The mid-range smartphone market is about getting a significant power boost. Recent benchmark scores have surfaced on Geekbench, giving us a first look at the specs and raw performance of MediaTek’s upcoming Dimensity 8500 chip. This chip appears to be a serious contender in its segment, closing the gap between different ranges even more.

MediaTek Dimensity 8500 chip surfaces on Geekbench with 3.4GHz Prime core

The Dimensity 8500 has the internal code name MT6899. Tech tipster @ZionsAnvin recently spotted it in a listing for an upcoming Honor device. On GeekBench 6, the chip delivered a single-core score of 1,709 and a multi-core score of 6,532. To put that into perspective, this SoC can handle intensive multitasking and modern gaming without breaking a sweat.

MediaTek is using an octa-core setup that balances speed and battery life. The architecture has one “prime” core that runs at 3.40GHz, three performance cores that run at 3.20GHz, and four efficiency cores that run at 2.20GHz. The ARM Mali-G720 MC8 GPU is in charge of graphics and can handle demanding mobile games at decent frame rates.

What makes this chip particularly interesting is its focus on high-speed stability. By pushing the prime core to 3.40GHz, MediaTek is ensuring that single-threaded tasks—like opening apps or snapping high-resolution photos—feel instantaneous. Meanwhile, the multi-core performance suggests that the chip is ready for the heavy lifting required by 2026’s software demands. This includes on-device AI and complex image processing.

First Devices to adopt the 8500: Honor Power 2 and POCO X8 Pro

While the chip is the star of the show, the hardware it will power is equally ambitious. The Honor Power 2 (model SER-AN00) seems to be the first in line. Beyond the Dimensity 8500, this device is rumored to pack a massive 10,080mAh battery and a 1.5K OLED display, making it a potential endurance champion.

Global audiences, however, might be more familiar with the second confirmed candidate: the POCO X8 Pro. This phone could arrive in early 2026 as the global version of the Redmi Turbo 5. The X8 Pro will likely pair the Dimensity 8500 with a 120Hz AMOLED screen and 100W fast charging. POCO frequently targets the “performance-per-dollar” segment, and the inclusion of this specific MediaTek chip suggests they are aiming for a flagship-like feel at a mid-range price point.

If these early benchmarks are any indication, the Dimensity 8500 chip is poised to take affordable phones to the next level of performance. In times when key hardware is becoming more expensive, it’s refreshing to see more affordable devices become even more capable.

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