The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and Dimensity 9500 are top-tier chipsets powering a plethora of Android flagships, but their launch wasn’t sufficient to deter Apple’s momentum because the latter’s A19 and A19 Pro picked up in pace for shipments recorded during Q3 2025. However, despite the iPhone 17 series selling like hotcakes, MediaTek had the highest market share out of all vendors, but the situation might worsen for both the Taiwanese fabless semiconductor manufacturer and Qualcomm next year as DRAM shortages are estimated to increase a smartphone’s Bill of Materials (BoM) by as much as 25 percent.
MediaTek still leads the global market with a 34 percent share, but it wasn’t because of its Dimensity 9500; a dual-chipset launch approach like Apple’s A19 and A19 Pro could improve its position
The latest data shared by Counterpoint Research indicates that MediaTek’s 37 percent market share in Q3 2024 has dropped to 34 percent for Q3 2025, with the company experiencing decreased chipset shipments in the entry-level and low-mid segments. Surprisingly, there is no mention of the Dimensity 9500 being the driving force for the firm’s current position, with even Qualcomm witnessing a decline in market share to 24 percent due to the slowing momentum of its premium Snapdragon 8 Elite series of SoCs.
Apple, whose A19 and A19 Pro chipset orders were reported to have increased by five million units in just two months due to surging demand for the iPhone 17 lineup, is enjoying third place with an 18 percent market share, followed by UNISOC and Samsung with a market share of 14 percent and 6 percent, respectively. The A19 and A19 Pro had a minor headstart over the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and Dimensity 9500, as Apple’s flagship SoCs launched on September 9, whereas Qualcomm and MediaTek announced their silicon towards the end of the same month.
The Cupertino firm has also executed its dual-chipset strategy to perfection, giving the base iPhone 17 model access to the powerful A19 while also equipping it with other impressive specifications and notable features like the ProMotion display to help drive shipments. Like Apple, Qualcomm also resorted to a dual-chipset strategy by unveiling its non-flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 a little later, with rumors claiming that the company plans to stick with the same approach for next year’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6.
MediaTek, on the other hand, has yet to adopt Apple’s and Qualcomm’s strategies, but with 2026’s Dimensity 9600 said to adopt TSMC’s expensive 2nm process, there’s a chance the company is forced to go down the same path as its competitors. Assuming it adheres to its typical launch strategy, it may lose more market share to Apple, which is said to introduce the A20 and A20 Pro next year.
About the author: Omar Sohail is a reporter and analyst for Wccftech's mobile section, specializing in the technology and business of the mobile industry. His expertise lies in the intricate hardware supply chain, covering developments in semiconductor manufacturing, chip lithography, and camera sensor technology.
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