MediaTek Launches Dimensity 9600 Pro, Leveraging Storage Optimization to Counter Memory Price Hike Pressure
nashnova research
MediaTek launched its flagship Dimensity 9600 Pro on TSMC's 2nm process with 33 billion transistors, pitching lower memory usage as the core selling point — a direct response to surging RAM prices pushing up smartphone costs.
What problem is this chip designed to solve?
Tight memory-chip supply is forcing phone makers to raise prices. MediaTek SVP JC Hsu said plainly: device prices need to rise significantly because of memory costs.
The Dimensity 9600 Pro's answer: cut the chip's memory footprint while keeping compute power intact.
This means → phone makers can run the same workloads with less RAM, directly lowering the bill of materials and easing end-price pressure.
How much better is the AI performance?
The NPU — the on-chip engine dedicated to AI tasks — delivers 40% lower power consumption and 50% higher compute when running equivalent AI models versus the prior flagship.
In plain terms = same AI features, nearly half the battery drain, and noticeably faster — both battery life and AI experience improve at once.
What does the 2nm process cost?
The Dimensity 9600 Pro is built on TSMC's 2nm node with 33 billion transistors. MediaTek is among the first companies worldwide to use this process.
JC Hsu acknowledged that advanced-node costs have pushed high-end SoC prices higher this year.
This reflects a trade-off: the more advanced the process, the pricier the chip itself. MediaTek's bet is that savings from memory optimization can offset rising silicon costs downstream.
How tough is the industry backdrop?
Omdia forecasts smartphone average selling prices will jump 21% from $467 in 2025 to $565 in 2026 on memory-supply tightness and cost pressure.
Counterpoint Research expects global smartphone shipments to fall 14% due to component shortages and rising costs.
This means → prices up, volumes down — the industry faces a margin squeeze on both ends. Any technology that can hold down end-device costs carries real commercial weight.
When can consumers buy it, and who are the customers?
Phones powered by the Dimensity 9600 Pro launch this month; consumers can expect to buy them as early as next month.
Key customers include Samsung, Google, OPPO, vivo, Amazon, and Xiaomi.
The real proof point: whether these brands' new devices actually show restrained price increases thanks to memory optimization — that will determine how convincing this technical roadmap is.
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