The fight is fierce between MediaTek and Qualcomm, both manufacturers of SoCs for smartphones. If MediaTek did benefit from exceptional growth in 2021, to the point of surpassing Qualcomm, this is in fact only the case for a certain price range of phones.
We already knew that MediaTek had globally dominated the smartphone SoC market in 2021, especially in the United States where the Taiwanese company surpassed Qualcomm. Today, a new analysis has in fact nuanced these results, going into more detail. It turns out, in fact, that the two brands have taken advantage of two different ranges of smartphones, dividing up the market.
Entry-level for MediaTek, the rest for Qualcomm
Office Counterpoint Research published a report analysis that details the different market shares according to the manufacturers. Five companies dominate the universe of processors for Android smartphones: Qualcomm, MediaTek, Exynos (Samsung), HiSilicon (Huawei) and UNISOC.
We learn that most of MediaTek’s growth in 2021 came from the entry-level segment and part of the mid-range, that is, smartphones under $300. The Dimensity 700, 800 and Helio series have notably propelled the brand. But meanwhile, the rest of the mid-range as well as the high-end has been dominated by Qualcomm, which is the leader across all devices over $300. The only exception is the $700 to $800 bracket, occupied by Samsung.
MediaTek has therefore succeeded in nibbling at the huge market for moderately priced smartphones. And there is a rational explanation: the shortage of semiconductors. Qualcomm has indeed decided to give priority to the supply of its premium chips (notably the Snapdragon 888)which have better profitability.
Smartphone manufacturers have therefore turned more to MediaTek in 2021 to equip their entry-level phones, with the company offering excellent value for money on chips in this range. However, MediaTek could also attack Qualcomm’s preserve in 2022 with its premium SoCs, the Dimensity 9000, intended for high-end devices…
We also learn that UNISOC enjoyed strong growth in smartphones under $200 last year. As for HiSilicon, a subsidiary of Huawei, it has been greatly impacted by the United States embargo against the Chinese giant.
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