MediaTek may turn the tables with Dimensity 9400 but performance isn’t everything.
Qualcomm has reigned supreme in the mobile processor market for years. Despite the efforts of MediaTek, it remains in second place for many users.
However, the Taiwanese semiconductor brand will soon unleash the beast that may actually give Qualcomm a run for its money this year. This is the anticipated match between Dimensity 9400 and Snapdragon 8 Gen 4.
According to the popular tipster Digital Chat Station, the Dimensity 9400 will have a performance level capable of challenging Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 and even Apple’s A18 Pro. The advantage is the IPC of this Dimensity SoC.
Clock speed determines how many cycles a CPU can complete in a second. In contrast, IPC or instructions per clock/cycle on CPU determines how many things a processor can do in one cycle.
A 3.2GHz CPU can complete 3.2 billion cycles a second and in that second, how many things can it do in that many cycles. That’s what IPC is all about.
DCS claimed that Dimensity 9400 is using the “BlackHawk” or ARM’s latest CPU architecture. It comes with Cortex X5 and the tipster alleged that this processor is ahead of Qualcomm’s and Apple’s offerings in performance alone.
Is it a guaranteed win for MediaTek? Not yet. Dimensity 9400 may win in the technical aspect but it has a long road ahead.
Developers may optimize their apps and games to maximize certain chipsets. If they do, Qualcomm’s SOCs are easier to deal with because whatever they need for the CPU and GPU is readily available off the bat.
On the other hand, they need to give more effort in optimizing MediaTek’s SOCs since Mali and Immortalis GPUs are made separately by ARM Holdings, a British semiconductor firm.
There are other challenges as well. A Redditor posted that the Dimensity 7200 is good with the battery yet it suffered issues in Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi calling, and VoNR (voice over new radio) in 5G.
Performance is critical in CPUs, however, it doesn’t paint the whole picture. An excellent chipset should deliver without thermal and battery issues and can handle wireless functions and more without major problems.
What do you think?