MediaTek’s new Dimensity 8400 chip gives mid-range phones AI power

MediaTek has launched its new Dimensity 8400 mobile processor, bringing advanced AI capabilities and performance improvements to premium smartphones while maintaining power efficiency.

Core specifications and improvements; The Dimensity 8400 features an eight-core Arm Cortex-A725 CPU with speeds up to 3.25GHz and utilizes an All Big Core architecture.

• The chip delivers 41% better multi-core performance compared to its predecessor, the Dimensity 8300
• Power consumption has been reduced by 44% at peak usage
• An Arm Mali-G720 GPU provides 24% higher peak performance and 42% improved power efficiency
• Memory bandwidth usage has been reduced by 30%, helping extend battery life

AI capabilities and processing; The chip incorporates MediaTek’s Dimensity Agentic AI Engine (DAE), enabling sophisticated on-device artificial intelligence functions.

• The neural processing unit supports various AI models, including large language models and multi-modal models
• On-device capabilities include contextual replies, translations, and writing without cloud connectivity
• The system can generate video content directly on the device
• MediaTek positions the 8400 as offering the most powerful generative AI in its market segment

Photography and gaming features; The Dimensity 8400 includes advanced imaging and gaming technologies to enhance user experience.

• The MediaTek Imagiq 1080 image signal processor enables faster, more accurate focusing and increased light capture
• HDR video recording is supported across all zoom levels
• Gaming performance is enhanced through Frame Rate Converter and Adaptive Gaming Technology 3.0
• These features combine to deliver smooth and responsive gameplay

Market availability; The technology is already making its way into consumer devices, with Xiaomi’s Redmi Turbo 4 being the first smartphone to feature the new chip.

Looking ahead; The Dimensity 8400’s combination of improved performance and advanced AI capabilities at a premium (rather than flagship) price point could accelerate the adoption of on-device AI processing in mid-range smartphones, potentially making sophisticated AI features more accessible to a broader range of consumers.