MediaTek has officially introduced the Dimensity 8450, and if you’re experiencing déjà vu, you’re not alone.
This new chip is essentially a lightly refreshed version of last year’s Dimensity 8400, but with a few under-the-hood tweaks aimed at improving gaming and image processing.
Built on TSMC’s 2nd-gen 4nm process, the Dimensity 8450 retains the same octa-core CPU layout as before: one Cortex-X4 core at 3.25 GHz, three Cortex-A720s at 3.0 GHz, and four Cortex-A520s running at 2.1 GHz. However, some users have pointed out inconsistencies with this spec, claiming the original 8400 didn’t even use A520 cores. It’s unclear if this is a documentation mix-up or a quiet core swap under the same architecture name.
The GPU is again the Mali-G720 MC7, now enhanced by the new StarSpeed Engine, promising better frame stability and smoother performance in mobile games. The image signal processor (ISP) has also been tuned to support zero-lag HDR for sensors up to 320MP and includes live-stream optimization features-particularly useful for content creators using mid-range phones.
MediaTek also touched up the AI side. The NPU 880 now includes the Agentic AI Engine for on-device GenAI tasks and LLM support, which is rare in this segment.
Lastly, the 5G modem comes with UltraSave 3.0+ tech to cut power consumption during mobile data usage-helping stretch battery life further.
Interestingly, the Dimensity 8450 is already in action inside the newly released Oppo Reno14 Pro. With phones already shipping, it raises eyebrows why the chip was announced weeks after its debut inside a retail device.
Despite the marginal changes and naming confusion, improved ISP and AI performance may still bring value-especially for gamers and streamers on a budget.