Tech Desk 
Jan 04, 2025
Qualcomm’s rumoured flagship next-generation Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 chipset and MediaTek’s Dimensity 9500 are expected to outdo Apple’s M4 chip in single-core performance. This potential leap is attributed to the integration attributed to the incorporation of ARM’s Scalable Matrix Extension (SME) and the utilisation of TSMC’s advanced 3nm "N3P" production process.
If these speculations turn out to be accurate, Apple’s long-standing dominance in single-core performance may end soon.
Apple has long integrated highly efficient single-core chipsets across its devices, enabling exceptional responsiveness. While Qualcomm and MediaTek have managed to close the limitation in multi-core performance, Apple’s processors have consistently led in single-core tasks, bolstering their reputation for streamlining their workflow.
However, industry experts suggested that the upcoming Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 and Dimensity 9500 could change the landscape. On Weibo, a reliable tipster indicated that both chipsets are expected to feature ARM’s SME, a cutting-edge set of instructions that streamlines workflow and improves efficiency, thereby enhancing single-core performance.
Both chipsets are rumoured to be manufactured on TSMC’s advanced 3nm N3P process, delivering both efficiency and performance improvements. This advanced process node aligns Qualcomm and MediaTek with Apple, whose forthcoming A19 chip is also expected to leverage the same 3nm technology.
Additionally, the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 is anticipated to feature performance cores clocked at nearly 5.00GHz, while the Dimensity 9500 cores may reach up to 4.00GHz.
It’s important to note that all details surrounding the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 and Dimensity 9500 are purely speculative, with no official confirmation from the companies yet.
