Technology, Process and Cost Comparison
Smartphone PMIC Comparison 2026
The PMIC market is growing fast, mainly driven by smartphones. Apple, Qualcomm, MediaTek and HiSilicon are pushing the technology forward, making these chips smaller, smarter and more efficient.
SPR26016Analyzed devices in this report:
PMIC:
- Apple APL106C
- Qualcomm PM8550
- HiSilicon T31291B3F
- MediaTek MT6661
Report’s objectives
This report compares the most recent smartphone PMICs from leading high-end market players, including MediaTek, Qualcomm, Apple, and HiSilicon. It also benchmarks these components against 2021 devices to highlight technological evolution over time, focusing on key trends in integration, technology node and design differences across manufacturers.
Power management continues to account for a large share of the power electronics semiconductor market. The global PMIC market is estimated at around $41–46 billion in 2025, compared to roughly $33 billion in 2020, showing consistent growth over recent years. This evolution is largely driven by ongoing megatrends such as the expansion of connected consumer devices, the deployment of 5G networks, and the acceleration of electrification and industrial automation. Together, these factors are increasing semiconductor content across applications and driving demand for more efficient, battery-powered systems.
As a result, the PMIC market continues to expand steadily, supported by strong demand from consumer electronics, automotive, and data-driven applications. While the market is mature and dominated by established players, it remains highly competitive, with continued participation from fabless companies and foundries supporting new technologies.
Ongoing innovation continues to push PMIC manufacturers toward higher levels of integration, combining multiple power functions within a single chip. A key evolution compared to earlier generations is the transition from BiCMOS to BCD (Bipolar-CMOS-DMOS) processes, which are now widely adopted to improve efficiency, integration, and performance. Process technologies have also evolved significantly. While PMIC nodes around 2021 typically ranged from 180 nm to 110 nm, the latest devices analyzed in this report are manufactured using more advanced nodes, generally between 150 nm and 65 nm.
Overview
Company Profile, Supply Chain, Market
- Apple Financial Statements
- Qualcomm Financial Statements
- HiSilicon Financial Statements
- MediaTek Financial Statements
- Design Win
Physical Analysis
- Apple APL1094 2021
- Apple APL106C 2025
- Qualcomm PM8250 2021
- Qualcomm PM8550 2025
- HiSilicon Hi6526V100 2021
- HiSilicon T31291B3F 2025
- MediaTek MT6360P 2021
- MediaTek MT6661 2025
Physical Comparison
- Physical Comparison 2021 vs 2025
- Physical Comparison 2025
Manufacturing Process Flow
- Apple APL106C
- Qualcomm PM8550
- HiSilicon T31291B3F
- MediaTek MT6661
Cost Analysis
- Apple APL106C
- Qualcomm PM8550
- HiSilicon T31291B3F
- MediaTek MT6661
Cost Comparison
- Wafer Cost Comparison
- Die Cost Comparison
- Component Cost Comparison
Selling Price Analysis
- Apple APL106C
- Qualcomm PM8550
- HiSilicon T31291B3F
- MediaTek MT6661
Huawei, HiSilicon, Apple, MediaTek, Qualcomm, TSMC, SMIC, UMC