MediaTek has unveiled a new flagship smartphone processor built using TSMC’s 2-nanometre manufacturing technology as it pushes further into the premium handset market.
The company said the Dimensity 9600 Pro is its first mobile chip produced on TSMC’s advanced 2nm process. MediaTek also introduced the Dimensity 9600M, which uses a 3nm process and is aimed at a broader range of high-end smartphones.
A bigger push into flagship phones
The launch is part of MediaTek’s effort to challenge Qualcomm more aggressively in premium devices, where higher selling prices and advanced AI features can offer chipmakers stronger margins. MediaTek said the first phones using the new processors will arrive soon.
The company has previously supplied chips to major Chinese smartphone makers including Xiaomi, Oppo and Vivo. Moving onto TSMC’s newest production technology gives MediaTek a stronger platform for competing in performance, power efficiency and on-device AI.
On-device AI becomes a key battleground
MediaTek is positioning the Dimensity 9600 Pro around faster local AI processing, as smartphone makers increasingly add generative-AI features that run directly on the handset rather than relying entirely on cloud servers. Reuters reported that the chip’s neural processing unit delivers a substantial performance improvement for on-device generative AI compared with the previous generation.
The company is also expanding beyond smartphones. Reuters reported that MediaTek expects its first AI accelerator for a major U.S. cloud provider to enter mass production later in 2026, highlighting a broader strategy that includes data centers and custom silicon.
Source: Reuters, September 15, 2026.
