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In the benchmark comparisons cited here, MediaTek’s Dimensity 9400 generally scores higher than Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in CPU tests, and it leads in the reported 3DMark graphics test. That does not mean every phone with a Dimensity 9400 is faster in every task: the results come from different phones and benchmark samples, and one displayed productivity benchmark favors Snapdragon. The practical choice depends on the complete handset, not just its processor.
How the two processors differ
The Dimensity 9400 is the newer chip, announced by MediaTek on October 9, 2024. Its second-generation all-big-core CPU design combines one Cortex-X925 core, three Cortex-X4 cores, and four Cortex-A720 cores. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 was released in October 2023 and, in its standard eight-core configuration, combines performance cores with two efficiency cores. The 91mobiles comparison lists the former as a 3 nm chip and the latter as 4 nm; process-node labels alone do not establish a phone’s speed, heat, or battery life.
MediaTek describes the X925 as operating above 3.62 GHz; 91mobiles lists it at 3.62 GHz. The same comparison lists the Snapdragon’s Cortex-X4 at up to 3.3 GHz. These are published chip specifications, not guarantees that a particular phone will sustain those clocks under load.
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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →| Specification | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Dimensity 9400 |
|---|---|---|
| CPU configuration | Standard eight-core configuration: 1 Cortex-X4 at 3.3 GHz, 3 Cortex-A720 at 3.15 GHz, 2 Cortex-A720 at 2.96 GHz, and 2 Cortex-A520 at 2.27 GHz (91mobiles) | 1 Cortex-X925 at 3.62 GHz, 3 Cortex-X4 at 3.3 GHz, and 4 Cortex-A720 at 2.4 GHz (91mobiles) |
| Architecture distinction | Performance cores plus two efficiency cores | All-big-core design, as described by MediaTek |
| Process node | 4 nm (91mobiles) | 3 nm (91mobiles) |
| GPU | Adreno 750 (91mobiles; Qualcomm identifies Adreno graphics) | Immortalis-G925 MC12 (91mobiles) |
| Memory listed | LPDDR5X (91mobiles) | LPDDR5X (91mobiles) |
| Release timing | October 2023 (91mobiles) | October 2024 (91mobiles) |
Qualcomm’s product page also notes that the Snapdragon platform is available in a six-core configuration under part number SM8650Q-AB. The table’s CPU breakdown is the standard eight-core configuration; check the specifications of the particular phone for its implementation and capabilities. Qualcomm likewise advises consulting the phone maker’s specifications for device-specific features. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 platform page and MediaTek’s Dimensity 9400 announcement describe the platforms and architecture.
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- Revolutionary 50MP Quad Camera System: This smartphone is equipped with All 50MP four camera system: Including a Main Camera, a Periscope, an Ultra-wide Camera, and a ultra-clear Front Camera; this cell phone support Ultra XDR 4K video, Auto Tone, Portrait Optimiser, Motion Capture Mode, Night Mode; Whether you're a photographer, vlogger, or social media enthusiast, with the pro-grade camera system and AI enhancements, this Nothing phone can ensure every shot is masterpiece-ready.
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What the benchmark comparisons show
Across the cited CPU comparisons, Dimensity 9400 leads on reported single-core and multi-core scores. The exact numbers vary by source and test version, so each set below should be read within its own comparison—not mixed into a single ranking.
91mobiles comparison
91mobiles reports the following scores from its tests; the comparison page does not state a test date in the material cited here.
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| Test | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Dimensity 9400 |
|---|---|---|
| AnTuTu | 2,186,467 | 2,537,181 |
| Geekbench single-core | 2,303 | 2,819 |
| Geekbench multi-core | 7,376 | 8,515 |
These figures are attributed to 91mobiles’ comparison, which does not fully document a matched-device protocol in the cited material. They are not universal scores for every phone using either chip. See the 91mobiles comparison.
NanoReview comparison
NanoReview’s displayed results, retrieved in 2026, identify the AnTuTu test as version 11 and Geekbench as version 6. Its sample counts differ between processors, so these aggregate figures are useful context, not a controlled head-to-head test using identical phones.
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| Test | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Dimensity 9400 |
|---|---|---|
| AnTuTu 11 (displayed sample count) | 2,345,563 (443 tests) | 2,825,187 (72 tests) |
| Geekbench 6 single-core (displayed sample count) | 2,203 (139 tests) | 2,797 (22 tests) |
| Geekbench 6 multi-core (displayed sample count) | 6,511 (139 tests) | 8,767 (22 tests) |
| 3DMark Steel Nomad Light | 1,652; displayed stability 79% | 2,371; displayed stability 61% |
| PCMark 3.0 overall | 16,318 | 15,020 |
In this dataset, Dimensity leads the CPU tests and the Steel Nomad Light score, while Snapdragon leads the PCMark 3.0 result. The 3DMark stability percentages are distinct from peak scores: Dimensity’s higher peak score does not show that it maintains that performance as consistently. See NanoReview’s test and benchmark comparison.
Results from two different phones
Gizmochina tested a vivo X200 Pro with Dimensity 9400 and a Red Magic 9S Pro with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in its October 30, 2024 comparison. It reported these results:
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- Rear Camera: 50MP, f/1.8 + 8MP, f/2.2 + 5MP, f/2.4, Front Camera: 12MP, f/2.2, 5000mAh Battery, Bluetooth 5.4
| Test | vivo X200 Pro (Dimensity 9400) | Red Magic 9S Pro (Snapdragon 8 Gen 3) |
|---|---|---|
| Geekbench single-core | 2,751 | 2,273 |
| Geekbench multi-core | 8,712 | 7,054 |
| AnTuTu | 2,927,565 | 2,165,760 |
Because the phones are different models, these figures reflect each handset’s cooling, power limits, software, and other implementation choices as well as its processor. They should not be treated as a same-phone test of the two chips. Read Gizmochina’s device comparison.
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- Compare like with like. AnTuTu totals and Geekbench scores are tied to benchmark versions; a score from one version should not be presented as directly equivalent to a score from another. Keep each publisher’s results in their own context.
- Check what was tested. A result from a specific handset includes that phone’s implementation. Aggregated samples can differ in count, as NanoReview’s displayed figures show.
- Separate peak performance from sustained performance. A high short-run score does not establish how long a phone can maintain speed during a demanding game or other extended workload. The displayed Steel Nomad Light stability figures are one reason not to treat the peak score as the whole story.
- Do not infer battery life from the process node or CPU layout alone. The cited comparisons do not establish a controlled, same-chassis battery test for these processors.
- Evaluate the actual phone. Cooling, power limits, software, memory, camera implementation, regional configuration, support policy, and price can all affect which handset is the better buy. Check full reviews and specifications for the exact model and region.
Which one should you choose?
If you are comparing processor benchmark potential, the cited evidence favors the Dimensity 9400 in CPU scores and in NanoReview’s selected Steel Nomad Light graphics result. It is not a universal win: NanoReview’s PCMark 3.0 result favors Snapdragon, and the different-phone tests cannot isolate the processor from the rest of each handset.
For a purchase, compare specific phones rather than choosing by chipset name alone. The 91mobiles listing includes vivo X200-series models among Dimensity 9400 phones and OnePlus 12 among Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 phones; availability and configurations vary by region, so verify the current listing and exact variant. Choose based on the handset’s tested sustained performance, battery behavior, software support, cameras, and price—not a single synthetic score.
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