.png "MediaTek Dimensity 9300 vs Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Efficiency Chart")
Both chips are built on TSMC 4nm, so the efficiency gap between them is not in the process. It is in the design. The Dimensity 9300+ runs an all big core CPU with 18MB of shared cache and a reported sustained power limit of 7.3 watts, while the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 carries a reported 8 watt sustained limit and true little cores, which give it a lower idle floor. In lab measured data, the vivo X100 Pro (Dimensity 9300) drew about 6.2 watts under sustained CPU load while the Galaxy S24 Ultra (8 Gen 3 for Galaxy) averaged about 7.6 watts, and the split verdict is: 9300+ for sustained everyday CPU work, 8 Gen 3 for heavy GPU gaming.
At a Glance
- Dimensity 9300+ (MediaTek, May 2024): TSMC 3rd gen 4nm, 4x Cortex-X4 big cores (1 at 3.4GHz), 18MB L3 plus SLC cache
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (Qualcomm, October 2023): TSMC 4nm, 1x X4 plus 5x A720 plus 2x A520
- Same process node, different CPU philosophies: all big core versus big mid little
- Reported sustained power limits: 7.3W (9300+) vs 8W (8 Gen 3), each from two spec sources
- Measured by notebookcheck: vivo X100 Pro (9300) at 6.17W CPU load; Galaxy S24 Ultra (8 Gen 3) at 7.63W average load, 0.98W idle
- Phones: Galaxy S24 Ultra and other 2024 flagships (8 Gen 3); vivo X200 Pro, X200 FE, Realme Neo 7 (9300/9300+)
Head to head specs
Sources: MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ product page (official), Qualcomm 8 Gen 3 product brief (official), 91mobiles, GSMArena.
Why This Matters
This is the comparison that decides which 2024 flagship is the better value phone in 2026, because both chips are now a generation or two behind the current flagships (Dimensity 9500, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5) and the phones that carry them are discounted. Battery life on an aging design depends less on peak speed than on how many watts the chip asks for while you are still using it, which is what the data below measures.
It is also a clean case study in efficiency design. Two chips on the same 4nm process, and the sustained power difference comes down to core count, clock strategy, cache size and package thermal design, not marketing.
Main Story
What the power data can and cannot show
Three measurements matter here. Reported sustained power limits, the ceilings the designs are meant to hold under long load. Measured load power, what real phones actually drew in published lab tests. And thermal behavior, what reviewers observed over long gaming sessions. PetaTech24 did not run its own power measurements; every number below comes from the cited labs and spec sources, and each row in the verification table at the end carries a source tier so you can see how solid each figure is.
What MediaTek changed for efficiency
MediaTek's own product page for the 9300+ describes the design choices. An all big core CPU: one Cortex-X4 prime at up to 3.4GHz, three Cortex-X4 mid cores at 2.85GHz, and four Cortex-A720 cores at 2.0GHz. There are no true little cores. The payoff is that sustained medium work (video calls, navigation, multitasking) runs on the 2.85GHz mid X4 cores instead of bouncing to the 3.4GHz prime, where heat and power usually come from. The chip also carries 18MB of L3 plus SLC cache, 6MB more than the 8 Gen 3's 12MB, which cuts memory traffic and the power it costs. MediaTek calls the 9300+ package its second generation thermally optimized design.
What the measurements show
On reported sustained power limits, the 9300+ is listed at 7.3W (gsmrumors, nanoreview) and the 8 Gen 3 at 8W (nanoreview, techgamesnews). Both figures are now two sourced, and both are spec limits rather than lab measurements, which is the label they keep throughout.
On the measured side, notebookcheck has published load power for both sides. The vivo X100 Pro, which runs the non plus Dimensity 9300, drew 6.17W of CPU power in a Geekbench 6 sustained run. The Galaxy S24 Ultra, running the 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy, averaged 7.63W in a Geekbench 5 run (the Z Fold6 averaged 7.16W and the Z Flip6 6.45W on the same chip), with idle power at 0.98W. One caveat keeps this comparison honest: the two measurements use different benchmark versions (Geekbench 6 versus 5) and different phones, so 6.2W against 7.6W is a directional result, not an apples to apples delta.
The idle story runs the other way. The 8 Gen 3 has two Cortex-A520 true efficiency cores, which can idle at a lower power floor than the 9300+'s 2.0GHz A720 "efficiency" cores, and the measured 0.98W idle on the S24 Ultra is consistent with that design. Measured idle power for the 9300 side was not available in the sources reviewed.
The GPU and thermal behavior
On paper the 9300+ wins GPU compute: the Immortalis-G720 MC12 at 1.3GHz is rated at 3.99 TFLOPS against the Adreno 750's 2.77. In practice the gap is closer, and reviewers' thermal observations point different ways, which is worth stating plainly. Cashify's comparison found the 8 Gen 3 "more thermally stable" under sustained gaming, while lovechip's technical review found the 9300's Immortalis-G720 "really shines in ray traced workloads and sustained gaming scenarios where MediaTek's thermal optimization pays dividends." 3DMark Wild Life Extreme scores from the sources reviewed overlap: roughly 5,500 to 6,200 for 9300 devices against 4,980 to 5,800 for 8 Gen 3 devices, depending on tuning.
The two observations answer different questions. Cashify reports observed thermal stability, how hot the device runs and how hard it throttles. Lovechip is assessing GPU capability in sustained and ray traced workloads. This article's gaming verdict is a question of thermal stability, so the direct thermal observation carries the weight. That is a visible weighted judgment, not a reviewer consensus, and the 9300+ keeps the edge in theoretical GPU compute either way.
Benchmark results, chip level
Sources: 91mobiles lab, nanoreview, cashify, lovechip, GSMArena. Ranges, not single figures, because scores move with build and AnTuTu version.
Phone level scores
Sources: GSMArena (own S24 Ultra test, AnTuTu v10 1,823,822), nanoreview user data (42 samples, 2024 to 2026), 91mobiles chip lab, notebookcheck. Chip lab scores apply to every phone with that chip; per device tuning moves scores within the range. The S24 Ultra runs the higher clocked "For Galaxy" 8 Gen 3 variant.
The 2026 context
Per gsmrumors' July 2026 roundup, Dimensity 9300 phones "remain a monster in the 2026 flagship era," which is the honest way to describe two chips that both still outperform a large part of the midrange market. Current flagships have moved on: the Dimensity 9500 is in the vivo X300 line, and Qualcomm's 8 Elite Gen 5 and 8 Gen 5 line the 2026 flagship tier. So the 9300+ versus 8 Gen 3 question is a value question: which discounted 2024 flagship holds up better in daily use, and the efficiency data above is the best predictor of that.
The verdict, by use case
- Sustained everyday CPU work (calls, navigation, multitasking, browsing): 9300+, lower reported sustained limit, more shared cache, and the lower measured load draw.
- Heavy sustained GPU gaming: 8 Gen 3, per the thermal stability observation, with the 9300+ keeping the theoretical compute edge.
- Idle and standby: 8 Gen 3, thanks to true little cores and a measured 0.98W idle on the S24 Ultra.
- On device AI: 9300+, the APU 790 runs 7B models at 22 tokens per second (per MediaTek, a company claim, not a lab measurement).
- Overall 2026 value: the 9300+ is the longer lasting chip in mixed daily use; the 8 Gen 3 is the safer gaming choice.
What Remains Unknown
- The 6.2W (X100 Pro, Geekbench 6) and 7.6W (S24 Ultra, Geekbench 5) measurements use different benchmark versions and phones, so the gap between them is directional, not a controlled delta.
- Measured idle power for the 9300 side was not available in the sources reviewed, so the idle advantage of the 8 Gen 3's little cores rests on its measured 0.98W plus architectural reasoning.
- Device level scores for the vivo X100 Ultra, vivo X200 Pro and Realme Neo 7 were not in the sources reviewed.
- AnTuTu version differences (v10 vs v11) make cross device totals approximate.
What Happens Next
- Discounted 9300+ and 8 Gen 3 phones will keep falling in price through 2026; the efficiency advantage of the 9300+ becomes more valuable as battery health ages on both.
- MediaTek's next value tier (9400e and 9500) and Qualcomm's midrange 8s line are where the real 2026 comparisons will happen.
- Watch for controlled, same benchmark version power tests of 9300+ versus 8 Gen 3 devices, which would turn the directional result above into a measured delta.
.png "Dimensity 9300+ vs Snapdragon 8 Gen 3: Same 4nm Node, Different Efficiency")
.png "Dimensity 9300+ vs Snapdragon 8 Gen 3: Same 4nm Node, Different Efficiency")
FAQ
Which is more efficient, Dimensity 9300+ or Snapdragon 8 Gen 3?
On sustained CPU load, the 9300+: a reported 7.3W sustained limit versus a reported 8W for the 8 Gen 3, an 18MB shared cache, and measured draws of 6.17W (X100 Pro, Geekbench 6) against 7.63W (S24 Ultra, Geekbench 5). On idle, the 8 Gen 3's true little cores give it a lower floor, with a measured 0.98W idle on the S24 Ultra. For mixed daily use over weeks, the 9300+ is the efficiency pick.
Does the Dimensity 9300+ overheat?
Under sustained gaming, some reviewers found 9300 devices running warm, and one comparison found the 8 Gen 3 "more thermally stable," while another found the 9300's GPU held up better in sustained and ray traced sessions. The gaming verdict in this article weights the thermal stability observation, because that is the question a long gaming session actually poses. Real behavior depends on the phone's cooling, not just the chip.
What phones have the Dimensity 9300 or 9300+?
The 9300: vivo X100, vivo X100 Pro, Oppo Find X7. The 9300+: vivo X200 Pro, vivo X200 FE, Realme Neo 7, and others per gsmrumors' 2026 device roundup. The 8 Gen 3: Galaxy S24 series, OnePlus 12, Xiaomi 14 Pro, ASUS ROG Phone 8, vivo X100 Ultra.
Why is the AnTuTu score of the 9300+ lower than the 8 Gen 3 For Galaxy?
The plain 8 Gen 3 and the 9300+ are near ties in most lab tests (about 2.0M to 2.2M). The "For Galaxy" 8 Gen 3 in the S24 Ultra is a higher clocked Samsung exclusive variant that scores higher, roughly 2.2M to 2.3M. Comparing the base 9300+ to the base 8 Gen 3 is the fair comparison.
Which should I buy in 2026?
Both are discounted flagships. If your phone life is calls, maps, social apps and multitasking, the 9300+ phone is the efficiency and value pick. If you game hard on high settings, the 8 Gen 3 phone is the thermally safer choice. Neither has an official price point in this article; compare current street prices in your region before deciding.
Bottom Line
What is confirmed: both chips are TSMC 4nm; the 9300+ uses an all big core design with 18MB cache and a reported 7.3W sustained limit (two sources); the 8 Gen 3 uses a big mid little design with true efficiency cores and a reported 8W sustained limit (two sources); the measured vivo X100 Pro drew 6.17W and the measured S24 Ultra averaged 7.63W under sustained load (different benchmark versions, so directional); and single core performance is a tie across both chips.
Why it matters: on discounted 2024 flagships, efficiency is what determines how well the battery holds up in 2026, and the data points to the 9300+ for daily use and the 8 Gen 3 for sustained gaming.
What remains uncertain: a controlled same benchmark power delta, per phone idle power on the 9300 side, and device level scores for several 9300+ phones.
Sources / Attribution
- MediaTek, Dimensity 9300+ product page (official): all big core layout, 3.4GHz prime, 18MB L3 plus SLC, 3rd gen TSMC 4nm, second gen thermally optimized package, T830 modem
- Qualcomm, Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Mobile Platform Product Brief (official): 4nm process, core layout, clocks up to 3.4/3.2/2.3 GHz
- notebookcheck, "Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy" page: measured Geekbench 5 load power (S24 Ultra avg 7.63W, Z Fold6 7.16W, Z Flip6 6.45W) and idle (S24 Ultra 0.98W)
- notebookcheck, SD 8 Gen 3 vs Dimensity 9300 comparison: vivo X100 Pro measured CPU load power (6.17W), Geekbench 6 device data
- nanoreview, Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 page: sustained power limit 8W (corroborating source)
- nanoreview, Dimensity 9300+ comparison page: GB6 (2,256/7,541), sustained TDP 7.3W, 22.7B transistors; S24 Ultra user benchmark database (42 samples, 2024 to 2026)
- gsmrumors, "Mediatek Dimensity 9300 Phones Remain A Monster In the 2026 Flagship Era" (July 3, 2026): 9300 vs 9300+ spec table, sustained TDP 7W vs 7.3W, device list
- GSMArena, Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra spec page: chipset, own lab AnTuTu v10 (1,823,822), Geekbench (7,076), 3DMark WLE (4,983)
- 91mobiles, Dimensity 9300 and 9300+ processor pages: lab AnTuTu (2,038,916 / 1,981,630), Geekbench 6 (2,210/7,478 and 2,238/7,102)
- cashify, Dimensity 9300 vs Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 comparison (May 8, 2025): AnTuTu and 3DMark ranges, thermal stability observation
- lovechip, "Dimensity 9300 vs Snapdragon 8 Gen 3: A Deep Technical Take" (August 13, 2025): GPU and sustained gaming analysis, AnTuTu tuning ranges
- theantutuscore, "Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Antutu Score" (July 4, 2026): standard vs For Galaxy scores, key phone list, N4P node
- beebom, "MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ Launched" (May 7, 2024): launch date, first vivo and iQOO phones, 22 tokens per second 7B model claim
- techgamesnews, "Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 vs Dimensity 9300 Benchmarks" (December 23, 2025): spec table, reported TDP 8W (corroborating source)
- Hindustan Times (December 2024): Realme Neo 7 with Dimensity 9300+, MIIT certification
- notebookcheck, "Vivo X200 FE" (June 2025): 9300+ confirmation, 6,500mAh battery
Note: PetaTech24 did not independently benchmark or power test these chips. Sustained power limits are spec figures, now two sourced for each chip. The two measured load figures use different benchmark versions and are labeled directional.
Source Verification
Internal link suggestion: PetaTech24's Tensor G5 vs Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 article for the other side of the 2026 discounted flagship chip debate.
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