Yes, 10-core smartphones will be a thing in 2016

[wraggster]

http://o.aolcdn.com/hss/storage/midas/ea066506ed05b518c3e32e5508add03e/201979430/MediaTek-Helio-X20-I-dont-think-it-is-this-chip.jpg (http://www.engadget.com/2015/05/12/mediatek-helio-x20-deca-core-mobile-chip/)When MediaTek first (http://www.engadget.com/2013/11/20/mediatek-true-octa-core-mt6592/) launched an octa-core mobile processor back in late 2013, many folks -- including Qualcomm (http://www.engadget.com/2013/08/29/qualcomm-vs-mediatek-octa-core/) -- called it a gimmick (http://www.engadget.com/2013/08/02/qualcomm-anand-chandrasekher-eight-core-processors/), but said feature has since become quite popular amongst device manufacturers, to the point where Qualcomm eventually had to come up with its very own (http://www.engadget.com/2014/03/04/qualcomm-octa-core-lte-china/) octa-core offerings. Just to stay one step ahead of others, MediaTek is now prepping the launch of a deca-core aka 10-core chip dubbed the Helio X20, which will succeed the octa-core Helio X10 (MT6795) that's already powering HTC's Asia-only One M9+ (http://www.engadget.com/2015/04/08/htc-m9-plus-china/) plus several upcoming (http://www.engadget.com/2015/04/14/letv-le-1-pro-max-superphone/) Chinese flagship phones. MediaTek is sampling its new chip in Q3, and the first commercial devices to use it will arrive as early as end of this year.

http://www.engadget.com/2015/05/12/mediatek-helio-x20-deca-core-mobile-chip/