MediaTek’s New Chip Targets 120fps Gaming with Ray Tracing

MediaTek has officially launched its new flagship smartphone processor, the Dimensity 9500. The chip is designed to power next-generation high-end Android devices starting this month. It enters a fierce battle against Qualcomm’s upcoming Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and Samsung’s next Exynos chip.

Built on TSMC’s advanced 3nm process, the Dimensity 9500 promises major leaps in artificial intelligence, gaming, and power efficiency. According to company announcements, this chip represents a significant step forward in mobile computing performance for 2025.

Inside the Dimensity 9500’s All Big Core Architecture

The chipset continues MediaTek’s “All Big Core” CPU design philosophy. It uses Arm’s new Lumex architecture, combining one high-performance C1-Ultra core with three C1-Premium cores and four C1-Pro cores. This configuration aims for a balance of raw speed and multitasking efficiency.

MediaTek claims the CPU delivers a 32% boost in single-core performance over its predecessor. The company also states the prime core is 55% more efficient during peak workloads. These improvements could lead to faster app launches and smoother overall system responsiveness.

Gaming and AI Performance Take a Massive Leap

Gaming receives a substantial upgrade with the new Arm Mali-G1 Ultra MC12 GPU. MediaTek promises 33% faster graphics performance and a 42% improvement in power efficiency. The number of dedicated ray tracing units has doubled, enabling more realistic lighting and shadows in supported games.

The integrated NPU 990 is the centerpiece for AI tasks. It supports advanced Agentic AI and Generative AI features. MediaTek claims it doubles the AI performance of the previous generation. This enables faster on-device image generation and more complex language model processing.

The NPU’s new compute-in-memory architecture is designed for greater power efficiency. It uses BitNet 1.58-bit processing to reduce power consumption during AI operations by up to 33%. This efficiency is critical for sustaining intensive AI applications without draining the battery.

Which Phones Will Feature the New Chip?

The first smartphones featuring the Dimensity 9500 are expected to arrive imminently. Brands like OPPO and Vivo are confirmed to launch devices like the Find X9 Pro and X300 series this month. More manufacturers are likely to adopt the chip throughout the next year.

This sets the stage for a direct competition with Samsung’s Galaxy S26 series. The S26 models are rumored to use either Samsung’s own 2nm Exynos 2600 or a custom Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip in different regions. The battle for smartphone performance supremacy in 2025 is now fully engaged.

The MediaTek Dimensity 9500 signals a powerful new contender in the flagship chipset arena. Its focus on raw AI capability and gaming performance makes it a strong alternative for top-tier smartphones. The coming months will reveal how it truly stacks up against the competition.

Info at your fingertips

What is the key improvement in the Dimensity 9500?

The chip offers major gains in AI and GPU performance. MediaTek claims a 100% improvement in AI tasks and a 33% boost in gaming graphics. It is also more power-efficient.

Which phones will use the MediaTek Dimensity 9500?

The OPPO Find X9 Pro and Vivo X300 series are among the first announced devices. More smartphone brands are expected to launch phones with this chip later in the year.

How does it compare to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4?

Direct comparisons will come after independent reviews. On paper, the Dimensity 9500 competes with Qualcomm’s next-generation chip, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, focusing on superior AI performance.

Does the Dimensity 9500 support ray tracing?

Yes, it features dedicated hardware for hardware-accelerated ray tracing. MediaTek says ray tracing performance is 112% faster than the previous generation.

What process node is the Dimensity 9500 built on?

It is fabricated on TSMC’s second-generation 3nm process, known as N3P. This advanced manufacturing node contributes to its improved performance and efficiency.

Meta Details