Snapdragon vs MediaTek: Which Chipset Is Better for Your Phone?

Buying a smartphone now has fundamentally changed and has become much easier than buying one half a decade ago. Qualcomm's monopoly was finally curbed by MediaTek's Dimensity processors, levelling the playing field. From being known for its hot and inefficient processors, to being the maker of some of the most powerful flagship and efficient mid-range processors. 

However, this diminished gap has given rise to a new dilemma for buyers: Snapdragon or MediaTek? The short answer is that it depends on what you want. But that answer isn't enough on its own, so we have devised a detailed comparison to help you decide exactly which is better, Mediatek or Snapdragon.

The Flagship Tier Heavyweights

If you're spending the top money on a premium smartphone, the good news is that you can't go wrong with either. In the last few years, MediaTek has successfully bridged the gap with the Dimensity 9500 as it performs very close to Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset.

Despite Qualcomm pivoting from ARM to its own Oryon cores, which were believed to be faster than ARM's last-gen ARMv9.2, folks at ARM worked on ARMv9.3-A cores that perform on par with Snapdragon's 3rd-generation Oryon counterparts. Therefore, the gap previously seen in Snapdragon 8 Elite vs MediaTek Dimensity 9400 could shrink significantly in Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 vs Dimensity 9500.

Qualcomm's Adreno dominance has also been receiving tough competition from ARM's Mali GPUs. We witnessed this in our 8 Elite vs 9400 comparison, and although we don't have the concrete Dimensity 9500 benchmarks at the moment, we expect the GPU performance of ARM's new Immortalis Drage GPU to still match the Adreno 840 in the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5.

Both processors are capable of handling heavy multitasking incredibly well without breaking a sweat. Still, if you're a hardcore gamer who wants the best of the best with developers prioritising Adreno GPU, the Snapdragon should be your go-to. Or if you want flagship performance without the "Snapdragon Tax" in a chipset that offers 99% of the experience whilst saving up a little, the MediaTek Dimensity processors are just as good.

The Mid-Range Kings: Value Wars

Flagship processors are far too boring, having reached a saturation point where no two high-tier processors can be distinguished from each other unless they're pushed to their limits. However, MediaTek's Dimensity 8000, 7000 and 6000 series and Qualcomm's Snapdragon 7 and 6 series are a slightly different story.

These processors are aggressively positioned, but we believe that in the last few years, MediaTek has captured a significant part of the lower mid-range to mid-range market with its 6000 and 7000 series.

This was made possible with MediaTek bringing older flagship cores to its 7000 and 8000 series, offering raw performance that Qualcomm's mid-range counterparts struggle to match at the same price point.

Upper Mid-Range Chips

For example, when we pitted MediaTek's Dimensity 8450 against Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8s Gen 4, it secured wins in a few aspects. The difference is visible in our Dimensity 8450 vs Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 comparison, where the former takes the lead in GPU.

The Dimensity 8400 posted impressive results in our standalone benchmarks, and the best part is that these processors can be found in the sub- Rs 25,000 price segments, while the Qualcomm counterparts live in the sub-Rs 40,000 market.

Another great example can be found in our Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 vs MediaTek Dimensity 7400 benchmarks, where the Dimensity 7400 puts up a brilliant fight against the much more expensive Snapdragon 7 Gen 4.

Bear in mind that these are processors found in two completely different price points. The Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 is found in phones under Rs 35,000, whereas the Dimensity 7400 is found in phones under 15,000.

To end this comparison, while MediaTek is clearly the value champion here, it doesn't outright beat the Snapdragon 7 series. MediaTek clearly needs to expand its 8000 series because there clearly aren't many processors in it at the moment. Still, when it comes to value, MediaTek offers the better value out of the two. However, raw performance-wise, there's no beating Snapdragon.

Lower Mid-Range Processors

Unfortunately, this is where MediaTek's value narrative falls apart as the entry-level Dimensity 6300 and 6400 are no match for, say, the Snapdragon 6s Gen 4 or Snapdragon 6 Gen 4. Dimensity 6400-powered smartphones often appear in the sub-Rs 15,000 to even sub-Rs 10,000 segment, while Snapdragon 6s Gen 4 or 6 Gen 4 is found in the sub-Rs 18,000 range.

We would advise against picking MediaTek's 6000 series, as it largely recycles older ARMv8 cores. If your budget is strictly below Rs 12,000, MediaTek is often your only choice, but if you can stretch your budget to Rs 15,000, the Snapdragon 6-series phones offer better performance that the Dimensity 6000 series simply cannot match.

Summing up, mid-range phones thrive on their value proposition, and Qualcomm's mid-range processors generally make the phones a bit more expensive. MediaTek, on the other hand, doesn't have a portfolio as diverse as the Snapdragon 6, 7 and 8 series but does offer bang-for-buck processors, unlocking the true mid-range potential. Therefore, this battle mostly ends in a draw.

The Entry-Level Tier: Budget Baseline

Due to rapid changes in the smartphone industry, the entry-level tier is pretty much gone. Historically, Snapdragon's 4 and 4s series have been superior, offering better connectivity and battery life. However, MediaTek has largely killed its Helio processors in favour of Dimensity 6300 and Dimensity 6400 even in lower-end phones.

This means the entry-level phones that cost under Rs 10,000 perform much better than, say, the Snapdragon 4 Gen 3. Besides, most manufacturers have dropped using Qualcomm's 4 series processors in favour of Dimensity 6000 series. The Snapdragon 4 Gen 2, released in early 2023, was the last Qualcomm chip found on entry-level phones. However, we may see new budget phones with the recently launched Snapdragon 4 Gen 4 soon enough. 

Summing up, MediaTek clearly takes the lead in the budget segment as well with its Dimensity 6000 and 7000 series, offering much better performance than its Snapdragon counterparts.

Verdict: Which one should you buy?

And there you have it, folks, the current state of the Snapdragon vs Dimensity debate. The era where one was better than the other is over. The question is no longer" Which brand is better?" but rather "Which price segment are you shopping in?". 

If you're a flagship buyer, you're in the safest position. Pick the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 or the Dimensity 9500, and you are getting a top-tier experience. The mid-range is where the paths slightly diverge, with MediaTek now considered the Robin Hood of the industry. The Snapdragon 7 series chipsets are great, but for the vast majority of users, a Dimensity 7000 or 8000 series chip is the smarter financial decision.

Qualcomm has not lost its edge and remains the king of stability and optimisation. The chipsets deliver consistently better ISPs and sustained performance. Similarly, in the lower mid-range category, Snapdragon's 6-series chip offers better raw CPU power compared to MediaTek's 6000 series. 

The bottom line is, you should get a MediaTek Dimensity-powered phone if you want the best possible performance for every rupee you spend. Buy Snapdragon if you prioritise the "Qualcomm tax", which usually means longer software support, better image processing and better optimisations.