New MediaTek chip brings power to mid-range phones

MediaTek just launched its Dimensity 8450, a new chip designed for mid-range smartphones that want to feel premium. Unveiled at the India Dimensity Summit, this chip promises better speed, smarter AI, and improved 5G connections. It’s built to make gaming smoother, photos sharper, and battery life longer. The chip uses a 4nm process, which means it’s efficient and fast.

It has eight powerful Cortex-A725 cores, making it about 30% quicker than similar chips. The Mali-G720 MC7 graphics unit handles games and videos well, while the NPU 880 boosts AI tasks like photo editing or voice commands. It also supports super-fast LPDDR5X memory and UFS 4.0 storage, so apps load quickly. For cameras, the Dimensity 8450 can work with sensors up to 320MP, capturing stunning photos and 4K videos at 60 frames per second.

Its 5G modem is upgraded for faster downloads, and a feature called UltraSave 3.0+ helps save power during 5G use. The chip also supports crisp WQHD+ displays with a 144Hz refresh rate for smooth scrolling. OPPO will be the first to use this chip in its Reno 14 Pro, with more phones expected soon. While it’s a small step up from the Dimensity 8400, it’s a solid choice for affordable phones that want to compete with pricier models. MediaTek is aiming to bring flagship-like features to more people.