MediaTek's Helio P40 is coming in style next year

MediaTek launched its Helio P30 a few months ago to a mostly lukewarm reception, with the SoC having found use only in the Gionee M7 that was launched a few weeks back. New information, however, points towards the introduction of a new mid-range chipset by the Chinese manufacturers, one that will position itself against the upcoming Snapdragon 660 Lite.

The Snapdragon 660 was released earlier in the year and has received a bit of attention due to its incredible performance—one so impressive that it gives last gen flagship SoCs a run for their money.  The Snapdragon 660 hasn't seen much use, though, with only devices like the Mi Note 3 and OPPO R11 having shipped with it. This new Lite version of the SoC is expected to offer a more subdued package, with it being slated to sell for US$15. 

The P40 is expected to be built on TSMC's 12nm architecture, which would make it one of the most power-efficient chipsets on the market. It's also billed to sell for about $11-$12. MediaTek's fortunes have been on the decline and the Chinese company expects the P40 to help their push towards a 25% market share next year, after it slipped down to 15% this year. OEMs like Xiaomi, OPPO, and Meizu are said to be interested in using the chipset.

The same information source also touts the release of the 10nm Snapdragon 670, which is said to be the successor to the Snapdragon 660.