- GenAI smartphone SoCs are set to power 35% of all smartphone chips in 2025, marking a massive 74% growth compared to last year.
- Apple leads the market with a 46% share in GenAI smartphone SoCs, while Qualcomm holds 35% and dominates the mid-range segment.
- Mid-range phones priced $300–$499 are rapidly adopting GenAI smartphone SoCs, seeing a three-fold increase in AI-capable chip shipments this year.
When we talk about AI SoCs, it was only used to be a hardware only in high-end phones is now becoming normal. These chips put AI directly into the phone now, so it can do things like create text, images, or video without waiting for the cloud. This makes phones faster, more private, and smarter.
GenAI smartphone SoCs are becoming the new standard in mobile technology
Market growth
According to reports, 2025 is expected to be a big year for GenAI smartphone SoCs. These chips will make up 35% of all smartphone processors shipped this year. That is 74% more than last year.
Premium phones
Premium or flagship phones are leading. Around 88% of these phones will have GenAI SoCs. New chips like Apple A19 Pro, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, and MediaTek Dimensity 9500 are main drivers. Growth here is about 53% from last year.
Mid-Range Phones
The mid-range segment, phones costing $300 to $499, is also growing fast. Adoption of GenAI smartphone SoCs in this range has tripled since last year. Mid-range phones will now make 38% of all GenAI-capable devices. Snapdragon 7 and 6 series and Dimensity 8000 series are helping this growth.
Chipmaker competition
Competition is getting intense. Here is how it looks for 2025:
| Chipmaker | Market Share | Segment Strength |
|---|---|---|
| Apple | 46% | Mainly premium |
| Qualcomm | 35% | Premium and mid-range |
| MediaTek | 12% | Growing in all tiers |
Apple is still on top because its ecosystem and Neural Engine make AI fast and smooth. Qualcomm is strong especially in mid-range phones with 57% share there. MediaTek is slowly building presence across different price segments.
Overall, GenAI smartphone SoCs are not just for performance or cameras anymore. They make phones smarter, faster and more private. By the end of the year, any new phone with AI chips will probably be expected to have GenAI SoCs.
