested these phones and found them wanting compared to the S23 Ultra; but Dimensity 9200+ phones may close this gap. 

We'll have to wait and see which phones will use it, and whether these phones can match up against the best Android phones running Snapdragon or Tensor hardware. 

What you need to know

• A leak of the Moto G Stylus (2023) reveals the design and specs of the device.
• The phone will purportedly be powered by a MediaTek Helio chipset and may lack 5G connectivity.
• A 5G version of the phone may follow soon after the 4G variant launches.

Motorola hasn't had too many smartphone launches this year, but the OEM is likely set to reveal its next budget Android smartphone somewhat soon. A recent leak of the Moto G Stylus (2023) reveals what the phone may look like as well as its likely specs.

The Tech Outlook retrieved marketing materials for the 4G version of the Moto G Stylus (2023), showing a largely familiar-looking smartphone, at least from the front. It will apparently feature a 6.5-inch HD+ display with a hole-punch selfie camera and a 90Hz refresh rate. This is a curious downgrade from the Full HD+ panel on the Moto G Stylus (2022).

The Tech Outlook reports that it will sport the same MediaTek Helio G88, a fairly unimpressive chip even by cheap Android phone standards. Unfortunately, it looks like Motorola may decrease its base RAM to just 4GB, while the base storage may also get halved to 64GB (although with microSD support).

Things also get changed up on the rear. It looks like Motorola may drop a camera lens and opt for a dual-camera system. The primary camera is likely a 50MP unit, and while there don't appear to be any details on the second camera, it will likely be a depth sensor or macro camera.

Expect dual stereo speakers, a 5,000mAh battery (likely with 10W charging), Android 13 out of the box, and of course, a built-in stylus.

It's not clear when this phone will be launched, although based on the images, we should expect it soon. Hopefully, the 5G version will follow shortly after, as the Moto G Stylus 5G (2022) was one of our favorite mid-range phones last year.

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What you need to know

• MediaTek announces a new mid-range Dimensity 7000 series chipset.
• Dubbed Dimensity 7200, it comes with two Arm Cortex-A715 and six Cortex-A510 cores.
• It also brings 200MP imaging capabilities for mid-range smartphones.

MediaTek has a new mid-range smartphone processor: the Dimesnity 7200. It comes after the launch of the chipset maker's Dimensity 9200 and Dimensity 8200 SoCs last year. It is also the first inaugural chipset of its Dimensity 7000 series family of chips.

It uses a TSMC 4nm process similar to the flagship Dimensity 9200 chipset and promises AI imaging features, powerful gaming optimizations, improved 5G speeds, and extended battery life.

The Dimensity 7200 is built on two powerful Arm Cortex-A715 (second-gen ArmV9) cores with promised clock speeds of up to 2.8GHz coupled with six Cortex-A510 cores. These are further backed by MediaTek's AI Processing Unit (APU), dubbed MediaTek APU 650, which should improve AI tasks and AI-fusion processing.

During the announcement, MediaTek emphasized that the new chipset will power the upcoming mid-range smartphones this year and will strengthen gaming and photography smartphone experiences.

"The MediaTek Dimensity 7000 series will be vital for mobile gamers and photography enthusiasts who are looking for an affordable way to squeeze the most battery life out of their phones without skimping on performance," said CH Chen, deputy general manager of MediaTek's Wireless Communications Business Unit.

The chipset promises smoother and faster frame rates for gaming, backed by the Arm Mali-G610 MC4 GPU coupled with MediaTek HyperEngine 5.0 technology. The latter uses AI-based Variable Rate Shading (VRS) for power savings during the gameplay.

In terms of photography capabilities, the Dimensity 7200 is here to support 200MP photos, which is a promising instance for any mid-range device, especially since we only recently started seeing these sensors pop up in flagships like the Galaxy S23 Ultra. It involves MediaTek Imagiq 765 and a 14-bit HDR-ISP, which further helps capture 4K video and brings additional camera enhancements.

The latest MediaTek chipset comes with AI-based SDR-to-HDR video playback ability. Besides, to view videos, the chipset can also support phones with Full HD+ displays at 144Hz and includes the latest standards such as HDR10+, CUVA HDR, and Dolby HDR.

Moreover, the chipset highlights solid 5G connectivity, and like the Dimensity 8200, it also equips 3GPP Release-16 standard Sub-6GHz 5G modem up to 4.7Gbps speeds. The other connectivity options include support for Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, Bluetooth LE Audio, and Dual-Link True Wireless Stereo Audio for audio. The chipset further supports 2CC Carrier Aggregation and Dual 5G SIM with dual VoNR in supported regions.

MediaTek says that we can expect the new smartphones powered by the chipset to arrive globally soon.

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Wi-Fi 7, or IEEE 802.11be, received official certification from the Wi-Fi Alliance in January. Now, any router with a "Wi-Fi 7 Certified" label will upgrade your network throughput, bandwidth, transmission rates, and more. 

Essentially, Wi-Fi 7 works across the same bands as Wi-Fi 6E — 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz — but provides a wider bandwidth capable of running 16 simultaneous streams instead of eight while massively improving the max data rate.

Given that today's Wi-Fi 7 routers are expensive and rare, it's fair to ask whether you need Wi-Fi 7 or can make do with the best Wi-Fi routers from an earlier standard. Wi-Fi 7 benefits power users with a lot of devices running at once, so we'll help you decide if you fit that criteria. 

What is Wi-Fi 7?

Wi-Fi 7 is the consumer-friendly term for "IEEE 802.11be Extremely High Throughput (EHT)." Although Wi-Fi 7 hasn't been officially ratified as a standard, the Wi-Fi Alliance is certifying Wi-Fi 7 routers today that fit the criteria, and it's unlikely that the standard will change before ratification.

This IEEE document from 2020 outlines all of the proposed Wi-Fi 7 features, and we'll summarize the highlights below:

320MHz bandwidth: Twice as wide as the 160MHz channel enabled by Wi-Fi 6E, the 320MHz standard doubles the network's throughput. Compared to Wi-Fi 6, the IEEE estimates that Wi-Fi 7 could provide "4.8x higher nominal data rates" in the 40+ Gbps range for superior streaming and download speeds. The actual Wi-Fi 7 max data rate is lower in practice, as we'll discuss in the next section.

4K-QAM: Compared to Wi-Fi 6 with 1024-QAM, Wi-Fi 7 hits 4096-QAM, which stands for Quadrature Amplitude Modulation. The higher the QAM, the faster the data transfer, but also the shorter the range of the signal. Wi-Fi 7 offers 20% faster transmission speeds thanks to this new standard.

MU-MIMO improvements: Multi-user, multiple input, multiple output (MU-MIMO) technology became common with Wi-Fi 6, but Wi-Fi 7 will support more simultaneous streams. Wi-Fi 6 routers could hit up to 8 streams, but Wi-Fi 7 doubles that capacity to 16. So your network can equally enable top speeds for more devices before you start to see congestion. 

Multi-Link support: No matter how speedy your router connection is, interference will always hurt the connection because the router and device only connect on one channel. However, Multi-Link Operation allows for a duplicate connection across multiple bands (aka both 6GHz and 5GHz), which is meant to reduce latency significantly.

How much faster is Wi-Fi 7?

By doubling both the bandwidth and MU-MIMO streams of Wi-Fi 6 — which hits a maximum of 9.6Gbps — and offering a further 20% boost from 4K-QAM, Wi-Fi 7 can, in theory, offer speeds 4.8 times higher for a max of 46Gbps. If you erase the QAM factor due to its limitations, you'd still have a 40Gbps ceiling for Wi-Fi 7 routers if the network supports it.

In practice, it'll depend entirely on the routers coming to the market and what speeds the chips inside of them can reach. Intel, for example, claims that a Wi-Fi 7 laptop will hit 5.8 Gbps, or 2.4X faster than a Wi-Fi 6E laptop, for superior streaming and download speeds. That's nowhere near the proposed maximum, but Wi-Fi 6E's actual max (2.4 Gbps) wasn't close to its max (9.6 Gbps) either.

We reviewed our first Wi-Fi router, the Netgear Orbi 970 mesh system, in January. It has a dedicated 6GHz band and two 5GHz bands, and our reviewer gushed that it "managed to deliver much better bandwidth consistently than any other router I used to date," with a throughput of 27Gbps. 

Most of the top Android phones have started adding Wi-Fi 6E support, but not necessarily Wi-Fi 7 support. For example, last year's Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 smartphone chip offered Wi-Fi 7, but while the Galaxy S24 Ultra supports Wi-Fi 7, the Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus top out at Wi-Fi 6E. Smartphone brands are still treating it as a premium novelty, not a necessity.

Still, even with last-gen devices that can't use Wi-Fi 7's faster speeds, they'll still benefit from the wider bandwidth and multi-link support. Qualcomm told us that a multi-link mesh network triples your network capacity and reduces latency for all wireless devices.

To summarize, Wi-Fi 7 routers will benefit anyone, but only you can decide if it's enough. Don't actually expect to see 46 Gbps downloads, but the improvements to latency and bandwidth are significant.

Finding the Wi-Fi 7 router for you

As we said above, you should check that a router has a "Wi-Fi 7 Certified" label before you buy it. Beyond that, you'll find Wi-Fi 7 routers costing upwards of thousands of dollars, while others cost significantly less. And not all Wi-Fi 7 routers are created equal. 

We're big fans of the Netgear Orbi 970, but the three-unit mesh system we tested costs $2,299, while a single unit costs $899. Thankfully, you can find other mesh options from TP-Link or Linksys that'll cost less, as well as single tri-band or quad-band routers from Netgear or ASUS if you're in a smaller space. 

All of these routers should offer some of the same upgrades like 4096-QAM and Multi-Link Operation, so you should focus on each router's specific speeds, specs, number of ethernet ports, and number of bands. 

What you need to know

• The MediaTek Pentonic 1000 is an all-in-one 4K TV chip, announced today at MediaTek's executive summit.
• The chip will support 4K 144Hz VRR and ALLM via four HDMI 2.1 ports and Wi-Fi 6E.
• The built-in APU uses AI to automatically enhance images and reconstruct details.
• You'll also get advanced picture-in-picture tech, capable of displaying up to 8 videos or multiple Dolby Vision streams simultaneously on one TV.

Most people don't pay attention to the silicon chips inside of their televisions, so you probably don't know that MediaTek sells 60% of smart TV chips worldwide, from budget TVs to premium Sony Bravia budget TVs. The new MediaTek Pentonic 1000 will power the next generation of 4K gaming TVs.

When it comes to picking the best TV for PS5 or Xbox Series X gaming, you want 4K 120Hz HDR support since both consoles let you prioritize both resolution and performance if your TV allows it. The Pentonic 1000 hits this standard, offering 48Gbps data transfer via HDMI 2.1 ports — though we're not sure if it can power all four HDMI ports at this level.

This MediaTek TV chip also supports Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), hitting up to 4K at 144Hz (rather than just 120Hz) with only 5ms input lag. It's unclear how many PS5 games or other console titles actually hit 4K/144Hz, but you can probably connect your PC to a Pentonic 1000 TV as well to take advantage of its power. 

Thanks to its Wi-Fi 6E satellite, too, the Pentonic 1000 should work well for streaming cloud gaming content as well.

As for non-gaming viewing, the Pentonic 1000 can power Dolby Vision IQ with Precision Detail, which lets your TV detect the lighting in your room and automatically adjust the brightness — particularly to capture more details in dark scenes without oversaturating the footage. Any Game of Thrones or House of the Dragon scene shot at night, in other words.

Overall, the Pentonic 1000 beats the previous Pentonic 700 in CPU (1.4X better), GPU (4.6X), and APU (1.6X) performance.

In terms of new features to distinguish itself from past gaming TV tech, it features an exclusive tool called MediaTek Intelligent View, so you can turn larger TVs into a "display wall" and show up to 8 videos from different sources simultaneously on one display. 

Imagine the picture-in-picture (PiP) tech you regularly use on your mobile phone but at a much greater size and scale on a 55-inch+ display. So if you wanted to stream YouTube or Twitch on your TV in the corner while playing a game, or show multiple camera feeds from a group call, that would be possible. And you'll get "full picture quality" for each feed, not just the main feed.

Lastly, MediaTek says that the chip offers "industry-leading AI image enhancement," with improved AI Super Resolution to upscale SD or HD content to your 4K TV's exact resolution, smoothing out rough edges and reconstructing lost details, contrast, and color. 

The AI engine recognizes objects and scenes in real-time to enhance their look, emphasizing the foreground and deemphasizing the background so your eyes naturally capture the most important details. Plus, the Pentonic 1000 can support up to 10 thousand dimming zones. 

As MediaTek said, this chip will be found specifically in "flagship" 4K TVs with the best possible picture quality and performance. 

What you need to know

• MediaTek announces two new entry-level Kompanio chipsets.
• They will power the entry-level Chromebooks in the first half of 2023.
• They feature two premium Arm Cortex-A76 CPU cores with clock speeds up to 2GHz and 2.2GHz.

MediaTek makes Kompanio chipsets with Chromebooks in mind. Like its mobile processor series, the Kompanio series is also categorized into multiple products for Chromebooks ranging from entry-level to high-tier variants like Acer Chromebook Spin 513, for example.  One such catalog is the Kompanio 500 series, developed for entry-level Chromebooks and now has two new SoCs that promise to deliver fast and reliable computing experiences.

In a shared press release, MediaTek announced the Kompanio 520 and Kompanio 528 chipsets, which are said to bring upgraded computing performance and battery life for entry-level Chromebooks. It aims to allow consumers to browse, cloud games, stream, and also utilize Google Play apps on their notebooks seamlessly without worrying about battery life. 

The Kompanio 520 and 528 chipsets come as upgrades to the current Kompanio 500 SoC introduced with cost-effective Chromebooks in mind. Both the new chipsets offer octa-core CPUs featuring two premium Arm Cortex-A76 CPU cores. These premium cores provide clock speeds of up to 2GHz for the Kompanio 520 SoC and up to 2.2GHz for the 528 SoC.

Besides, they also come with an upgraded dual-core graphics engine and are optimized to deliver longer battery life. The octa-core CPU promises to handle multitasking easily, and users can expect faster booting times for their Chromebooks.

These new chipsets bring numerous abilities for Chromebooks, such as support for 32MP cameras, which are said to be backed by MediaTek’s hardware imagine engine. The SoCs also promise better low-light photo and video recording abilities (up to full HD at 60fps) alongside incorporating VP9 decoding, and H.265 encoding, ensuring 2x faster performance. In addition, there is HiFi-5 DSP to handle ultra-low power microphone processing.

These chipsets-powered Chromebook users in the future can take advantage of dual external monitors as they support a 60Hz Full HD (1920 x 1080) external display. The chipsets themselves support a 60Hz Full HD+ displays as well. MediaTek says users can also connect to smart TV next to a projector for their preferred purposes.

The other highlights of the Kompanio 520 and 528 chipsets comprise MediaTek’s Filogic Wi-Fi 6 solutions for connectivity, which is beneficial for streaming and cloud gaming. The storage options support includes LPDDR4x RAM and eMMC 5.1 storage.

The Kompanio 520 and Kompanio 528-powered entry-level Chromebooks are expected to hit the market by the first half of 2023, according to MediaTek.

What you need to know

• Major mobile chipset developer MediaTek will power the Sony Playstation VR2. 
• Sony says the MediaTek SoC delivers the "high standards" necessary to power the headset.
• The Sony PS VR2 will launch on February 2023 and will require a PS5 to work.

We've known for some time that the PS VR2 will be powered by the Playstation 5, but not how the headset itself would process that information or track the PS Sense controllers. Now we know that MediaTek has developed two system-on-chips (SoC) for the Playstation VR2.

Specifically, MediaTek developed the primary SoC for the display and a secondary SoC for the controllers. MediaTek executive Vince Hu announced the partnership, saying it was the first of the company's forays into the metaverse space. He also brought up the success of the Quest 2 sales to say that he hopes the MediaTek-powered Playstation VR2 will reach similar sales success.

Sony gaming executive Shuhei Yoshida appeared in a pre-recorded video announcing their partnership, saying that they searched for a chipmaker that could deliver "high standards for low latency, low power consumption, and high performance."

MediaTek didn't (and likely won't) share what kind of SoC appears in the PS VR2, nor do we know how much RAM powers the device. We will ask over the course of the MediaTek summit, but as MediaTek considers this an "enterprise" deal, they aren't likely to make the specs public, at least initially.

Surprisingly, Sony decided to go with MediaTek over Qualcomm, which has had huge success in the VR/AR space powering headsets like the Meta Quest 2 and Meta Quest Pro, as well as a ton of enterprise AR devices. 

The Snapdragon XR2 in the Quest 2 is based off of the Snapdragon 865 chip found in mobile phones. But because the PS VR2 mostly runs off of the PS5's power, we suspect that the MediaTek chip inside of it isn't a traditional SoC like the recently-announced Dimensity 9200.

MediaTek may not be as well known as Qualcomm in some tech spaces, but the company is the number one manufacturer in the world in categories like smartphone chips, Android tablet chips, and TV chips. Its emphasis has been on energy-efficient budget processing, which will be important in keeping the PS VR2's weight low and preventing overheating.

The Playstation VR2 will launch in February 2023 for $550. This has led to a heated debate as to whether or not the PS VR2 is too expensive or isn't too expensive, especially given the already high price of the Playstation 5. 

But given MediaTek's history of powering budget devices like the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K, it's likely that its PS VR2 chip didn't add much to the price.

What you need to know

• MediaTek announced the new 4nm Dimensity 9200 chip on Tuesday.
• It sports the new Cortex-X3 core, an upgrade over most 2022 Cortex-X2 phones.
• The 11-core Immortalis-G715 GPU will support hardware-based ray tracing while using 41% less power than the last generation. 
• MediaTek also promises support for Wi-Fi 7, high-fidelity audio, and RGBW camera sensors.

One year after the Dimensity 9000 changed the Android silicon landscape and powered flagships from Xiaomi, OnePlus, OPPO, ASUS, and Vivo, MediaTek announced its successor, the new Dimensity 9200. And thanks to the addition of new features like mmWave 5G and Wi-Fi 7, more brands may choose to adopt the Snapdragon 8 rival instead.

The MediaTek Dimensity 9200 has one Arm Cortex-X3 chip clocked at 3.05GHz, three Cortex-A715 cores (2.85GHz), and four Cortex-A510s (1.8GHz). The 9000 matched its successor's number of cores and clock speeds, but the jump from Cortex-X2 to Cortex-X3 and A710 to A715 gives the 9200 a modest 12% single-core and 10% multi-core boost in performance.

The more important difference is that the Dimensity 9200 uses 25% less power and has improved heat dissipation that delays your phone's rise in temperature four times more efficiently than the last-gen chip, according to MediaTek. Given the problem many 2021 Android phones had with overheating and throttling, we hope this proves true in real-life use.

Similarly, the new Arm Immortalis-G715 GPU not only offers a 32% performance boost, it apparently does so while reducing power consumption by 41%. That'll make Dimensity 9200 phones less likely to run hot while playing demanding Android games. 

This new GPU is also the first Arm unit with "hardware-based ray tracing." Previous chips like the Dimensity 9000 had a ray tracing SDK using Vulkan, whereas this chip presumably supports graphical settings like soft shadows, reflections, and occlusion directly through the GPU's architecture. The Exynos 2200 also added ray tracing via an AMD GPU, though that chip ended up underwhelming in overall performance.

While the Dimensity 9000 could run 144Hz QHD or 180Hz FHD phones, the Dimensity 9200 jumps up to 240Hz FHD or 5K at 60Hz. The former could be particularly useful for hardcore gaming phones like the ROG Phone lineup, especially if you consider the 9200's GPU upgrades.

Overall, the Dimensity 9200 produced a factory AnTuTu v9 score of 1,260,000, whereas most 2021 flagship phones score only slightly above or below one million. The LPDDR5X 8533Mbps memory and 35% boost to AI performance no doubt also help on this front.

Beyond its revamped speed and efficiency, the MediaTek Dimensity 9200 also has improved connectivity with mmWave and sub-6 5G support. Last year, our analysts said that North America was off-limits for MediaTek because the lack of mmWave for Verizon adoption made the Dimensity 9000 a non-starter. 

But the 2022 Motorola Edge had solid performance backing its 144Hz display thanks to the Dimensity 1050 chip, the company's first to support mmWave. Now that the Dimensity 9200 also has mmWave, we could see Motorola, Samsung, and other brands choose to adopt MediaTek for their premier and mid-tier phones, as an alternative to Qualcomm. 

MediaTek has even future-proofed the Dimensity 9200 with Wi-Fi 7 support, the first chip to do so. We don't know much about this new wireless standard, but MediaTek claims it'll give you 50% better coverage and 170% better throughput than Wi-Fi 6. But you'll need a router or network that supports the standard, which may not be widely available for some time.

MediaTek is claiming a lot of "firsts" with the Dimensity 9200. For instance, it says it's the first to support 24bit/ 192KHz audio, as well as the first to offer UFS 4.0 for much faster read speeds of your stored data. But we'll have to see how Qualcomm matches up; the company will soon have its own Snapdragon Summit on November 15, when it'll likely reveal the long-rumored Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 flagship chip.

What you need to know

• OnePlus launches its new Nord N300 5G in North America, exclusively with T-Mobile.
• The phone features a new design, HD+ display with a 90Hz refresh rate, and 33W wired charging.
• The phone retails for under $250 and will be available on November 3.

OnePlus is trying to carve out a space for itself in the North American budget market and has done a decent job so far with its Nord lineup. Now, the company is launching its latest affordable device, the Nord N300 5G, although it is making some interesting choices to keep its price down.

The latest Nord is the first OnePlus phone to sport a MediaTek chipset in the United States. MediaTek is not widely used among flagship phones in the region but is making its way into more budget Android phones. The phone is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 810, a middle-of-the-road 5G chipset launched in 2021.

Interestingly, OnePlus has done away with the hole-punch display of the previous Nord N devices, opting for a V-shaped notch instead and making the phone look much more "budget" than its predecessors (it harkens back to the OnePlus 6T). Even more interesting is the decision to downgrade the display resolution from FHD+ on the OnePlus Nord N200 5G to HD+ on the N300, although it does retain the 90Hz refresh rate.

Fortunately, the rear at least looks a little more interesting thanks to the large rectangular camera housing, which is where you'll find the 48MP primary sensor and 2MP depth sensor. That's one camera fewer than its predecessor, but the primary sensor features more than 3x the resolution, which is a nice upgrade.

If none of that sounds particularly appealing, OnePlus also managed to upgrade the charging spec, allowing users to top up the 5,000mAh battery much faster thanks to the 33W wired charging. It's a far cry from the company's flagship phones like the OnePlus 10T, but it's still faster than Samsung or Google flagship phones. Plus, the charger comes in the box.

Rounding off the specs is 64GB of expandable storage and 4GB of RAM.

OnePlus notes that in 2021, the N series "sold over 2.5 million devices in the United States," with the popular N200 5G projected to hit 1.5 million sales by the end of 2022. The company no doubt hopes to capture similar numbers with its latest affordable phone. However, it's unclear if the tradeoffs made here make the Nord N300 5G worth looking at over its predecessor.

The Nord N300 5G retails for $228 and will be available at T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile on November 3.

What you need to know

• OnePlus has begun teasing its next budget smartphone for the U.S. market.
• The OnePlus Nord N300 5G will apparently sport a MediaTek chipset and 33W wired charging.
• The phone will launch in North America in November at an unknown price.

One of our favorite budget phones last year was the OnePlus Nord N200 5G. It offered a lot of value for its small price tag, and the company is preparing to launch its successor quite soon.

Speaking to The Verge, OnePlus stated that the OnePlus Nord N300 5G would launch in North America in November, meaning a launch is right around the corner.

While the device's full specs weren't divulged, OnePlus revealed some details about the phone. The device will be powered by a MediaTek chipset, making it the first MediaTek-powered OnePlus device in the U.S. market. MediaTek isn't big in the U.S., but the company has grand ambitions to break into the market. Years ago, the chipmaker partnered with LG and T-Mobile to launch a MediaTek variant of the LG Velvet.

Additionally, the OnePlus Nord N300 5G will come with a 90Hz display, the same refresh rate found on the Nord N200 5G, although it's unclear if this will be an OLED. Earlier this year, the company launched the OnePlus Nord N20 5G with a 60Hz OLED display, trading off with a lower refresh rate to offset the more expensive OLED panel. OnePlus may do the opposite with the Nord N300 5G.

Lastly, the Nord N300 5G will sport 33W fast charging, up from 18W on its predecessor and higher than some of the best Android phones from Samsung and Google.

Fortunately, there isn't much of a wait until the phone is fully unveiled, but so far, it already sounds like a winner if OnePlus can price it competitively enough against the best budget Android phones.

What you need to know

• MediaTek introduced a new mid-range chipset this week.
• Dubbed Dimensity 1080, it is a successor to the Dimesnity 920 SoC.
• The Dimensity 1080 has support 200MP primary camera next to 4K video recording capabilities.

Early this week, MediaTek has come up with the new Dimensity 1080 chipset that claims to bring a performance boost to 5G smartphones. In addition, the chipset maker foresees significant camera upgrades over the predecessor, the Dimensity 920 SoC.

The new Dimensity chipset is built on a 6nm architecture that includes an octa-core CPU featuring two Arm Cortex A78 CPU cores that promise clock speeds of up to 2.6GHz. It is accompanied by an Arm Mali-G68 CPU that promises performance for users who rely on gaming, streaming, or browsing.

The Dimensity 1080 chipset also packs all the latest camera features with support for a 200MP primary lens next to MediaTek's Imagiq ISP. The SoC can handle 4K with its HDR video recording engine for video.

200MP cameras have only started hitting the market, with the first being the Motorola Edge 30 Ultra, so it'll be interesting to see this trickle down to sub-flagship phones.

The chipset is expected to power some of the best cheap Android smartphones, and MediaTek touts how well it can handle games with its advanced HyperEngine 3.0 coupled with AI processing unit 3.0 for power efficiency. The SoC further supports Wi-Fi 6 and operates sub-6GHz 5G for connectivity.

In the announcement blog post, CH Chen, MediaTek's Deputy General Manager of Wireless Communications Business Unit, says, "the Dimensity 1080 offers a full suite of advanced features that challenge expectations about what a 5G smartphone can do."

"This new chipset is designed to further enhance many of the functions that made its predecessor great, including processing power, camera and video quality, and time to market for manufacturers."

Lastly, MediaTek assures that Dimensity 1080-powered mid-range smartphones will start launching in the fourth quarter of this year. Users will be able to take advantage of MediaTek's latest innovations on this chipset at an affordable price point.

What you need to know

• MediaTek has announced the new Dimensity 9000+ flagship chipset.
• The chip's Cortex X-2 core is clocked at a higher 3.2GHz for faster performance.
• The Dimensity will go up against the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 when the first phones launch in Q3 2022.

As we await the first phones with Qualcomm's new Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 to reach the market, MediaTek is coming onto the scene with a mid-year refresh of its own. The chipmaker has announced the new Dimensity 9000+ chipset to give flagship smartphones a boost in the second half of 2022.

One of the biggest differences between the Dimensity 9000 and this newer chip is the increase in CPU power. The main Cortex X-2 performance core is clocked a bit higher at 3.2GHz, up from 3.05GHz on the standard Dimensity 9000. This should provide a 5% boost in performance, while the Arm Mali-G710 MC10 GPU will see a 10% performance increase.

MediaTek also highlights other features borrowed from its earlier chipset, such as support for 320MP sensors and triple HDR recording with up to three cameras. The chipset also sports some of the latest connectivity standards, including Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi 6E, and a 5G modem supporting 7Gbps downloads using sub-6 bands, thanks to carrier aggregation.

"Building on the success of our first flagship 5G chipset, the Dimensity 9000+ ensures that device makers always have access to the most advanced high-performance features and the latest mobile technologies, making it possible for their top-tier smartphones to stand out," says Dr. Yenchi Lee, Deputy General Manager of MediaTek's Wireless Communications Business Unit. "With a suite of top-tier AI, gaming, multimedia, imaging and connectivity features, the Dimensity 9000+ delivers faster gameplay, seamless streaming and an all-around better user experience."

MediaTek expects the first Android phones powered by the Dimensity 9000+ chipset to ship in Q3 of this year, pitting the chipset against the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset. 

Motorola has made a name for itself in the affordable Android smartphone segment. The company's Moto G lineup has plenty to choose from, although not all of them are great. However, the company's 2022 lineup is stepping things up by bringing 5G to lower price points. The new Moto G 5G is the latest budget smartphone for the U.S. market, and it comes with some respectable specs, such as a Snapdragon processor, a higher-refresh-rate display, and a massive battery that would make plenty of Android phones jealous.

However, the Moto G 5G makes some compromises that are a bit hard to gloss over, and I'm not sure if the phone is really worth Motorola's asking price when there are plenty of other comparable budget Android phones that you can buy for much less.

Moto G 5G: Price and availability

Sales for the Moto G 5G (2022) began on May 19, and the device retails for $400 unlocked. This gets you 6GB of RAM and 256GB of expandable storage. However, you may be able to find the phone for as much as $50 less at select retailers, including Best Buy, Amazon, and even Motorola.com.

Some carriers such as T-Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile, and Cricket Wireless have the phone for as little as $200. However, with some carrier deals, you may even be able to score the device for free. Keep in mind that this variant only includes 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage, so performance may take a hit.

Moto G 5G: What it gets right

One of the best things about Motorola smartphones is the mostly "stock" Android experience. You should expect a similar experience on the Moto G 5G (2022) to what you'll get on a Pixel smartphone. Of course, there are some differences, and Motorola has its own color schemes and themes to choose from.

Motorola also has a set of handy gestures (pun intended) that it includes with its phones that I really enjoy using with this phone. For instance, chopping or twisting it twice to turn on the flashlight and camera. There are also some finger gestures like double-tapping the side-mounted fingerprint sensor to bring up a shortcut to your favorite apps or swiping your finger back and forth across the display to enable split-screen mode.

All of this is thankfully on top of Android 12. Earlier in the year, we saw Motorola phones launching with Android 11, so it's nice to see the latest stable software version here. Thanks to the mid-range MediaTek Dimensity 700 chipset, everything runs pretty smoothly. It's not a particularly powerful chip, but performance is good for this price point, and there's not too much in the way of jitters or stuttering. That's probably due to the 6GB of RAM in the version I have, with the lower-end model sporting 4GB.

Playing games isn't bad either, and though there isn't any sort of performance-boosting mode like on other Motorola devices, it manages to run graphics-intensive games reasonably well. That said, this chipset isn't exactly a powerhouse, so results may vary depending on what you're playing, but it plays well with apps and simple games. Just don't buy this phone expecting a phenomenal gaming performance.

What is phenomenal is the battery life. Motorola tends to tout two-day battery life on its phones, stuffing 5,000mAh batteries into its devices. With the Moto G 5G, this is very much the case. The phone will easily last more than a day on even heavy use and likely the full two days on regular use. I play a lot of games, take a lot of pictures, and watch a lot of YouTube, but the phone chugs along happily throughout the day. Daily, overnight charging isn't really necessary here, which is nice to see.

Moto G 5G: The compromises

Fast charging isn't expected on budget phones, and less so on Motorola phones. The phone takes quite a while to charge due to its slow 10W charging and large battery size. Fortunately, your battery will last you a while in-between charges, but when you have to plug it in, you'll be waiting around for it to top up, so it kind of balances out. Still, I wish the phone charged a little faster.

You also can't expect much in terms of design for a budget Android phone such as this. The device features the same design as just about every other Motorola phone launched this year. This was fine as far as the Moto G Stylus 5G (2022) was concerned, as it had a nice sheen to it that made it feel a little more premium. The Moto G 5G, however, both looks and feels cheap; an aesthetic further solidified by the phone's sizeable bezels and a rather large chin. Nothing about this phone stands out, particularly amongst Motorola's 2022 lineup. It's not unexpected, but I find it a bummer when cheaper devices like the OnePlus Nord N200 look much better.

Another weak spot is the display. Motorola outfitted this device with a 6.5-inch HD+ display, which isn't the best by any means. It's helped by the 90Hz refresh rate, but the display isn't very sharp or vibrant.

The Moto G 5G sports a 50MP primary sensor with a macro camera and depth sensor. The lack of an ultrawide sensor is unfortunate, limiting me to the primary sensor or the rarely used macro camera. I'm also not very impressed with the output from the primary sensor. Images come out too saturated for my liking, as if the software is trying to overcompensate for the hardware. I'm not sure if this results from the sensor, chipset, or Motorola's algorithm, but looking at the final result always feels a bit jarring.

Low-light images come out okay, but don't expect much from this device in the camera department. Selfies are also a weak spot, and the 13MP sensor applies a lot of unnatural smoothing.

As expected from a budget Motorola phone, the Moto G 5G doesn't have NFC, so you can pretty much kiss Google Pay goodbye.

Software support, or lack of it, is something else that's par-for-the-course for low-cost Motorola phones. The device runs Android 12 out of the box, which is great. However, you won't get any OS upgrades beyond Android 13, so you might want to look elsewhere if that's something you care about. Motorola does promise three years of security updates, so that's something.

Moto G 5G: Competition

If you're looking for an inexpensive 5G smartphone, I would look to the OnePlus Nord N20 5G. Not only does it have a spectacular design, but it's powered by a Qualcomm chipset, sports much faster charging, and has a fantastic FHD+ AMOLED display. Unfortunately, the trade-off for that impressive-looking display is a lower 60Hz refresh rate. It will also receive only one major OS upgrade, but launching with Android 11 out-of-the-box means it's already a bit outdated.

The new TCL Stylus 5G is another attractive option that can be had for a similar price. It has a decent design with a sharp FHD+ display, its quad-camera setup includes an ultrawide sensor, and it has a built-in stylus. However, its battery capacity is significantly lower than the Moto G 5G, and its only model sports 4GB of RAM and 128GB of internal (expandable) storage.

If you want something more in the ballpark of what Motorola is charging for the "higher-end" Moto G 5G with 6GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, you might wanna look at the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G. For $50 more, you get a 120Hz FHD+ AMOLED display, fantastic cameras, water resistance, and years of OS upgrades and software support. You'll have to make do with half the internal storage, but you can always throw in a microSD card.

Moto G 5G: Should you buy it?

You should buy this if...

• You're looking for an affordable 5G smartphone
• You want a smartphone with long battery life
• You want a "stock" Android experience

You shouldn't buy this if...

• You want a fast-charging smartphone
• You want a good, versatile camera experience
• You want a phone that will give you more than one OS upgrade

The Moto G 5G (2022) is pretty decent for anyone looking for an affordable 5G smartphone. It packs a large display and an even larger battery that can really go the distance. Despite the nearly two-year-old mid-range MediaTek chipset, it performs quite well and should get you through a day or two with very little trouble.

That said, there are too many compromises that would make me hesitate to recommend this phone to anyone. The design is incredibly uninspired, the display is a measly 720p+ resolution, and the camera setup is pretty subpar. Again, it's not a bad phone, per se; it's just not great either. For a budget smartphone, that's actually okay.

Phones aren't meant to be extravagant at this price point, so I don't expect the world from this device, and you shouldn't either. As someone who often criticizes Motorola, I don't really mind the Moto G 5G (2022). That said, it wouldn't be the first phone I pick up if I were looking for a cheap 5G smartphone, at least at Motorola's recommended $400 price. If it were $150 cheaper, then we'd be talking, but there are plenty of other phones in the $400 price point (and cheaper) that offer much more than what you can find here, and you'd likely be better off grabbing one of those.

What you need to know

• MediaTek's U.S. market share has hit a record high at 45% in April 2022.
• Qualcomm's share in the U.S. is 47%, signaling a shift in demand and in Qualcomm's leadership.
• Google and Samsung both hold very small percentages of the U.S. SoC market.

MediaTek is on the rise, and it seems like even Qualcomm might be unable to stop it. The Taiwanese chipmaker recently recorded a 45% market share in the U.S. as of April 2022, its highest ever in the country.

A Counterpoint Research report highlights MediaTek's rise at the expense of its biggest rival, Qualcomm. According to the report, Qualcomm holds 47% of the U.S. market, just 2% above MediaTek.

The latest numbers spotlight a trend that's been ongoing since mid-2021 as the market share gap between the two chipset giants becomes smaller and smaller. The chart below reveals Qualcomm's waning rein in the U.S. as MediaTek increases its foothold in the U.S.

Samsung and Google are understandably fighting for the remaining sliver of U.S. market share. Google only has one chipset, which can be found in its latest Pixel 6 smartphones. Meanwhile, Samsung generally reserves its Exynos chips for other markets, instead utilizing MediaTek chips in its lower-end smartphones.

"MediaTek's growth really took off last year with design wins for the Samsung Galaxy A12 and Galaxy A32 5G, which became huge hits in the prepaid market, selling over 5.2 and 3.8 million devices respectively in 2021," notes Matthew Orf, research analyst at Counterpoint Research. "The chipmaker's growth has continued with key design wins again within Samsung for the Galaxy A03s and Galaxy A13 5G, as well as in Motorola with the Moto G Pure and Moto G Power 2022."

Senior research analyst Hanish Bhatia adds that U.S. carriers were instrumental in pushing budget Android phones, many of which take advantage of the lower-cost MediaTek chips.

However, Qualcomm still dominates in the premium segment, as noted by senior research analyst Maurice Klaehne. "Qualcomm recorded a 93% share in the $800 and above segment of the Android market in April, and a 64% share in the $250-$800 Android segment," he says, pointing out strong demand for the Galaxy S22 series.

However, MediaTek isn't resting on its laurels, and while its focus remains largely on budget and mid-range smartphones, it also has its sights on the premium segment. This is noted by power chips such as the Dimensity 9000 and the recently announced Dimensity 1050, the company's first mmWave 5G SoC.

Our Harish Jonnalagadda warned last year that MediaTek's mid-range resurgence should worry Qualcomm, as the Taiwanese chipmaker offers comparable performance at lower, more attractive prices. And with rumors of upcoming Galaxy flagships sporting MediaTek chips, it looks like Qualcomm's slow decline is set to continue.

There's a lot of excitement in the Chromebook space right now, with Steam Alpha finally arriving, along with Intel's 12th-gen chipsets coming to new Chromebooks in the near future. But Intel isn't the only player in the Chromebook space, as we've been seeing more and more options released using some of MediaTek's chipsets. 

One such example is the Acer Chromebook 514 (2H) which is powered by the MediaTek Kompanio 828. This Chromebook was announced late in 2021, promising to provide a powerful alternative to Intel-powered Chromebooks at a lower price. 

That's the whole deal with MediaTek's current lineup of chips, as we're seeing cheaper smartphones, cheaper tablets, and now cheaper Chromebooks. But today, we're taking a look at how the Kompanio 828 performs within the Acer Chromebook 514.

Getting started

There's not too much to write home about when it comes to the overall design of the Chromebook 514. You're still greeted with the same design we've seen across practically all of Acer's recent Chromebooks, save for a few differences here and there.

As the name denotes, this Chromebook sports a 14-inch display, complete with a 1920x1080 resolution and an anti-glare finish. While this doesn't offer a convertible design, it does sport a touchscreen panel, but you won't be able to use your favorite USI stylus with it. Instead, you'll need to stick with the stylus' attached to your hand in order to interact with the screen. 

One thing that I noticed right away is that the Chromebook 514 gets quite a bit brighter than I expected. Even with the anti-glare, matte finish on the screen, this Chromebook has been able to withstand me sitting on my patio and getting some work done. It's not something that is applicable across all of the best Chromebooks, but it's definitely a nice touch not needing to strain your eyes.

Something else that is a nice touch is the upward-firing speakers. Most Chromebook makers have a tendency of using bottom-firing speakers, which is just frustrating. Because when you're using this laptop on your lap, the sound is muffled and it's practically pointless to listen to anything as it just won't be enjoyable. Thankfully, that's not the case here, and while the Chromebook 514 can't match up with my 2021 16-inch MacBook Pro, it's better than a lot of the other devices that I have, so I don't feel the need to reach for some Bluetooth headphones.

Performance is better than expected

To be quite honest, I wasn't sure what to expect going into using a Chromebook with a MediaTek chipset. I've used Chromebooks off and on over the years, but after joining Android Central in a full-time capacity, it was time to jump in head-first. During that time, there are some devices that I use which are powered by Snapdragon chips or Intel ones. But there's just been something about this MediaTek option that makes me keep coming back for more.

Unlike something like the ASUS Chromebook CX9, or even Acer's own Chromebook Spin 713, you won't be able to enjoy the new Steam Alpha program. But I did install a few games to get a feel for the performance and definitely haven't been disappointed. For those who are interested in benchmarks, here's how the Chromebook 514 (2H) performed:

• Octane: 25060

For the sake of comparison, this is how the Chromebook Spin 713 fared in the same test:

• Octane: 50709

That's a pretty stark contrast, right? Especially considering that our Spin 713 is running Intel's 11th-gen i5 chipset. But there's also more to the story, as this specific configuration is also roughly about $250 more expensive than the Kompanio-powered Chromebook 514. In day-to-day use, you'll not notice a difference between the two, save for the ability to jump into Steam. 

Multi-tasking is a breeze, as the Chromebook 514 handles all of the different tabs that I have open at any given time, along with PWA's like Feedbin and apps like Obsidian, Todoist, and Keep. I only noticed a hiccup a couple of times, and that's when I started messing around with trying to install a Linux partition.

The Chromebook 514 was even able to handle me firing up Lightroom to edit the pictures you see in this article with ease. Exports took a bit longer than other devices that I have at my disposal, but I still was able to perform the edits and get them formatted so that they could be used.

The real reason to get the Chromebook 514 is battery life

Let me put this plainly. The Chromebook 514 with its Kompanio 828 chip and 1080p display is absolutely my favorite Chromebook when it comes to needing battery life. Chrome OS has evolved to the point where it's not as much of a battery hog on most devices, but I'm easily able to get through an entire day, around 10 hours or so, without needing to reach for a charger once. 

If you want a smartphone analogy, this Chromebook is the equivalent of owning and using the iPhone 13 Pro Max. It just sips the battery, even when trying to do more labor-intensive tasks. Naturally, the battery will drain faster or slower depending on what it is that you're doing, but you don't need to have a charger within arm's reach. 

We need more Chromebooks like this, and I think we're likely close to seeing just that as newer Kompanio chips make their way into new Chromebook models.

There's a catch, and it's frustrating

For all of the good that has come out of my time with the Chromebook 514, there's one glaring problem. It has nothing to do with the Kompanio 828, or the display, speakers, keyboard, or even port selection. It has everything to do with storage. The obvious goal of this device is to be one of the best higher-end, "cheap" Chromebooks. 

But one area that I continued to be concerned with is the storage. For starters, you're only given 64GB of storage via eMMC, so you're not even getting a traditional SSD here. While the inclusion of eMMC is one detractor, the bigger problem is that the Chromebook 514 is only available with 64GB of storage for consumers. There's no option to swing for a 128GB SSD model, let alone one with an option for nVME storage. 

With so many different apps and games available today, if you were really hoping to turn the Chromebook 514 into an everyday device, it's tough. 64GB on a laptop is comical, especially when other Chromebooks, like the recently-released Chromebook Duet 3 and its 128GB of storage, are available for even less than the Chromebook 514. Things might have looked differently if there was a way to use a microSD card slot, but Acer opted against including that with this release. It's not an absolute make-or-break scenario, but it's definitely not a fun one.

Who is the Acer Chromebook 514 for and should you buy it?

To answer the question posed, the Acer Chromebook 514 is for those who don't want (or need) all of the power packed into a Chromebook. It's for those who need as much battery life as possible, those who live in the cloud (for storage), and if you just want a solid Chromebook that's a step above the best cheap Chromebooks. Acer's tried and true design continues to bore us, but the upward-firing speakers and comfortable keyboard make for a great overall experience. 

Should you buy it? Probably. If you meet any or all of the requirements that I listed above, then this is the perfect Chromebook for you. Yes, I wish that it had more storage, and I wish that there was a non-eMMC option available. But outside of that, the Acer Chromebook 514 is the perfect companion for the all-day warriors who need a solid combination of lower pricing, solid performance, and incredible battery life.

What you need to know

• MediaTek launches its latest chipset the Dimensity 1050, built on a 6nm process.
• The Dimensity 1050 is the company's first SoC to support mmWave 5G.
• MediaTek has also launched the Dimensity 930 and Helio G99.
• Smartphones powered by the Dimensity 1050 will launch in Q3 2022.

MediaTek is on the rise, and its latest launch could help propel it against the behemoth that is Qualcomm. The company announced the new Dimensity 1050 chipset, which it says will arrive in smartphones as soon as Q3 of this year.

The MediaTek Dimensity 1050 is the first of the company's SoCs to support mmWave 5G. This should enable faster data connections for budget Android phones, which appear to be the target for the new chip.

"Through dual connectivity using mmWave and sub-6GHz, the Dimensity 1050 will deliver the speeds and capacity required to provide smartphone users with an incredible experience, even in some of the most densely populated areas," the chipmaker says in a press release on Monday.

MediaTek did not specify the modem used in the SoC, but the company launched its first 5G modem with mmWave, the M80, in early 2021.

In addition to 5G capabilities, the company also touts improvements to Wi-Fi speeds with tri-band support for 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz connections and Wi-Fi 6E. The chip's HyperEngine 5.0 promises improved gaming, along with support for the 144Hz Full HD+. The chip should also provide a boost to camera performance with improved AI and dual HDR capture.

The Dimensity 1050 is built on a 6nm process with an octa-core CPU. It features two high-end Arm Cortex-A78 cores clocked at 2.5GHz. MediaTek says it will launch on smartphones in the third quarter of this year.

In addition to the Dimensity 1050, MediaTek has also announced the lower-end Dimensity 930 with support for sub-6 5G connections and 120Hz Full HD+ displays. Lastly, the company has announced a new Helio G99 chipset with 4G LTE connectivity and better efficiency than its predecessor. These chips will be available in Q3 and Q2 of this year, respectively.

With these new launches, MediaTek further positions itself as a worthy alternative to Qualcomm. It'll be interesting to see how the company advances its position in the U.S. market going forward.