MediaTek has officially announced two new chipsets targeting different ends of the smartphone market – the flagship Dimensity 9500s and the mid-range Dimensity 8500.
Both processors bring significant upgrades in performance, efficiency, and AI capabilities, aiming to rival Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 and other competing SoCs. With these launches, MediaTek continues to expand its Dimensity lineup, focusing on next-generation mobile experiences driven by AI and enhanced graphics.
Flagship
The MediaTek Dimensity 9500s is built on an advanced 3nm process, the most cutting-edge fabrication technology in commercial chipmaking today. It uses an “All Big Core” CPU design, which includes:
- 1x Arm Cortex-X925 Ultra core at 3.73GHz
- 3x Arm Cortex-X4 cores
- 4x Arm Cortex-A720 cores
This high-performance setup is paired with an Immortalis-G925 GPU, which brings support for adaptive game technology 3.0, frame technology 3.0, and hardware-level ray tracing – features that promise smoother visuals and high-end mobile gaming experiences.
The chipset also includes a next-gen MediaTek NPU designed for generative AI and agentic AI workloads. This NPU supports popular language models and image generation, setting the stage for AI-enhanced features on flagship smartphones.
Imaging
MediaTek has integrated its Imagiq image processor into the Dimensity 9500s, pushing the envelope in mobile photography and video. Highlights include:
- 8K video recording at 60fps
- Dolby Vision HDR support
- Real-time motion tracking
- Camera support up to 320MP
It also enables support for WQHD+ displays with refresh rates up to 180Hz, making the chipset ideal for devices aimed at gamers and content creators.
Efficiency
Dimensity 9500s features LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 storage compatibility, ensuring fast memory and storage speeds. For wireless and location connectivity, it includes:
- Wi-Fi 7
- Bluetooth 5.4
- Dual-SIM 5G and 4G LTE
- GNSS support including NavIC, BeiDou, Galileo, Glonass, and QZSS
Battery efficiency is optimized using MediaTek’s UltraSave 4.0 technology, which reduces power consumption without affecting performance.
Rivalry
MediaTek’s specifications position the Dimensity 9500s squarely against Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 5, as well as MediaTek’s own recently launched Dimensity 9400+. The close alignment in specs suggests the 9500s may serve as a performance variant optimized for gaming and AI tasks.
Midrange
Alongside the flagship chip, MediaTek has introduced the Dimensity 8500, a 4nm SoC built with mid-range performance in mind. It also uses an All Big Core CPU layout, featuring:
- 8x Cortex-A725 cores clocked up to 3.4GHz
While lacking the X-series cores of the 9500s, the 8500 brings notable improvements over its predecessor. It includes a Mali-G720 GPU, which MediaTek claims delivers:
- 25% improved graphics performance
- 20% better power efficiency
This chip is ideal for mid-tier smartphones aiming to deliver solid gaming and multitasking without the cost or heat of flagship devices.
AI
MediaTek has included its NPU 880, the 8th generation neural processing unit, in the Dimensity 8500. It supports AI-based features like image generation and natural language processing, mirroring the AI direction seen in premium-tier chips.
Other supported features include:
- 4K video at 60fps
- Camera sensors up to 320MP
- WQHD+ displays with refresh rates up to 144Hz
Connectivity
The Dimensity 8500 retains most of the connectivity features from the 9500s, including:
- Wi-Fi 6E
- Bluetooth 5.4
- 5G, 4G LTE, and satellite navigation systems
This ensures that even mid-range devices powered by this chip remain competitive in terms of wireless performance.
Dimensity 9500s vs Dimensity 8500
| Feature | Dimensity 9500s | Dimensity 8500 |
|---|---|---|
| Fabrication Process | 3nm | 4nm |
| CPU Architecture | Cortex-X925 + X4 + A720 | 8x Cortex-A725 |
| GPU | Immortalis-G925 | Mali-G720 |
| Max CPU Frequency | 3.73GHz | 3.4GHz |
| Video Support | 8K @ 60fps, Dolby Vision | 4K @ 60fps |
| Display Support | WQHD+ @ 180Hz | WQHD+ @ 144Hz |
| RAM & Storage | LPDDR5X + UFS 4.0 | LPDDR5X + UFS 4.0 |
| AI NPU | Gen-AI & Agentic AI Support | NPU 880, LLM + Gen AI |
| GNSS & Connectivity | Wi-Fi 7, BT 5.4, Dual 5G | Wi-Fi 6E, BT 5.4, Dual 5G |
With both chipsets, MediaTek aims to cover a broad segment of the smartphone market – from flagship-grade AI-driven devices to more affordable, high-performance phones.
FAQs
What is the Dimensity 9500s made for?
It’s a flagship chipset for premium smartphones.
How fast is the Dimensity 9500s CPU?
It reaches up to 3.73GHz with Cortex-X925 cores.
Is Dimensity 8500 good for gaming?
Yes, it offers 25% better GPU performance than its predecessor.
Do both chips support AI?
Yes, both have NPUs supporting large language and image models.
What camera resolution is supported?
Both chipsets support up to 320MP camera sensors.
