Rumor Semiconductor Qualcomm & MediaTek Have A Stronger 2nm Base To Beat Apple This Year, But Architectural Improvements Will Also Decide The Outcome Omar Sohail • at EDT Add on Google Apple continues to have a higher skill level in chipset design but will that change this year? / Image made using Gemini How We Rate Rumors 0-20%: Unlikely - Lacks credible sources 21-40%: Questionable - Some concerns remain 41-60%: Plausible - Reasonable evidence 61-80%: Probable - Strong evidence 81-100%: Highly Likely - Multiple reliable sources RUMOR ASSESSMENT 50% Plausible To obtain an edge over Apple, Qualcomm and MediaTek have been reported on multiple occasions to gravitate to TSMC’s slightly improved 2nm ‘N2P’ process, which promises a 5 percent performance and efficiency improvement over N2 while utilizing the same surface area. On paper, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro and Dimensity 9600 can potentially surpass the A20 and A20 Pro this year, making it quite the feat for both Qualcomm and MediaTek, but a tipster claims that architectural improvements will also determine whether a victory materializes or not. Apple has always had an upper hand in chipset design, forcing Qualcomm and MediaTek to possibly sacrifice power draw and cost efficiency for performance gains Even though TSMC’s ‘N2P’ node is more expensive than N2, Qualcomm and MediaTek leveraging this technology for the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro and Dimensity 9600 Pro will allow both SoCs to target a higher clock speed, resulting in increased single-core and multi-core scores. From the looks of it, both companies appear to focus on raw performance gains to gain an advantage over Apple, but this feat may only be achieved at the cost of increased power consumption. Related Story MacBook Neo Has Turned Into An Impulse Purchase For Buyers, As Those Going For A Separate Device Repair Have Ended Up Purchasing ItHowever, Weibo’s Smart Chip Insider says that while the N2P node has slightly better attributes than N2, Qualcomm and MediaTek beating Apple will also depend on their architectural improvements, suggesting that just transitioning to the improved lithography may not be enough. After all, the Cupertino firm releases one of the best silicon designs for portable devices, with a prime example being the A19 Pro, whose efficiency cores can deliver up to a 29 percent performance improvement with no increase in power draw. Also, Qualcomm and MediaTek may also focus on other areas like architectural improvements and expanded memory cache because cutting-edge manufacturing processes are no longer influencing customer interest. Just shifting to the 2nm ‘N2P’ technology will incur massive costs for Qualcomm and MediaTek, which could risk adoption from its smartphone partners. In short, implementing the aforementioned upgrades will be mandatory if these chipset makers are targeting higher sales volumes. Apple likely believes it can save on wafer costs by sticking with TSMC’s N2 technology while focusing heavily on chipset design to gain a competitive edge over rivals. Time and time again, the company has proven this strategy. News Source: Smart Chip Insider About the : Omar Sohail is a and analyst for 's mobile section, specializing in the technology and business of the mobile industry. His expertise lies in the intricate hardware supply chain, covering developments in semiconductor manufacturing, chip lithography, and camera sensor technology. Follow on Google to get more of our news coverage in your feeds. Further Reading Apple Taps Intel 18A-P For M7 Chip By 2027 & 14A For iPhone Chip By 2028, Claims Rumor NVIDIA’s CEO Jensen Huang Secretly Boards Air Force One for Trump’s China Visit, Defying Earlier Reports He’d Skip the Trip iPhone Cameras Have Targeted Professionals And Casual Users Alike For Years, But iOS 27 Will Open Up New Doors With This Change Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro To Be Out Of Reach For Many Of Qualcomm’s Partners, As 2nm Process Will Shoot Prices To Abnormal Levels Read all on Qualcomm & MediaTek Have A Stronger 2nm Base To Beat Apple This Year, But Architectural Improvements Will Also Decide The Outcome
