MediaTek is kicking off 2026 with a major announcement. The company confirmed on Monday that it will unveil its new Dimensity 8500 processor next week, specifically on January 15.
If rumors are accurate, this new chip is designed to bring top-tier speed to phones that don’t cost top-tier money.
Built for Speed and Efficiency
According to early reports, the Dimensity 8500 is built using TSMC’s reliable 4nm process. While the company hasn’t released the full spec sheet yet, leaks suggest it uses a smart three-tier design to balance power and battery life.
It reportedly features one main “prime” core running at a speedy 3.40GHz for heavy tasks, three mid-range cores for general work, and four efficiency cores to handle background apps without draining the battery.
Beating the Competition?
The most exciting news is about gaming. The chip is expected to use a powerful Mali-G720 graphics unit. Early benchmarks—which are basically speed tests for phones—show it scoring over 2.2 million points on AnTuTu.
If those numbers hold up in the real world, this mid-range chip might actually outperform the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, the processor that powered the most expensive Android flagships just a year ago. This would mean smoother graphics and better frame rates for gamers on a budget.
First Phones to Use It
We won’t have to wait long to see this chip in action. Rumors point to Honor being one of the first brands to use it, potentially in a device called the “Honor Power 2.” That phone is already turning heads because leaks suggest it will pack a massive 10,000mAh battery.
Xiaomi is also reportedly testing the Dimensity 8500 for its upcoming Xiaomi 17T series, which usually launches globally later in the year.
Market Impact & Context
For years, there was a huge gap between “pro” phones and “regular” phones. MediaTek has been working hard to close that gap. By releasing a chip like the Dimensity 8500, they are forcing the entire industry to upgrade.
If a $500 phone in 2026 can play games better than a $1,000 phone from 2025, consumers win. It puts pressure on competitors like Qualcomm to step up their game in the mid-range market.
What Comes Next
MediaTek will officially reveal all the technical details next Wednesday at 3:00 PM local time in China. We expect to see a list of phone makers who have signed up to use the new chip shortly after the event.
