Dimensity 9500 looks competitive and may edge Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 in GPU features and AI efficiency on paper. Qualcomm’s CPUs still post excellent peak clocks, and many 8 Gen 4 phones benefit from strong thermals and long update promises. Your winner depends on gaming stability, camera tuning, and battery priorities.
What is Dimensity 9500, and where does Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 fit today?
MediaTek’s Dimensity 9500 is a 3 nm flagship with an “all big core” CPU layout, a new Mali-G1 Ultra GPU, and an NPU designed for on-device generative AI. It adds four-lane UFS 4.1 and Wi-Fi 7. First phones arrive from OPPO and vivo, with OPPO’s Find X9 confirmed.
The Qualcomm naming curveball: 8 Gen 4, 8 Elite, and Gen 5 explained
Qualcomm rebranded “Snapdragon 8 Gen 4” to Snapdragon 8 Elite in 2024, then introduced Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 in 2025. If you’re searching, “8 Gen 4” news often maps to “8 Elite.” This article focuses on 9500 vs 8 Gen 4/8 Elite, with notes where Gen 5 shifts the bar.
Launch windows and first phones to watch
OPPO Find X9 with Dimensity 9500 lands mid-October in China and hits India in November. Expect vivo X-series soon after. 8 Gen 4/8 Elite devices are already in the wild from Xiaomi, OnePlus, and others, with Gen 5 rolling out in late 2025.
Specs at a glance
CPU cores, process, clocks
- Dimensity 9500: 1× Arm C1-Ultra up to 4.21 GHz, 3× C1-Premium, 4× C1-Pro, large shared caches, built on TSMC N3P. All cores are “big,” tuned for burst and sustained loads.
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 / 8 Elite: 2 custom Oryon prime cores up to ~4.3 GHz plus 6 performance cores on TSMC 3 nm, strong single-thread.
GPU and ray tracing features
- Dimensity 9500: Arm Mali-G1 Ultra MC12, MediaTek quotes up to 33% peak uplift and 119% better ray tracing, with 120 FPS ray-traced gaming support.
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 / 8 Elite: Adreno 830, excellent drivers and mature game support; Gen 5 bumps both clocks and efficiency further.
AI/NPU and on-device models
- Dimensity 9500: NPU 990 with compute-in-memory block, 2× gen-over-gen speed, lower peak power, 4K text-to-image, SME2 instruction support on CPU.
- Snapdragon 8 Elite: Upgraded Hexagon NPU, robust on-device generative features; Gen 5 lifts throughput again.
Memory, storage, connectivity
- Dimensity 9500: LPDDR5X-10667, UFS 4.1 (4-lane), Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, 5G R17 features.
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 / 8 Elite: LPDDR5X, UFS 4.0/4.1, Wi-Fi 7, advanced modem features vary by device.
Camera and video pipelines
- Dimensity 9500: Imagiq 1190, up to 200 MP stills, 4K120 with EIS, 8K60 decode and up to 8K30 encode paths.
- Snapdragon 8 Elite: Advanced ISP with APV codec and computational video features on Gen 5. Gen 4 implementations vary by OEM.
Quck Compare Dimensity 9500 vs Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 / 8 Elite Spec Table
| Category | Dimensity 9500 | Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 / 8 Elite |
|---|---|---|
| Process | TSMC N3P | TSMC N3E/3 nm |
| CPU layout | 1× C1-Ultra, 3× C1-Premium, 4× C1-Pro | 2× Oryon prime, 6× Oryon performance |
| Peak CPU clock | Up to 4.21 GHz | ~4.3 GHz class |
| GPU | Mali-G1 Ultra MC12 | Adreno 830 |
| AI/NPU | NPU 990, CIM, SME2 | Hexagon NPU, large gen uplift (Gen 5 even higher) |
| Memory | LPDDR5X-10667 | LPDDR5X |
| Storage | UFS 4.1 4-lane | UFS 4.0/4.1 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Bluetooth | 6.0 | 5.x/6.0 by device |
| Video | up to 4K120 capture, 8K decode/encode paths | advanced APV, features vary by OEM |
Performance and battery – What early numbers suggest
Early public results show AnTuTu totals around 4.0M for Dimensity 9500 in pre-release phones, with strong GPU subscores. Snapdragon 8 Gen 4/8 Elite results vary by device and thermal limits. Gen 5 edges CPU in some tests but GPU wins swing with drivers and cooling. Treat pre-launch numbers cautiously.
CPU: single-core vs multi-core
Dimensity 9500’s all-big-core design helps keep app launches snappy and backgrounds responsive. Qualcomm’s Oryon cores still post excellent single-thread peaks, which benefit scrolling, game logic, and heavy web tasks. Expect a photo-finish in daily feel, with OEM tuning deciding it.
Gaming: FPS, thermals, ray tracing
MediaTek’s claims are aggressive: higher peak GPU and 120 FPS ray-traced titles. Qualcomm’s Adreno stack counters with mature optimization in popular engines. Sustained FPS depends on chassis size and cooling. If you play long sessions, wait for device-level thermal data.
Efficiency: day-to-day
9500 is built for lower peak power during bursts and AI tasks, which can translate to cooler pockets and fewer throttling dips in short sessions. Qualcomm’s efficiency improved generation-over-generation too. Real battery life will still hinge on display, modem usage, and OEM power profiles.
Camera stack differences that matter
Dimensity 9500 brings 4K120 with EIS and fast AI focus tracking that helps action clips and sports. Qualcomm’s latest ISP stack on Gen 5 adds APV and smarter video exposure. As always, camera quality will depend on sensor and OEM tuning more than the silicon alone.
Software support and long-term value
Qualcomm and Google announced extended support on newer 8-series devices, but rollouts depend on each brand. MediaTek phones have improved update tracks, yet policies still vary. Compare OEM promises, not just chips, before you buy.
Which one should you buy?
- Competitive gaming: Lean Dimensity 9500 for ray tracing features and high peak FPS, provided the device has good cooling.
- All-day endurance: Could go either way. Pick the phone with a larger battery, efficient display, and a cooler chassis.
- Video creation: If you want 4K120 with EIS on Android and fast AI AF, Dimensity 9500 phones look promising. If you want APV workflows and pro apps, check a Snapdragon 8 Elite device with strong ISP features.
- Value flagships: Watch OPPO/vivo launches on 9500. Xiaomi/OnePlus often squeeze sharp pricing on Snapdragon.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is 9500 built on TSMC 3 nm?
Yes, on TSMC’s N3P node.
Does it have an “efficiency core”?
No. It uses an all-big-core layout with different C1 core tiers.
What about Bluetooth?
MediaTek lists Bluetooth 6.0 support on the 9500. Feature sets will vary by device.
How do 9500 AnTuTu scores compare?
Pre-release numbers hover around 4.0M. Interpret carefully until retail firmware stabilizes.
Is Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 the same as 8 Elite?
Yes, Qualcomm shifted branding in 2024. You’ll see “8 Elite” where “8 Gen 4” would have been.
Will Gen 5 change the picture?
Gen 5 pushes CPU efficiency and overall SoC gains. It raises the bar again for 2025 phones.
Featured Snippet Boxes
Is Dimensity 9500 faster than Snapdragon 8 Gen 4?
In short bursts, 9500 can match or beat 8 Gen 4 in GPU features and AI efficiency on paper. CPU peak still looks excellent on 8 Gen 4. Final speeds depend on each phone’s cooling and firmware.
Does Dimensity 9500 support Wi-Fi 7 and UFS 4.1?
Yes. It supports Wi-Fi 7 and four-lane UFS 4.1, which can double sequential speeds and speed up model loads.
Which phones use Dimensity 9500 first?
OPPO Find X9 is confirmed, with vivo flagships expected next. India launch is slated for November.
What’s special about its AI engine?
MediaTek’s NPU 990 uses a compute-in-memory block and supports SME2, enabling faster, lower-power on-device generative AI and 4K image generation.