MediaTek Set to Challenge Qualcomm with Its First 2nm Chip, Taping Out in Late 2025

📰 MediaTek Set to Challenge Qualcomm with Its First 2nm Chip, Taping Out in Late 2025

Taipei, Taiwan – May 21, 2025

MediaTek, one of the world’s leading fabless semiconductor companies, is preparing to tape out its first 2-nanometer (2nm) chip by September 2025, according to statements made by CEO Rick Tsai during the Computex 2025 conference in Taipei. The chip will be manufactured using TSMC's most advanced 2nm node, and marks a bold move to directly challenge U.S.-based rival Qualcomm in the high-performance mobile SoC market.

🧠 A Leap in Process Technology

The 2nm node, developed by TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company), represents the next major leap in semiconductor fabrication after the current 3nm and 4nm processes. Compared to 3nm, TSMC claims the 2nm node will offer:

• 10–15% performance boost at the same power level

• 25–30% power savings at the same performance

• Greater transistor density, enabling more features and better AI capabilities

MediaTek’s 2nm chip is expected to incorporate GAAFET (Gate-All-Around Field Effect Transistors), a breakthrough transistor design that replaces FinFETs and allows for more compact and efficient chip structures. This would give MediaTek a competitive edge in terms of power efficiency, thermal management, and overall system performance.

📱 Targeting Premium Smartphones and AI Integration

The upcoming 2nm chipset will likely debut under the Dimensity series, MediaTek’s flagship mobile processor line. The company is reportedly optimizing the chip for:

• Flagship smartphones in late 2026

• Next-gen AI processing, with a focus on generative AI, large language models (LLMs), and real-time image processing

• Enhanced 5G and possibly early 6G modem integration

• Custom AI accelerators, enabling on-device AI tasks such as voice recognition, image generation, and smart assistants

This chip could compete directly with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 or Apple’s A19 Pro, both of which are expected to move to 2nm in late 2025 to early 2026.

📊 Market Strategy: Taking the Fight to Qualcomm

For years, MediaTek has dominated the mid-range mobile SoC market. However, it has struggled to unseat Qualcomm from the premium tier — particularly in North America and Europe. With this 2nm chip, MediaTek is signaling its readiness to challenge Qualcomm in:

• Flagship Android smartphones

• AI and edge computing hardware

• Automotive and IoT applications, areas where Qualcomm currently leads

According to analysts from TrendForce, MediaTek is also exploring partnerships with smartphone brands like OPPO, Vivo, and Xiaomi to be among the first adopters of the 2nm platform.

🏭 Powered by TSMC, the Industry Leader

The chip will be built at TSMC’s new 2nm facility in Hsinchu, which is scheduled to begin full-scale production in late 2025. TSMC remains the global leader in semiconductor fabrication and is working with both MediaTek and Apple to launch the first wave of 2nm products.

🔮 What’s Next?

MediaTek is expected to reveal more technical specifications about the chip later this year, possibly during the second half of 2025. Industry observers anticipate:

• A launch event in Q4 2025 or MWC 2026

• Benchmarks that may rival or surpass Qualcomm's upcoming Snapdragon SoC

• First commercial devices by early 2026

Conclusion:
MediaTek’s entry into the 2nm race is a pivotal moment for the semiconductor industry. By leveraging TSMC’s bleeding-edge process and focusing on AI, efficiency, and high-performance mobile computing, MediaTek is not only closing the gap with Qualcomm — it’s setting the stage for the next generation of smart devices.