MediaTek’s “turnkey solution” chip for mobile phones allowed new entrants to the market, particularly in China where a significant number of phone makers churn out so-called bandit phones, which imitate premium brands at a significantly lower price. By 2013, MediaTek took 50 percent of China’s market for smartphone chips, supplying brands like Huawei, Lenovo, and ZTE along with the lesser-known manufacturers.　　

The firm hit a snag in 2020 and forecasts were grim when the US Department of Commerce prevented Huawei from using chips made with US hardware or software—MediaTek uses American electronic design automation to design its semiconductors. Yet by June 2021, sales hit a new monthly high, with the company posting NT$47.76 billion (US$1.71 billion) as a result of the strong global demand for 5G smartphones. Founder and chairman Ming-kai Tsai remains upbeat about 2022, expecting to see an increase in orders from Chinese brands OPPO, Xiaomi, and Vivo, when they unveil their new 5G devices.