MediaTek is preparing its next upper-midrange chip, the Dimensity 8600, as a successor to the Dimensity 8500. The new processor will shift from a 4nm to a 3nm manufacturing process, representing a notable leap in efficiency. This matters because MediaTek's 8-series chips have essentially owned the upper-midrange market in recent AnTuTu benchmarks, with Qualcomm appearing to cede ground in this lucrative segment.

The 8600 will feature "a completely upgraded architecture" according to rumors from China, though specifics remain scarce. The Dimensity 8-series has historically used an all-big-core design, so we're likely looking at upgraded performance cores. Whether MediaTek includes a Prime core for peak performance remains uncertain given the platform's cost-effective positioning that has made it so popular with manufacturers.

Oppo, vivo, and their sub-brands are already testing devices with the Dimensity 8600, with launches expected by year-end. Some upcoming phones could pack massive 10,000 mAh batteries, pushing the boundaries of what consumers expect from mid-range devices. The chip will sit below the flagship Dimensity 9600, which MediaTek is also developing, creating a two-pronged strategy to dominate both the premium and upper-midrange segments.