lipflip – The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip has maintained its top position in the November 2025 AnTuTu benchmark charts, largely thanks to the RedMagic 11 Pro Plus. This gaming flagship, which pairs Qualcomm’s latest processor with an advanced cooling system, including an active fan and water cooling. Ensures the chip stays at optimal temperatures even during intense gaming sessions. As a result, the RedMagic 11 Pro Plus continues to lead the charts, pushing past competitors with impressive benchmark scores.
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The cooling system in the RedMagic 11 Pro Plus is a key contributor to its success. The phone incorporates a vapor chamber, copper foil, graphene, an aluminum frame, liquid metal, and a high-speed 24,000 RPM fan. This combination helps regulate the temperatures of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, keeping it cooler than most other devices. This cooling setup is crucial in allowing the processor to achieve its peak performance, helping it remain the benchmark leader.
Without the sophisticated cooling solution. However, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 loses to MediaTek’s Dimensity 9500, which edges it out slightly in raw performance when using passive cooling. The competition between the two high-end processors is tighter than expected. Showing that Qualcomm’s latest chip doesn’t have a clear-cut advantage over MediaTek.
MediaTek Dimensity 9500 Challenges Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
Despite Qualcomm’s continued dominance in high-end smartphones, MediaTek’s Dimensity 9500 has proven to be a strong competitor. While the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 holds the top spot in benchmark charts. The Dimensity 9500 performs equally well in certain devices, particularly when paired with effective passive cooling systems.
The Oppo Find X9 Pro and Vivo X300 Pro are close contenders, securing second and third positions with just under 4 million points on AnTuTu. These smartphones use the MediaTek Dimensity 9500 chipset and highlight the increasing competitiveness between Qualcomm and MediaTek in the flagship space. In fact, the Vivo iQOO 15. Which uses the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, follows closely behind with 3.99 million points, showcasing the narrow performance gap between the two processors.
In the current landscape, it’s evident that the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and MediaTek Dimensity 9500 are in a tight head-to-head race for the top. Qualcomm, once the undisputed leader, now faces a strong challenge from MediaTek in both the flagship and mid-range smartphone segments.
Mid-Range Market Favors MediaTek in November Benchmarks
While Qualcomm maintains a strong position at the high end, the mid-range segment in November benchmarks tells a different story. The Realme GT Neo6 SE, equipped with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3, ranks seventh. Marking the only Qualcomm-powered phone in the top ten of this category. The rest of the top spots are filled by devices featuring MediaTek’s Dimensity 8300 or 8400 series chipsets.
Among these, the Oppo Reno15 Pro leads the mid-range rankings, closely followed by the base Reno15 and the Realme Neo7 SE. MediaTek’s dominance in this segment reflects a growing trend where smartphones powered by MediaTek chips are becoming increasingly popular for their performance and cost-effectiveness in the mid-range market.
AnTuTu’s mid-range ranking is determined by an arbitrary price limit. So the results can vary depending on the specific market and device pricing. However, it’s clear that MediaTek has a significant presence in the mid-range category, further tightening the competition with Qualcomm.
Price and Performance Drive Consumer Choice in Smartphone Market
The tight competition between Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and MediaTek’s Dimensity 9500, along with the growing presence of MediaTek chips in mid-range smartphones. Points to an evolving trend in the smartphone market. Consumers now have a wider array of choices, with top-performing chips available at various price points.
The price-performance ratio is becoming a critical factor in consumer decisions, especially in the mid-range segment. Where budget-conscious users seek value without sacrificing performance. The presence of powerful MediaTek chips like the Dimensity 9500, combined with affordable pricing, could push Qualcomm to reconsider its strategy in the coming years, especially as the market for high-performance yet budget-friendly smartphones continues to grow.
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What’s Next for Qualcomm and MediaTek?
Looking ahead, Qualcomm and MediaTek are likely to continue their rivalry in the high-end and mid-range smartphone markets. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 may still lead in certain segments, but MediaTek’s ability to challenge Qualcomm’s dominance, especially with the Dimensity 9500, indicates a shift in the balance of power.
As both companies develop their next-generation chips, consumers can expect even more competitive offerings in the future, with improvements in processing power, energy efficiency, and overall performance. The battle between these two chipmakers will undoubtedly shape the smartphone industry in the years to come.