Danny Weber
MediaTek's rumored 2nm flagship chip may cost about $216, while Qualcomm's top model could exceed $300 and remain limited to ultra-premium phones.
The price gap between future flagship processors from Qualcomm and MediaTek could reshape the premium Android smartphone market. According to preliminary reports, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro may cost manufacturers more than $300 per unit, while the Dimensity 9600 Pro is estimated at around $216. If the leak is accurate, MediaTek's offer would be roughly 28% cheaper.
Both processors are expected to use TSMC's enhanced 2nm N2P process and arrive in the third quarter of 2026. The new Snapdragon is rumored to feature custom Oryon CPU cores, LPDDR6 memory support, upgraded graphics, and dedicated image upscaling and frame-generation technologies. Qualcomm has not confirmed these specifications.
The high price could limit Qualcomm's top chip to ultra-premium devices. Manufacturers may face additional pressure from Qualcomm's announced double-digit price increase for products shipped after September 1, 2026. The company linked the decision to higher component costs and supply-chain challenges.
MediaTek's processor may also be noticeably more expensive than its predecessor. Unofficial reports suggest that the Dimensity 9600 Pro could cost 8–20% more than the Dimensity 9500. Even so, its estimated price may allow manufacturers to launch 2nm smartphones without pushing them into the market's most expensive tier.
A lower price alone does not guarantee MediaTek's success. Manufacturers will also weigh performance, power efficiency, modem quality, software support, and platform recognition. Still, with memory and advanced TSMC wafers also becoming more expensive, a gap of nearly $84 per chip could become a major factor when choosing components for future flagships.
© A. Krivonosov