MediaTek Dimensity 9600 Pro goes official with 2nm process and a major GPU upgrade!

MediaTek has officially introduced the Dimensity 9600 Pro, its latest flagship smartphone chipset and successor to the Dimensity 9500. This chip is built on a 2nm process, bringing a fourth-generation all-big-core CPU, a new Arm Mali GPU, and several other upgrades in terms of RAM, AI, imaging, and connectivity. In this article, I will discuss the MediaTek Dimensity 9600 Pro in detail, including its CPU, GPU, memory, camera capabilities, connectivity, expected devices, and its comparison with the Dimensity 9500.

MediaTek Dimensity 9600 Pro Overview

Still big cores

Starting off with the CPU, MediaTek is sticking with its all-big-core approach for another generation. The Dimensity 9600 Pro uses an octa-core 2+3+3 setup, with two Arm C2-Ultra cores and six C2-Pro cores. Here, the two Ultra cores can reach up to 4.55GHz, while three Pro cores clock up to 4.35GHz and the other three reach up to 3.1GHz. MediaTek has also increased the L2 cache by 21% compared with the previous generation.

For this new chipset too, there are no traditional efficiency cores. Instead, MediaTek is using its fourth-generation All Big Core design, with different C2-Ultra and C2-Pro cores handling different workloads. According to the company, the new CPU delivers up to 17% better single-core and 15% better multi-core performance. It also claims up to 37% better single-core and 61% better multi-core power efficiency.

Compared with the Dimensity 9500, the new chip also brings a change in its CPU setup. The 9500 had one C1-Ultra, three C1-Premium, and four C1-Pro cores, with a maximum clock speed of 4.21GHz. In comparison, the 9600 Pro moves to the newer Arm C2 architecture and adds a second Ultra core.

Apart from this, there is also a major change in the manufacturing process. While the Dimensity 9500 was built on TSMC's 3nm process, the new 9600 Pro moves to 2nm. This should help MediaTek improve both performance and efficiency. However, the actual results will still depend on how well manufacturers of different phones optimize this platform.

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Massive upgrade in GPU

Moving on to graphics, the Dimensity 9600 Pro gets a major GPU upgrade with the new Arm Mali-G2 Ultra NX. It replaces the Mali-G1 Ultra MC12 used in the Dimensity 9500. This time, MediaTek claims up to 27% higher peak GPU performance, along with up to 24% better power efficiency at peak performance. Likewise, they also said that ray-tracing performance has improved by up to 18%. On top of this, MediaTek says the chip can support native gameplay at more than 185 FPS, depending on the game and implementation.

More interestingly, the new GPU also uses Arm's Neural Graphics Architecture, which allows the GPU and NPU to work more closely together. As a result, it can handle regular graphics workloads as well as AI-based features such as super-resolution and ray tracing. At the same time, the Dimensity 9600 Pro supports hardware-accelerated OMM ray tracing and a ray-tracing pipeline that can handle multi-material reflections.

From this, we can expect the Dimensity 9600 Pro to offer a better gaming experience than its predecessor, especially in graphics-heavy titles. The improved efficiency should also help with sustained gaming performance by reducing the power and heat produced during longer gaming sessions. But the actual real-world performance of this chip will fully depend on the phone's cooling system and thermal management.

Faster Memory, Better Cameras and Connectivity

Memory-wise, the Dimensity 9600 Pro brings support for the newer LPDDR6 RAM and UFS 5.0 storage. MediaTek says LPDDR6 can offer up to 33% higher effective memory bandwidth at the same frequency, while UFS 5.0 can deliver up to twice the read and write speeds of the previous generation. However, manufacturers can still use LPDDR5X RAM if they don't opt for LPDDR6.

In terms of cameras, the chipset comes with MediaTek's new AI Imaging Fusion Architecture, which brings the ISP and NPU closer together for image and video processing. It supports camera sensors of up to 200MP, along with 8K video recording at 60fps, 4K at 120fps with EIS, and up to 4K 240fps slow-motion recording. It also supports 4K60 HDR video and up to 17 stops of HDR video capture. Besides, the chip supports continuous subject tracking at 60fps, while its improved efficiency should also help with longer 4K HDR recording.

For connectivity, it comes with an integrated 5G Advanced modem supporting 5CC carrier aggregation of up to 350MHz, along with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.2. It also supports triple-band, triple-concurrent Wi-Fi with peak speeds of up to 7.3Gbps. For navigation, the chipset supports major GNSS systems including GPS, BeiDou, Galileo, GLONASS, QZSS, and NavIC.

Expected devices

Coming to the devices, Vivo and OPPO might feature the Dimensity 9600 Pro in their upcoming flagship phones. The chipset is expected to make its way into the Vivo X500 series and OPPO Find X10 series, both of which are expected to focus on flagship-level performance and cameras. In Nepal, the Vivo X500 series could be the one that brings this latest MediaTek Dimensity 9600 Pro chip to the Nepalese market.

MediaTek Dimensity 9600 Pro Specifications

• Process Node: TSMC 2nm
• CPU: 2x Arm C2-Ultra @ 4.55GHz, 3x C2-Pro @ 4.35GHz, 3x C2-Pro @ 3.1GHz
• GPU: 12-core Arm Mali G2-Ultra NX with hardware-accelerated ray tracing
• NPU / AI: MediaTek NPU 1090 + 2nd Gen Super Efficient NPU 2.0, support for up to 30B-parameter on-device AI models, Agentic AI Engine 3.0
• RAM: LPDDR6 @ up to 10,667Mbps,with LPDDR5X support
• Storage: UFS 5.0
• Rear Camera: Up to 200MP
• Video Recording: 8K 60fps, 4K 120fps with EIS, 4K 240fps slow motion
• Continuous Focus Tracking: 60fps
• IPS: MediaTek Imaging 1290 with AI Imaging Fusion Architecture
• 5G / LTE: 5G Advanced with 5CC carrier aggregation up to 350MHz
• Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 7, tri-band tri-concurrent, up to 7.3 Gbps
• Bluetooth: Bluetooth 6.2 with dual Bluetooth engine, up to 12Mbps
• Navigation: GPS, BeiDou, Galileo, GLONASS, QZSS, and NavIC
• Cache: 16MB L3 Cache + 10MB SLC
• Display Technology: WQHD+ 180Hz, Tri-port MIPI for Tri-Fold Displays, BT.2020 (Rec.2020) color pipeline, Multi-frame Overdrive
• Gaming: Up to 185fps gaming, with 27% higher peak GPU performance
• Power Saving: MediaTek 5G UltraSave 2.0, R17 Power Saving Enhancement
• Power Efficiency: Up to 24% lower peak GPU power consumption, up to 61% lower multi-core power consumption compared to predecessor

My verdict

I think the Dimensity 9600 Pro is a solid step up from the Dimensity 9500. What stands out to me the most is the move to the 2nm process and the new C2 architecture, which should help balance performance and efficiency better. But for me, the biggest highlight is the GPU upgrade, as the new Mali-G2 Ultra NX looks much more capable for gaming and graphics-heavy tasks.

That said, the real-world difference will only become clear once we see this chipset in actual phones. I think Cooling and software optimization will play a big role in how well it performs over longer gaming sessions and everyday use. Still, the Dimensity 9600 Pro looks like a promising flagship chipset and a meaningful upgrade from its predecessor.

• Meanwhile, you may like our review of the Vivo X300 Pro (review).