Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite (Gen 4), VS MediaTek Dimensity 9400+, VS A19 Pro Chip Full Comparison
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite (Gen 4)
- Announcement/Release: Announced October 2024, devices released starting late 2024 and continuing into 2025.
- Architecture: Qualcomm’s custom Oryon CPU cores (2x Phoenix L at 4.32GHz + 6x Phoenix M at 3.53GHz). Built on TSMC’s 3nm process.
- GPU: Adreno 830.
- AI Engine: Qualcomm AI Engine Gen 4.
- Key Features:
- Significant performance leap over previous generations, especially in CPU
- Excellent for gaming, often with better optimization for specific titles and emulation capabilities.
- Strong thermal management in many implementations.
- Integrated Snapdragon X75 5G modem.
- Performance (General Benchmarks):
- AnTuTu 10: Around 2.8 – 3 million+
- Geekbench 6 (Single-core): Around 3000-3200
- Geekbench 6 (Multi-core): Around 9000-9500
- 3DMark Wild Life Extreme: Around 6300-6700
- Key Features:
- Notable: Known for rock-solid performance, especially for long gaming sessions and demanding multitasking. Often found in premium flagship Android devices.
MediaTek Dimensity 9400+
- iPhone 17 Pro MAnnouncement/Release: The standard Dimensity 9400 was announced in October 2024. The 9400+ was tipped to launch around April 2025.ax:
- Architecture: Octa-core CPU with a focus on powerful “all-big-core” design (e.g., 1x Cortex-X925 ultra-core clocked at up to 3.7GHz, 3x Cortex-X4, 4x Cortex-A720). Built on TSMC’s 3nm process.
- GPU: Immortalis-G925.
- AI Engine: MediaTek APU 7.0 (claimed 80% faster and 35% more energy-efficient than previous version).
- Key Features:
- Strong performance across the board, often rivaling or even slightly exceeding the Snapdragon 8 Elite in certain GPU benchmarks.
- Innovative AI features, including on-device video generation and LoRA model training.
- Generally good power efficiency and thermal performance.
- Performance (General Benchmarks):
- AnTuTu 10: Around 2.7 – 2.9 million+ (some reports show it even higher than SD8 Elite)
- Geekbench 6 (Single-core): Around 2700-2800
- Geekbench 6 (Multi-core): Around 8000-9000
- 3DMark Wild Life Extreme: Around 6800+ (often slightly higher than SD8 Elite)
- Key Features:
- Notable: MediaTek has made significant strides, offering highly competitive performance. Often provides a great balance of performance, efficiency, and potentially a more affordable price point in some devices.
Apple A19 Pro (Expected)
- Announcement/Release: Expected to launch with the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max models in September 2025.
- Architecture: Apple-designed CPU cores, likely built on TSMC’s 3rd generation 3nm process.
- GPU: Apple-designed GPU.
- AI Engine: Apple Neural Engine.
- Key Features (Expected):
- Historically, Apple’s A-series chips have led in single-core CPU performance.
- Seamless integration with iOS and Apple’s ecosystem.
- Focus on optimized performance for Apple’s software and hardware.
- Expected improvements in performance and battery efficiency over the A18.
- Could bring M4-chip level speed in single-core workloads.
- Performance (Expected/Leaks – these are predictions):
- Geekbench 6 (Single-core): Leaks suggest performance matching the M4 chip, implying a significant lead. (M4 scores are extremely high).
- Geekbench 6 (Multi-core): Expected to be very strong, though often not as high as Android flagships due to Apple’s core configuration and optimization.
- Key Features (Expected):
- Notable: The A19 Pro will be exclusive to Apple’s Pro iPhone models and is designed for the tight integration and specific demands of the iOS ecosystem. Apple’s chips often prioritize peak performance for demanding tasks like video editing and advanced gaming, combined with excellent power efficiency.
Key Comparison Points:
Please note: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite (Gen 4), VS MediaTek Dimensity 9400+, VS A19 Pro Chip Full Comparison.
| Feature | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite (Gen 4) | MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ | Apple A19 Pro (Expected) |
| CPU | Custom Oryon cores (2x Phoenix L, 6x Phoenix M), high clocks | All-big-core design (e.g., 1x X925, 3x X4, 4x A720), competitive clocks | Apple-designed cores, likely leading in single-core |
| GPU | Adreno 830, excellent optimization for gaming & emulation | Immortalis-G925, strong raw performance, sometimes better in benchmarks | Apple-designed, optimized for iOS graphics and demanding apps |
| Manufacturing | TSMC 3nm | TSMC 3nm | TSMC 3rd Gen 3nm |
| AI Performance | Qualcomm AI Engine Gen 4, efficient | MediaTek APU 7.0, strong on-device AI capabilities | Apple Neural Engine, highly integrated with iOS features |
| Gaming | Excellent, often with superior optimization and emulation support | Excellent, competitive with Snapdragon | Expected to be top-tier for mobile gaming, optimized for iOS |
| Power Efficiency | Good, reliable thermal management | Generally good, can be cooler in some scenarios | Historically very efficient, likely continues this trend |
| Ecosystem | Android (found in various flagship phones) | Android (found in various flagship phones, often competitive pricing) | Apple (exclusive to iPhones) Export to Sheets |
Key Comparison Points:
- Raw CPU Power: The Apple A19 Pro is expected to lead significantly in single-core performance, potentially even matching Apple’s M-series chips in this aspect. For multi-core, the Snapdragon 8 Elite often shows a slight edge in benchmarks, though the Dimensity 9400+ is very close.
- GPU Performance: This is a tight race. The Dimensity 9400+ with its Immortalis-G925 GPU has shown impressive raw performance, sometimes even outperforming the Snapdragon 8 Elite’s Adreno 830 in benchmarks. However, Snapdragon’s Adreno GPUs often benefit from better game optimization and efficiency in real-world scenarios, especially for emulation. The Apple A19 Pro will undoubtedly offer top-tier GPU performance tailored for iOS.
- AI Capabilities: Both the Dimensity 9400+ and Snapdragon 8 Elite boast significant advancements in their AI engines, with MediaTek highlighting unique on-device AI features. Apple’s Neural Engine in the A19 Pro will be crucial for its iOS-specific AI functionalities.
- Efficiency & Thermals: All three are built on advanced manufacturing processes (3nm variants), leading to good efficiency. Reports suggest the Dimensity 9400+ can be slightly more power-efficient and cooler in some real-world use cases, while the Snapdragon 8 Elite offers “rock-solid” sustained performance. Apple is historically strong in power efficiency.
- Overall User Experience: For Android users, both the Snapdragon 8 Elite (Gen 4) and MediaTek Dimensity 9400+ offer phenomenal flagship experiences, capable of handling anything thrown at them. The choice often comes down to specific device implementations, brand preference, and slight nuances in optimization. For iOS users, the Apple A19 Pro will deliver the expected smooth, powerful, and highly integrated experience within the Apple ecosystem.
Ultimately, all three chips represent the pinnacle of mobile processing power in 2025. Your best choice will depend on your operating system preference (Android vs. iOS) and the specific features, optimizations, and pricing offered by the devices housing these powerful chipsets. Sources
HIGHLIGHT
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite (Gen 4)
- Features new custom Oryon cores (up to 4.32 GHz) , delivering very high multi-core performance (e.g., Geekbench 6 multi-core up to 10,052).
MediaTek Dimensity 9400+
- Excels in multi-core CPU performance with its “All Big Core” design, reportedly outperforming the Snapdragon 8 Elite in some multi-core benchmarks (e.g., Geekbench 6 multi-core score of 11,739).
Apple A19 Pro Chip
- Expected to maintain Apple’s strong lead in single-core CPU performance, with rumored Geekbench 6 scores exceeding 4000, crucial for overall system responsiveness.
