Updated:vivo has confirmed that the next vivo X300 series to be unveiled will use the Dimensity 9500 processor.
MediaTek has officially unveiled its new flagship computing platform, the Dimensity 9500. Utilizing TSMC's third-generation 3nm (N3P) process, it features a new all-large-core CPU architecture and dual NPU AI computing components, heralding a new era in flagship mobile computing. The first wave of smartphones powered by the Dimensity 9500 are expected to launch in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Importing Arm's new Lumex computing subsystem
The design focus of Dimensity 9500 is to comprehensively upgrade "performance, energy efficiency and AI intelligent experience", which includes the introduction of Arm's recently announcedNew Lumex computing subsystemThe CPU design used corresponds to the Armv9.3 instruction set and the new SME2 extended matrix operation instruction set, and continues MediaTek's previous all-large core combination design, rather than directly using the Arm reference design.
CPU配置採用新一代全大核設計，其中搭載1組運作時脈高達4.21GHz的C1-Ultra超大核CPU、3組運作時脈達3.50GHz的C1-Premium超大核CPU，與4組運作時脈為2.70GHz的C1-Pro大核組成，另外在C1-Ultra的L1快取增加一倍、而L3快取也增加33%，加上導入四通道UFS 4.1儲存架構，讓資料讀寫速度可提升一倍，更讓大型自然語言模型載入速度提升40%。
In terms of performance, the Dimensity 9500 boasts a 32% improvement in single-core computing performance over the previous-generation Dimensity 9400, while multi-core computing improves by 17%. Furthermore, multi-core computing power consumption is reduced by 37%, while the ultra-large core achieves a 55% reduction in power consumption for the same performance. This provides better energy efficiency during extended periods of high load, and combined with dynamic voltage scaling technology, power consumption can be further reduced by 10%, resulting in a 42% reduction in power consumption at peak performance compared to the Dimensity 9400.
在實驗室環境下的GeekBench V6.4單核心性能測試數據為4007，多核心性能測試數據則是11216，天璣9400兩個數值分別為3040與9600。另外，天璣9500在物體偵測運算性能提升50%，執行編解碼模型功耗則下降高達50%
圖形處理部分則導入全新Mali G1-Ultra GPU，性能比天璣9400採用的Immortalis-G925 GPU提升33%，功耗則減少42%，而光線追蹤效能更提升高達119%。以3DMark的Solar Bay Extreme測試光追渲染性能表現，天璣9500的性能數據達2573，天璣9400則是1173，約有119%提升幅度。
The Dimensity 9500 also debuts Dynamic Cache and MediaTek Frame Rate Converter 3.0 technology, supporting Unreal Engine 5.6 MegaLights and Unreal Engine 5.5 Nanite, bringing console-level AAA game quality and smoothness to mobile devices.
The Dimensity 9500 also features a different design for AI processing performance. It uses the new NPU 990 dual AI processors, one of which uses an integrated memory design. This allows computing data such as language models to be accessed and processed at a faster rate, thereby improving artificial intelligence computing efficiency. Compared to the Dimensity 9400, the peak output data is increased by 111% and the power consumption is reduced by 56%.
The dual NPU design allows one of the NPUs to load language models faster through a combined computing and memory architecture, and even allows AI computing functions to be resident, thereby quickly responding to user operational needs. It also reduces the overall NPU operating power consumption by 56% compared to the previous generation of products, and enables the device to execute various agent AI functions, making applications such as smart summaries and real-time voice interaction more smooth and natural.
The Dimensity 9500 boasts a 111% increase in peak AI performance, supporting 4K high-definition image generation and multimodal understanding. It also introduces the Generative AI Engine 2.0, which supports the BitNet 1.58-bit model, reducing memory requirements while improving energy efficiency. This integrated computing and memory architecture not only preloads AI models, enabling AI services to run resident, but also reduces NPU power consumption by 56% compared to the previous generation. This allows devices to always run Agentic AI, making everything from intelligent summaries to real-time voice interactions more immediate and natural.
In terms of image processing, the Dimensity 9500 integrates the Imagiq 1190 ISP and the Dimensity RAW domain processing engine, which can achieve 2 million pixel professional-level image quality without post-production. It is also the first to support 4K 120FPS anti-shake recording and 4K 60FPS cinematic portrait mode, allowing creators to shoot high-quality videos directly with their mobile phones.
In addition, the Dimensity 9500 is also equipped with MiraVision intelligent display adjustment technology, which can adjust the screen display performance based on ambient lighting, panel characteristics, and real-time content analysis. Users can still clearly see the screen content in extremely bright outdoor environments, and even at extremely low brightness of only 1nit, they can still see clearly without damaging the eyes.
Other aspects include optimization for connection and communication, including AI network selection technology, automatic base station switching, AI energy-saving scheduling and Wi-Fi fast transmission technology, combined with Bluetooth audio intelligent compensation, allowing devices to enjoy low latency and high stability in scenarios such as streaming, gaming and calling.
Dimensity 9500 and Dimensity 9400 specifications comparison table:
| Standard item | Dimensity 9500 | Dimensity 9400 |
| Process technology | TSMC 3nm N3P (third-generation 3nm) | TSMC 3nm (second-generation 3nm, labeled N3E) |
| CPU core architecture | 新一代全大核設計，其中搭載1組運作時脈高達4.21GHz的C1-Ultra超大核CPU、3組運作時脈達3.50GHz的C1-Premium超大核CPU，與4組運作時脈為2.70GHz的C1-Pro大核組成，另外在C1-Ultra的L1快取增加一倍、而L3快取也增加33% | It also uses the second-generation all-core architecture, specifically 1 × Cortex-X925 CPU super core (3.62GHz) + 3 × Cortex-X4 CPU cores + 4 × Cortex-A720 CPU cores |
| L2/L3 cache | The L1 cache of C1-Ultra is doubled, and the L3 cache is increased by 33%. | The L2 cache capacity has doubled compared to the previous generation, and the L3 cache capacity has increased by about 50%. |
| GPU | Mali-G1-Ultra MC12 new GPU design significantly improves ray tracing performance and power consumption | Using the Immortalis-G925 MC12 GPU, ray tracing performance is improved by about 40%, power consumption is reduced; overall GPU performance and energy efficiency are significantly improved |
| NPU/AI computing power | Equipped with the ninth-generation NPU, it has an AI computing power of approximately 100 TOPS, enhancing localized reasoning and AI application capabilities. | Equipped with the eighth-generation AI computing component NPU 890, it supports AI capabilities such as the Agentic AI engine, LoRA training, and high-definition image generation. |
| Memory & Storage | Supports 4-channel LPDDR5X, frequency of approximately 10667 Mbps; storage supports quad-channel UFS 4.1 | Also supports LPDDR5X-10667 Mbps; storage type is UFS 4 + MCQ (similar to quad-channel) |
| Ray tracing and gaming features | New GPU architecture + new microstructure improves ray tracing performance; expected to be more competitive in gaming and image production scenarios | It also has a built-in ray tracing-capable GPU (Immortalis-G925), and includes gaming/visual enhancements such as the OMM ray tracing engine and Frame Rate Converter technology. |
| Other features | Supports Armv9.3 instruction set and SME2 extended instruction set | Introducing the Agentic AI engine, improving quick startup response time, optimizing application startup response time, and other software and system-level optimizations |
The first wave of applications is expected to be launched in the fourth quarter of 2025
The Dimensity 9500 is not only MediaTek's new flagship mobile computing platform chip, but also MediaTek's response to the AI era. From hardware performance, software algorithms to ecosystem collaboration, it comprehensively enhances the device-side intelligent experience and injects powerful competitiveness into upcoming Android flagship models.
MediaTek said that the first wave of smartphones equipped with Dimensity 9500 are expected to be launched in the fourth quarter of 2025. If nothing unexpected happens, vivo will be the first to launch a flagship mobile phone product using this computing platform. It is expected that this will be the vivo X300 series that will be unveiled in October.
