MediaTek is preparing to extend its dominance in the premium smartphone chipset arena with the upcoming Dimensity 9500. Building on the success of the Dimensity 9400 series, the new flagship chip is expected to boost shipments by 33 percent in 2025, pushing volumes to around 24 million units. 
This momentum follows a strong 2024, where MediaTek doubled its flagship revenue to $2 billion and grew shipments by 60 percent.
Much of this growth is rooted in China, the world’s largest smartphone market by volume. Brands like Vivo, OPPO, and Redmi are driving MediaTek’s rise, with Vivo taking the lead in orders for the Dimensity 9500. Competitive pricing, better thermals and battery efficiency, and strong AI and gaming performance have positioned MediaTek as a genuine rival to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon lineup
. Crucially, the absence of costly millimeter-wave support has allowed MediaTek to keep costs down in markets where the feature is unnecessary.
Qualcomm’s upcoming Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 is rumored to carry a higher price tag, which could give MediaTek’s partners more freedom to price their flagships aggressively. However, MediaTek’s heavy reliance on China remains both a strength and a risk. A slowdown in demand could quickly impact revenues, and while the company is expanding in India and Southeast Asia, the Chinese market will remain its backbone for now. The looming presence of Huawei also complicates competition, especially as Chinese brands fight for every fraction of market share in an increasingly saturated space.
The Dimensity 9500 is therefore not just another chip launch – it’s a litmus test of whether MediaTek can sustain its momentum, challenge Qualcomm’s long-held dominance, and maintain growth in a market where every pricing move matters.