Once again, MediaTek has stirred up the mobile chipset industry with the release of the Dimensity 8450, a powerful upper mid-range CPU with a revolutionary “All-Big Core” design. This chipset promises significantly higher multi-core performance than its predecessors while maintaining impressive power efficiency.
Breakthrough Architecture: All Cores Are High-Performance
The MediaTek Dimensity 8450 takes a daring new approach and all eight CPU cores are high-performance Cortex-A725 units, the newest from ARM, in contrast to traditional chipset designs that combine efficiency cores with performance cores.
Its configuration includes:
- 1 Cortex-A725 prime core @ 3.25 GHz
- 3 Cortex-A725 performance cores @ 3.0 GHz
- 4 Cortex-A725 performance cores @ 2.1 GHz
The chip is also equipped with 6MB of L3 cache and 5MB of system-level cache (SLC) to ensure smooth responsiveness and energy efficiency. MediaTek claims up to 30–41% improvement in multi-core performance compared to its competitors in the same class.
Improved Graphics and AI Capabilities
The graphics capabilities of the Dimensity 8450 are powered by the Mali-G720 MC7 GPU. This new GPU not only delivers top-tier visual performance but also reduces memory bandwidth demands by 30%, enabling more efficient operation during high-end gaming or intensive tasks.
For AI processing, it includes the next-gen NPU 880 along with MediaTek’s Agentic AI Engine, offering faster and more accurate AI features such as image recognition, camera optimization, and real-time voice transcription.
Advanced Connectivity and Display Support
Using 3CC Carrier Aggregation, the sophisticated 5G modem that comes with the Dimensity 8450 can enable download speeds of up to 5.17 Gbps. It also supports WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.4, and dual-display output, including up to WQHD+ resolution with 144Hz refresh rate.
For memory and storage, the chip supports LPDDR5X up to 8,533 Mbps and UFS 4.0 storage—ideal for fast, power-efficient multitasking.
Debut in OPPO Reno 14 Pro
The first smartphone powered by the Dimensity 8450 is the OPPO Reno 14 Pro, launched initially in China in May 2025. This phone, which is aimed at the higher mid-range market, has:
- 6.83-inch 2.8K AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate
- Quad 50 MP camera setup, including ultrawide and telephoto lenses
- For a 6,200 mAh battery, 80W rapid wired charging and 50W wireless charging are used.
- 12/16 GB RAM and up to 1 TB of internal storage
Combining the Dimensity 8450 with flagship-level hardware, the Reno 14 Pro stands out as one of the most competitive phones in its class.
Dimensity 8450 vs Competitors: What Makes It Better?
Compared to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3, the Dimensity 8450 offers:
- A more aggressive CPU setup with all performance cores
- Greater energy efficiency thanks to its large shared cache
- Next-gen GPU and NPU with improved power management and performance
MediaTek also integrates its latest HyperEngine MAGT 3.0 for gaming optimization and UltraSave 3.0 Plus for power saving—making the Dimensity 8450 a compelling choice for users seeking top-tier performance without compromising battery life.
Conclusion
The MediaTek Dimensity 8450 arrives as a game-changer for users demanding high performance, energy efficiency, and advanced technology in one package. With its innovative All-Big Core architecture and well-rounded specifications, this chipset sets a new standard in the upper mid-range segment and is expected to gain even more traction as it rolls out in more devices throughout the second half of 2025.
