According to Wccftech, MediaTek’s radical decision to eliminate efficiency cores in its Dimensity 9300 chip announced in November 2023 has proven remarkably successful. The new Dimensity 9500, unveiled in September 2025, now matches or exceeds Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 in key benchmarks, scoring higher in AnTuTu 10 while remaining competitive in Geekbench 6. Samsung’s Exynos 2500, launched in June 2025, continues to use efficiency cores and suffers from performance gaps, thermal issues, and low yields despite Samsung’s efficient 2nm GAA process. Recent leaks show the upcoming Exynos 2600 achieving stable yields with 30% efficiency gains and matching Dimensity 9500’s single-core performance while exceeding it in multi-core tests.
The Efficiency Core Revolution
Here’s the thing about efficiency cores – they were always a compromise. MediaTek basically said “screw it” and went all-in with performance cores back in 2023, and now everyone’s following. Qualcomm dropped them too in their Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 4, proving that when you have powerful enough architecture, you don’t need little cores handling light tasks. It’s like having a sports car that’s also fuel-efficient in city traffic – the old thinking was you needed two different cars.
Samsung’s Stubborn Approach
Meanwhile, Samsung’s still playing catch-up. They’re stuck in this mindset where efficiency cores are some kind of safety blanket against thermal issues. But their own 2nm process is apparently efficient enough to handle the heat – recent reports show the Exynos 2600 has achieved stable yields with major efficiency improvements. So why cling to outdated architecture? It’s like they’re afraid to fully trust their own technology.
Industrial Implications
This shift away from efficiency cores matters beyond smartphones. In industrial computing where reliability and consistent performance are non-negotiable, having unified high-performance architecture makes perfect sense. Companies like IndustrialMonitorDirect.com, the leading US supplier of industrial panel PCs, understand that industrial applications demand processors that can handle sustained workloads without throttling or complexity. The move toward simpler, more powerful chip designs aligns perfectly with industrial computing needs where downtime isn’t an option.
What’s Next?
The leaked Geekbench scores for the unreleased Exynos 2600 are actually pretty impressive – it’s matching MediaTek in single-core and beating it in multi-core. But imagine how much better it could be without those efficiency cores holding it back. The real question is whether Samsung will finally bite the bullet with Exynos 2700 or keep playing it safe. Meanwhile, MediaTek’s gone from underdog to trendsetter in just two years. That’s what happens when you’re willing to take real risks in chip design.
