Mediatek is taking long leaps when it comes to developing the world’s most powerful chipsets. Once known for catering to devices in the budget group, it is now giving tough competition to the chipset beasts like Qualcomm. The latest of the tribe, MediaTek Dimensity 9500, is in direct competition with the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 and Samsung’s Exynos 2600. This upcoming flagship chipset is going to power some of 2025’s top Android smartphones. Leaks have already spilt the beans on its exciting features. So let’s find out what makes it special, its features and how it stacks up against its predecessors.
Also read: Best MediaTek Processors Ranked: From Flagship To Budget may 2025!
What’s New In the Dimensity 9500 Features?
The Dimensity 9500 is going to be MediaTek’s next big leap in its flagship Dimensity series. Not to forget the preceding Dimensity 9400/ 9400 Plus was also no less of a deal. Based on leaks from reliable sources, this chip is packed with loads of new upgrades. The focus is on AI capabilities. Let’s know the details:
- Powerful CPU Setup: The chip architecture is going to be better and differently built than its predecessors. It uses a 1+3+4 core configuration, unlike the others. One Cortex-X930 (codename Travis) prime core, three Cortex-X930 (Alto) performance cores, and four Cortex-A730 (Gelas) efficiency cores to be specific. The prime core can hit speeds over 4GHz, making it a beast for heavy tasks.
- Advanced Manufacturing: It is built on TSMC’s N3P 3nm process. This means that it is going to be more power-efficient than the Dimensity 9400’s N3E process. So expect a better battery life and less heat generation.
- Next-Level GPU: The Immortalis-Drage GPU promises better ray tracing for gaming and lower power use, so you can enjoy stunning visuals without draining your battery.
- AI Powerhouse: The NPU 9.0 delivers up to 100 TOPS (Tera Operations Per Second), doubling the AI performance of the Dimensity 9400. This boosts features like AI-enhanced photography and real-time translations.
- Fast Storage and Memory: Supports UFS 4.1 and LPDDR5X RAM at 10,667Mbps, ensuring apps load quickly and multitasking is smooth.
- Big Cache: A 16MB L3 cache (up 33% from the 9400) and 10MB SLC cache keep data close to the processor for faster performance.
These Dimensity 9500 features make it a strong contender for powering flagship phones from brands like OPPO, Vivo, and possibly Honor in late 2025.
Also read: Best Processor For Mobile Ranking Top 100 List!
How Does MediaTek Dimensity 9500 Features Compare to Older Dimensity Chips?
To truly understand the MediaTek Dimensity 9500’s features, given that it will be used in upcoming flagship phones, we need comparisons. The table below shows the simple things that matter to a user, comparing the three chips launched by Mediatek back to back.
Feature | Dimensity 9300 | Dimensity 9400 | Dimensity 9500 |
---|---|---|---|
Launch Year | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
Speed (CPU) | Fast (3.25GHz, 4nm) | Faster (3.62GHz, 3nm) | Fastest (4GHz+, 3nm N3P) |
Battery Life | Good, but uses more power | Better, more efficient | Best, super efficient |
Gaming (GPU) | Good, smooth for most games | Great, handles high settings | Amazing, best visuals & smooth |
Camera (AI) | Great photos, solid night shots | Better, clearer night & zoom shots | Best, pro-level photos & videos |
Future-Proofing | Good for 2023–2024, older tech | Great for 2024–2025, newer tech | Best for 2025+, latest tech |
Storage Support | UFS 4.0 | UFS 4.0 | UFS 4.1 |
Memory Speed | LPDDR5X | LPDDR5X 10,667Mbps | LPDDR5X 10,667Mbps |
Example Phones | Vivo X100, OPPO Find X7 | OPPO Find X8, Vivo X200 | OPPO Find X8 Ultra, Vivo X300 (Rumored) |
Also Read: Snapdragon For India: Snapdragon 4s Gen 2, X Elite, Copilot+, All Details!
Dimensity 9500 vs. Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 and Exynos 2600
In this section, we are going to compare Dimensity 9500 with the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 and Exynos 2600! Details are still unknown. But I feel that we have enough leaks and trends to understand the comparison. We can analyse important areas like speed, graphics, battery, AI power, efficiency, and market position. Let’s check out the details:
Feature | Dimensity 9500 | Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 (Projected) | Exynos 2600 (Projected) |
---|---|---|---|
CPU Configuration | 1x Cortex-X930 (4GHz+), 3x Cortex-X930, 4x Cortex-A730 | 2x Oryon V3 Phoenix L (4.4GHz+), 6x Oryon V3 Phoenix M (3.8GHz, est.) | 1x Cortex-X5 (4GHz, est.), 3x Cortex-A930, 4x Cortex-A730 |
Manufacturing Process | TSMC N3P 3nm | TSMC N3P 3nm (est.) | Samsung 3nm GAA (est.) |
GPU | Immortalis-Drage (12-core, enhanced ray tracing) | Adreno 840 (est., 40% faster than Adreno 830) | Xclipse 960 (AMD RDNA-based, improved ray tracing) |
AI Performance | NPU 9.0, 100 TOPS | Hexagon NPU (80–90 TOPS, est.) | Dual-core NPU (60–70 TOPS, est.) |
Memory/Storage | LPDDR5X (10,667Mbps), UFS 4.1 | LPDDR5X (10,667Mbps), UFS 4.1 (est.) | LPDDR5X (10,667Mbps), UFS 4.1 (est.) |
Efficiency | 5–10 per cent better than Dimensity 9400 due to N3P | Comparable to Dimensity 9500, optimized Oryon cores | Slightly less efficient due to Samsung’s 3nm GAA vs. TSMC’s N3P |
Benchmark (AnTuTu) | 3.5M–4M (projected) | 3.8M–4.2M (projected) | 3.4M–3.8M (projected) |
Target Phones | OPPO Find X8 Ultra, Vivo X300, Honor Magic 9 | Samsung Galaxy S26 series, OnePlus 14, Xiaomi 16 | Samsung Galaxy S26 (select regions), mid-tier Samsung models |
Price Positioning | More affordable for OEMs, lower-cost flagships | Premium pricing, high-end flagships | Region-specific, cost-competitive but less consistent adoption |
In the end, I can say that each processor is powerful in its own way. Like, the Dimensity 9500 is great for AI, gaming, and performance-related tasks. It is for a lower price segment than the other two. So, this will be a wise choice for budget users. Meanwhile, the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 is the fastest with long-term performance. So, this is for top-end phones where people don’t consider price. The Exynos 2600 might be powerful, but it is limited by a lot of factors. So, it’s best for people who like Samsung phones.
AI Performance Breakdown:
Let’s now check out the details for AI performance in all these processors:
Feature | Dimensity 9500 | Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 | Exynos 2600 |
---|---|---|---|
NPU Type | NPU 9.0 (9th Gen MediaTek APU) | Hexagon NPU (Oryon-based) | Dual-core Samsung NPU |
AI Performance | 100 TOPS | 80–90 TOPS (est.) | 60–70 TOPS (est.) |
INT8 Power | ~200 TOPS (est.) | ~160–180 TOPS (est.) | ~120–140 TOPS (est.) |
AI Tasks | Generative AI, photo/video AI, AR/VR | Chatbots, camera AI, AR | Voice AI, photo AI, basic generative AI |
Examples | 8K video, portrait AI, live translation | AI zoom, AR overlays, fast chatbots | Night mode, voice-to-text |
Software | NeuroPilot, supports TF/PyTorch | Qualcomm AI Stack, Google-optimized | Samsung AI toolkit, fewer integrations |
Efficiency | High (TSMC 3nm) | Good, slightly higher power under load | Moderate (Samsung 3nm less efficient) |
The Dimensity 9500 is best for AI with 100 TOPS. It is great for advanced features like generative AI. The Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 is close behind with 80–90 TOPS. Not to forget, it works well with Google’s AI tools. The Exynos 2600 has 60–70 TOPS. This one is mainly for Samsung’s AI, but not as strong for future AI tasks.
Why Is MediaTek Dimensity 9500 A Big Deal?
There are many reasons why we are hyped about this chipset in particular. Check them out:
- MediaTek Dimensity 9500 is expected to be more affordable than Apple and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon.
- With the Dimensity 9500, the gaming performance gets better. You get the Immortalis-Drage GPU with an improved ray tracing feature. It can make mobile games look more realistic with better lighting and shadows.
- The 9500 chip can handle AI tasks like real-time photo editing, voice recognition, and even generative AI. You get the 100 TOPS that make your phone smarter and more helpful.
- It comes with support for UFS 4.1 and super-fast LPDDR5X RAM. It is built for next-gen apps and features. You can see it in tri-fold smartphones or even high-res cameras.
- The fact that the 9500’s 1+3+4 setup comes with the Cortex-X930 Cores is a big step up from the 9400. Dimensity 9400 and 9300 had all big core designs. We can see a 35 per cent boost in single-core performance because of the higher clock speed.
- The N3p 3nm in Dimensity 9500 gives better efficiency. You can easily expect 5-10 per cent jump. This means that this efficiency is going to help a lot in the battery segment.
- We can see the Immortalis-Drage GPU and 100 TOPS NPU for graphics. This is a major upgrade and a blessing for gaming, AI features, and voice assistants.
- It could easily hit a 3.5 million to 4 million on the AnTuTu benchmark. It is going to be a jump if we compare it with other flagships like 8 Elite and Apple A18 Pro.
Also read: AMD Ryzen 7 vs Intel Core i7: Which Is The Better Flagship CPU?
What Phones Will Use the Dimensity 9500?
While MediaTek hasn’t officially confirmed the launch, leaks point to an October 2025 debut. It is going to be similar to the 9400’s timeline. Nevertheless, big brands are already lining up:
- OPPO Find X8 Ultra: Rumoured to pair the 9500 with a 200-megapixel periscope telephoto camera.
- Vivo X300 Series: Expected to use the chip for top-notch AI and camera features.
- Honor Magic 9 Series: Could bring the 9500 to global markets.
These phones will likely hit shelves in late 2025 or early 2026, so keep an eye out!
In A Nutshell: MediaTek Dimensity 9500 Features
All in all, the MediaTek Dimensity 9500 sounds amazing. Of course, it has completion, but that is not going to bring down its efficiency. It is a powerhouse, with not just a fast CPU and a hardy GPU, but AI capabilities that will support the AI applications that today’s devices embody. If you are planning to upgrade to a new device in 2025, and chipset matters to you, you might want to wait a little longer. The Dimensity 9500 is worth it!
What do you think about the Dimensity 9500? Are you excited to see it in action? Let us know in the comments!
Also read: Best Graphics Cards (GPU) Ranking List
Buying refurbished mobile phones has never been this easy.Sell your old phone and get exclusive offers & discounts on refurbished mobiles. Every refurbished phone is put through 32-point quality checks to ensure like-new standards and comes with a six-month warranty and 15-day refund. Buy refurbished phone easily on no-cost EMI today!
