If you are thinking about buying a new mobile phone and you have doubts about which processor would be better between the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and the MediaTek Dimensity 9300, it is important that you first know their characteristics and the performance that each one offers.
Both processors are built to offer outstanding performance, but choosing the right one will depend on your needs.
In this comparison you will discover technical aspects such as the number of cores, graphics, artificial intelligence (AI), connectivity or thermal management, which will help you make a decision based on knowledge and not on the influence of brands.
What are Snapdragon and MediaTek processors
The processor of a mobile phone is like the engine that makes the device and all the applications you have installed on it work. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon is one of the most recognized brands, which stands out for its good performance and support for advanced features, high-end graphics and AI processing.
Qualcomm Snapdragons are the common processors in a wide range of devices with high- and mid-range Android operating systems, from brands such as Samsung, Xiaomi or OnePlus.
For its part, MediaTek is characterized by offering mid- and low-range processors. Of course, the Dimensity line has little by little been able to carve out a niche for itself in high-end mobile phones. It usually provides performance very close to that of Snapdragon, although it focuses on energy efficiency and has a much more competitive cost.
Cores
The number of cores and their architecture is a very important element because it significantly influences the performance of your mobile, both in tasks that are light and in the most demanding ones.
On the one hand, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 uses a core configuration in ARMv9 architecture, which combines high-performance and efficient cores. It is a chip that comes with an octa-core design with high-performance Cortex-X4 cores for intensive tasks, and these are accompanied by Cortex-A715 and Cortex-A510 cores that are responsible for improving efficiency in tasks that are less demanding.
On the other hand, MediaTek Dimensity 9300 is an octa-core processor, although it stands out mainly for its efficiency structure. It incorporates Cortex-X4 and Cortex-A720 cores, which provide performance quite similar to that of the Snapdragon. However, they better manage energy consumption and optimize autonomy without compromising performance too much.
Graphics
In terms of graphics, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 uses the Adreno 750 GPU, one of the most powerful on the market, with much superior graphics performance.
It is the most recommended for playing demanding 3D games, augmented and virtual reality experiences or for watching 4K content. If your goal is to play with maximum graphics, the Snapdragon processor has a significant advantage over its rival.
However, the MediaTek Dimensity 9300 houses a Mali-G715 GPU, which can also offer very good performance in online games, although a little lower than Qualcomm’s Adreno in the pure graphics section.
Even so, the difference in these graphics may not be so noticeable, unless you are one of the users who uses titles that are too demanding.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor comes with a sixth-generation AI engine that is responsible for significantly improving natural language processing, computational photography, and optimizing the most demanding applications through machine learning.
This is a processor that can perform AI calculations in real time, which makes it an excellent option if you are one of those who values maximum power in this area.
Meanwhile, the MediaTek Dimensity 9300 also comes with good AI capability, but it might be a bit inferior to that of the Snapdragon.
Its APU (AI processing unit) provides advanced functions that translate into camera improvements and performance optimization, but if AI is a priority function for your daily life, it is best to choose Snapdragon because it provides more features.
Connectivity
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 has mmWave and sub-6 GHz 5G support, as well as Wi-Fi 7.
What this does is guarantee extremely fast connectivity. In fact, if you are one of those who travel very frequently or are in areas with advanced networks, having a mobile phone with Snapdragon can help you make the most of these new technologies.
For its part, MediaTek Dimensity 9300 also supports 5G technology, but you should keep in mind that its focus is on sub-6 GHz networks, so you could experience a small difference in the maximum speeds achievable in certain spaces.
Thermal management
In terms of thermal management of the processors, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 has improved its ability to dissipate heat, allowing the device to maintain stable performance in very long gaming sessions or under intense load.
However, since it has a very high performance, it tends to generate more heat than its rival, so it can overheat faster if you don’t manage it well.
Meanwhile, the MediaTek Dimensity 9300 has the advantage in energy efficiency, and it is something that is evident in its thermal management. With this processor your device will heat up less, so you will be able to hold your mobile for longer without having any problems.
Price
On the subject of prices, MediaTek is much cheaper than Qualcomm. While it is true that this difference has been reducing, especially in high-end mobile phones, the Dimensity 9300 is much more affordable than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.
If the price factor is a determining factor for your choice, then you should lean more towards MediaTek because it usually offers better quality-price ratio. Meanwhile, the Snapdragon has been the most expensive option, but it is justified: it brings better features.
Conclusion
In reality, the decision you are going to make between a Snapdragon or MediaTek processor will depend largely on the needs and priorities you have.
If what you are looking for is to enjoy maximum graphical performance and the best AI capabilities, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is the most recommended for you, but knowing that its price will be much higher.
Now, in case you prefer greater energy efficiency, better thermal management and a more affordable price, the MediaTek Dimensity 9300 would be an interesting alternative, plus you will not sacrifice excessively on performance.