One-sentence summary
Compares the two smartphone SoC giants: MediaTek posted record Q3 revenue of NT$168.058B, guided Q4 AI ASIC to $2.5B and locked a second customer, while Qualcomm leans on mobile-platform licensing with a different data-center ASIC pace.
What Is Compared
- MediaTek: Q3 2026 consolidated revenue NT$168.058B, a record, gross margin 46.32%, with custom AI ASIC shipments begun.
- Qualcomm: Built on smartphone mobile platforms and licensing, expanding into auto and edge AI, with a different pace on large custom data-center ASICs.
Key Parameters
| Dimension | MediaTek | Qualcomm |
|---|---|---|
| Q3 revenue | NT$168.058B (+18.3% YoY) | Mobile platform and licensing led |
| Gross margin | 46.32% | Licensing margin high, chip lower |
| Custom AI ASIC | First chip shipped Sept, Q4 guided $2.5B | Edge/auto focus; different DC ASIC pace |
| Customer progress | Second customer confirmed, 2028 production | — |
| 2027 target | AI ASIC ~$16B, op margin 20%+ | — |
Key Differences
MediaTek is pivoting from a smartphone-SoC leader to custom data-center AI ASIC, with quantified targets of $2.5B in Q4 and about $16B in 2027; Qualcomm keeps a mobile-platform licensing plus edge/auto mix, with a different pace on large custom DC ASICs.
Sources
- TrendForce: MediaTek confirms second AI ASIC customer
- iFeng: MediaTek Q3 revenue at record high