The MediaTek Dimensity 9300 and the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, dominated the flagship smartphones in 2024 and 2025. Both are desirable when it comes to buying a high-performing device that does every task efficiently. However, if you still want to take your chance of getting the better one, a Mediatek Dimensity 9300 vs Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 would be a good read for you!
Also read: Samsung Exynos 1380 Vs Snapdragon 695: Which One Should You Choose In 2025?
Basic Things To Know About the Chipsets!
Both processors are built on advanced 4nm processes. They both promise exceptional performance, but they cater to slightly different strengths. Let us get an overview before we start comparing important factors.
The Mediatek Dimensity 9300 may have been from 2023 but it’s raw power is still comparable to today’s chipsets. It adopts an unconventional “All Big Core” architecture. This makes it a powerhouse for multi-core tasks and AI-driven applications. The efficiency-focused smaller cores are not priority. So there can be concerns about thermal management in the device.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 takes a more balanced approach, incorporating efficiency cores (Cortex-A520) alongside high-performance cores. Its Adreno GPU is popular for gaming. Plus, Qualcomm’s ecosystem enjoys broader software optimisation.
Also read: Best Phones With 1M+ AnTuTu Score Under 25000!
Mediatek Dimensity 9300 vs Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Overview
| Feature | MediaTek Dimensity 9300 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Announced | November 2023 | October 2023 |
| Manufacturing Process | TSMC 4nm (N4P) | TSMC 4nm |
| CPU Configuration | 1x Cortex-X4 @ 3.25 GHz 3x Cortex-X4 @ 2.85 GHz 4x Cortex-A720 @ 2.0 GHz | 1x Cortex-X4 @ 3.3 GHz 3x Cortex-A720 @ 3.15 GHz 2x Cortex-A720 @ 2.96 GHz 2x Cortex-A520 @ 2.27 GHz |
| GPU | Arm Immortalis-G720 MC12 @ 1300 MHz | Adreno 750 @ 900 MHz |
| AI Processor (NPU) | MediaTek APU 790 (Generative AI-focused) | Hexagon NPU (45% faster than Gen 2) |
| Memory Support | LPDDR5X @ 9600 Mbps | LPDDR5X @ 4800 MHz |
| ISP (Camera Support) | Imagiq 990: Up to 320MP, 8K@30fps, 4K@60fps | Spectra Triple 18-bit: Up to 200MP, 8K@30fps, 4K@120fps |
| 5G Modem | MediaTek 5G: Up to 7 Gbps | Snapdragon X75: Up to 10 Gbps |
| Wi-Fi / Bluetooth | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 |
| Unique Strength | Powerful multi-core & AI performance (but may heat up more) | Balanced, energy-efficient, optimized for gaming & stability |
Also read: Best MediaTek Processors Ranked: From Flagship To Budget!
Mediatek Dimensity 9300 vs Snapdragon 8 Gen 3: Performance Comparison
The Dimensity 9300, due to it’s core configuration becomes ideal for multitasking. Talk about editing videos, using AI based apps and so on. When it comes to single-core performance, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 got the edge. It makes your UI interactions swift, quick app launches, better thermal management and so on.
Let’s Talk About CPU Performance
To judge the performance, backed with numbers, we can compare the benchmarks for CPU. The AnTuTu v10 and Geekbench are the widely accepted ones.
| Benchmark Test | MediaTek Dimensity 9300 | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 |
|---|---|---|
| AnTuTu v10 | ~2,130,000 – 2,200,000 points | ~2,000,000 – 2,130,000 points |
| Geekbench 6 (Single-Core) | ~2,200 | ~2,200 – 2,300 |
| Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core) | ~7,500 – 7,800 | ~7,000 – 7,400 |
| 3DMark Wild Life Extreme | ~5,500 – 6,200 points | ~5,200 – 5,800 points |
| AI Benchmark | Higher, thanks to APU 790 | Slightly lower, but still excellent |
| Gaming Performance | Excellent, but may heat under load | Excellent and more thermally stable |
Also read: Best Processor For Mobile Ranking Top 100 List!
Cache and Memory
- Dimensity 9300: It contains 8 MB L3 cache + 10 MB System Level Cache (SLC), 9600 MHz LPDDR5X RAM. The larger SLC and faster memory give it an advantage in memory-intensive workloads.
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 3: This one has 12 MB L3 cache + 6 MB SLC, 4800 MHz LPDDR5X RAM. The larger L3 cache gives superior CPU performance, but the slower memory frequency is a slight drawback.
The Dimensity 9300’s faster memory and larger SLC make it better for tasks requiring high bandwidth, like AI processing and multitasking. Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is still powerful, but it might feel slightly slower in those situations.
Mediatek Dimensity 9300 vs Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Gaming Performance?
Let’s Talk About GPU Performance
The GPU in Dimensity 9300 delivers strong performance while using the same level of battery. It also includes special tech called hardware ray tracing and global illumination. These make lighting, shadows, and reflections in games look more realistic on a PlayStation or Xbox. It can run even demanding games smoothly at up to 60 frames per second (fps). However, there are stability issues when stress levels are tested in Vivo X100 Pro.
The GPU in Snapdragon 8 Gne 3 is a gaming powerhouse, known for superior graphics rendering, hardware-accelerated ray tracing, and features like Game Super Resolution and Snapdragon Shadow Denoiser. It is optimised for high-end graphics and delivers performance for the long term.
| Benchmark / Test | Dimensity 9300 (Immortalis-G720 MC12) | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (Adreno 750) |
|---|---|---|
| 3DMark Wild Life | Competitive, but slightly behind Snapdragon | better raw performance |
| GFXBench | highest performance in most tests | Slightly behind but more power-efficient |
| Genshin Impact (High Settings) | ~59.6 fps (Vivo X100 Pro) | Maintains stable fps (Red Magic 9 Pro) |
| Minecraft PE (Ray Tracing) | ~50 fps | Runs well with hardware acceleration |
| Thermal Stability | Drops to 48.2 per cent in Solar Bay stress test | Better stability under stress, less throttling |
Also Read: Snapdragon For India: Snapdragon 4s Gen 2, X Elite, Copilot+, All Details!
Thermal Management
Dimensity 9300: The All Big Core design like this one generates heat. Especially under sustained GPU workloads. Devices like the Vivo X100 Pro throttle significantly. But if you actually play the games in short sessions, there is no issue. Some users say that it generates manageable heat (e.g., 43°C after long CODM sessions on Redmi K70).
Snapdragon 8 Gen 3: This one has better thermal management, especially in gaming phones like the Red Magic 9 Pro with active cooling. It sustains performance longer. This makes it ideal for long gaming sessions.
To put it simply, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is better choice for gamers. You get superior GPU performance, better stability under stress, and broader game optimisation. The Dimensity 9300 delivers impressive frame rates in shorter sessions but struggles with sustained performance due to thermal throttling.
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Mediatek Dimensity 9300 vs Snapdragon 8 Gen 3: AI Capabilities
If we are talking about AI capabilities, we have to go through the NPUs of each of the chips. The Dimensity 9300 has APU 790 that is designed specially for generative AI. Obviously, it will excel in AI-driven camera features. Like, Gen Ai super resolution, AI noise reduction, live translations, AI-photo editing and so on will perform better with this chip in your device.
AI tasks are possible with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 as well with faster NPU (Hexagon) than it’s predecessor. But here the AI only makes better visuals for gaming and camera. Other things that it can support is:
- Running apps like Stable Diffusion (which creates images from text) in less than a second, directly on the phone.
- Helping with voice assistants and real-time language translation.
- Making the camera smarter with things like real-time object detection and scene analysis (it understands what’s in the frame instantly).
Also read: Snapdragon Processors List: Specs, Benchmarks, Best Picks!
Power Efficiency and Battery Life
To see if a chip would be power efficient, the core design is important. As mentioned earlier, the Dimensity 9300 has a big core design. When tested on Vivo X100 Pro, the power consumption was lower than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in Genshin Impact. This power effirciency is only good for short sessions. For longer periods, the device heats up.
The inclusion of efficiency cores (Cortex-A520) in Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, makes it more power-efficient for lighter tasks and daily usage. Devices like the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra show better battery life in mixed usage.
Connectivity and Multimedia
| Feature | Dimensity 9300 | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Modem | MediaTek 5G (7 Gbps downlink), MediaTek Xtra Range 2.0 for better indoor reach | Snapdragon X75 5G (10 Gbps downlink), faster download speeds |
| ISP | Imagiq 990: 320MP camera, 8K@30fps, 4K@60fps, always-on HDR, AI camera features | Spectra Triple 18-bit: 200MP camera, 8K@30fps, 4K@120fps, triple HDR video |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, multi-GNSS (GPS, Galileo, Beidou, NavIC, GLONASS, QZSS) | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, same multi-GNSS support |
| Other | Multi-Link Hotspot for better tethering | Advanced audio features like Audio Magic Eraser |
Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 gives you faster 5G download speeds and some extra camera tricks like triple video recording and smoother slow-motion. It also has better sound features like Audio Magic Eraser, which helps remove background noise in videos.
Dimensity 9300, on the other hand, is built for super high-resolution cameras (up to 320MP!). It is better at maintaining strong 5G signals indoors. It also helps if you are sharing internet through hotspot, thanks to its advanced tethering feature.
My thoughts? If you care about faster 5G and cool video/audio tools, go with Snapdragon. If you want better indoor 5G, higher camera resolution, and stable hotspot sharing, Dimensity is a great pick.
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Best Mobile With MediaTek Dimensity 9300/9300+
- Vivo X100
- Vivo X100 Pro
- Xiaomi 14T Pro
Best Mobile With Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
- Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
- Vivo X Fold3 Pro
- OnePlus 13R
Final Verdict
The real question in Mediatek Dimensity 9300 vs Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is how to choose a device? Or which devices should you choose based on which chip performs better? Above we have explored all the good and bad things about both the processors.
One is good for multi-tasking, running AI features, gaming in short sessions. Yes, that’s Dimensity 9300. The other one is power efficient, generates less heat, has game optimisations and has broader software support. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 devices come under upper mid range to premium. Plus, it’s a safer bet due to its versatility. If you are after a budget-friendly flagship with strong AI and camera capabilities, the Dimensity 9300 phones could be of your interest.
Also read: MediaTek Dimensity 9500 Processor: Features Revealed Before Launch
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