MediaTek Launches Dimensity 9600 Chips on TSMC 2nm and 3nm Nodes

MediaTek is challenging Qualcomm in the premium smartphone market with the launch of the Dimensity 9600 Pro and 9600M. These processors use TSMC's 2-nanometer and 3-nanometer manufacturing processes.

This release reflects a shift for the Taiwan-based chip designer. The company is focusing on on-device generative AI capabilities to gain market share in high-end mobile devices. The flagship Dimensity 9600 Pro uses the 2nm process and includes a neural processing unit that improves processing of user prompts for generative AI tasks by 51% over the previous generation.

"As the overall market moves to higher prices, I believe there is still room for us to increase our share of the flagship segment," said JC Hsu, corporate senior vice president at MediaTek, in a statement regarding the launch.

Advancing Manufacturing Nodes

The move to 2nm and 3nm nodes is a technical step. In semiconductor manufacturing, the nanometer measurement refers to the size of the transistors on the chip. Smaller transistors allow for higher density, which leads to better power efficiency and faster processing speeds. By adopting these advanced TSMC processes, MediaTek aims to reduce the performance gap with Qualcomm, whose Snapdragon series has dominated the premium Android flagship category.

Diversification into Cloud AI

MediaTek is also expanding into the artificial intelligence hardware sector beyond mobile processors. The company confirmed that its first custom AI accelerator for a major U.S. cloud service provider will enter mass production in the fourth quarter of 2026.

This expansion into cloud-based AI hardware diversifies the company's revenue streams, reducing its reliance on smartphone chipsets. As demand for AI-specific compute power grows in data centers, MediaTek is positioning itself to provide custom silicon solutions that compete with established players in the AI accelerator market.