MediaTek has officially launched its next-generation flagship mobile processor, the Dimensity 9500, which is a direct successor to the Dimensity 9400 introduced last year. This chipset is designed to contend directly with Qualcomm’s upcoming Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, which is scheduled to be revealed just a day later. The Dimensity 9500 continues MediaTek’s innovative approach to processor architecture, previously seen two years ago, featuring an “all big-core” design. Unlike Qualcomm’s conventional big-little architecture that incorporates both performance and efficiency cores, MediaTek has chosen to build its lineup entirely on powerful cores. This configuration includes 1x Arm C1-Ultra, 3x C1-Premium, and 4x C1-Pro processors, all manufactured on the advanced 3nm process.
MediaTek asserts that this architectural shift results in significant benchmark improvements. The company claims that the Dimensity 9500 is 55 percent more efficient at peak performance, offers up to 32 percent better single-core performance, and shows a 17 percent enhancement in multi-core capabilities compared to its predecessor. Regarding memory and storage, the new chipset supports LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.1 storage, which have become standard in flagship smartphones. A notable aspect of the Dimensity 9500 is its focus on AI. The chipset features the NPU 990, which MediaTek describes as the most advanced AI engine currently available in smartphones.
This allows Android devices powered by the Dimensity 9500 to generate 4K images directly on the device, removing the reliance on cloud-based rendering. The new NPU also improves efficiency for large AI models such as Gemini, making the Dimensity 9500 a formidable player in the AI-driven mobile computing landscape. In terms of imaging capabilities, MediaTek’s flagship supports a maximum camera sensor resolution of 320 megapixels and can record 8K video at 60fps, providing smartphone manufacturers with greater flexibility in mobile photography. On the display front, the chipset can manage refresh rates of up to 180Hz and supports Tri-Fold Displays, indicating MediaTek’s preparedness for the next generation of foldable devices.
Gaming performance is significantly enhanced with the inclusion of the Arm Mali-G1 Ultra MC12 GPU, which MediaTek claims offers a 33 percent improvement. Notably, this chipset is the first to enable 120fps gaming with ray tracing and can upgrade existing 60fps games to 120fps. For multitasking, MediaTek asserts that the processor is 30 percent more efficient, particularly when managing resource-intensive tasks like gaming and simultaneous audio calls. MediaTek has announced that the first smartphones featuring the Dimensity 9500 will be launched in the fourth quarter of 2025. Industry experts suggest that Oppo and Vivo are expected to be among the first brands to release devices with this new chipset.
As Qualcomm prepares to unveil its Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 shortly after, the competition for flagship supremacy in 2025 is poised to intensify, focusing on AI, gaming, and efficiency.