MediaTek has officially introduced the Dimensity 9600M, a new flagship smartphone chipset designed to bring some of the company’s latest software and AI capabilities to a broader range of premium devices. The new SoC arrives shortly after the company’s announcement of the Dimensity 9600 Pro.
Interestingly, the Dimensity 9600M shares much of its underlying hardware with the Dimensity 9500. It is built using TSMC’s advanced 3nm N3P process and features the same all-large-core CPU architecture, Arm Mali-G1 Ultra MC12 GPU and MediaTek NPU 990.
Where the new chipset sets itself apart is in its software and AI capabilities. MediaTek has added its latest Agentic AI Engine and Dimensity Scheduling Engine, bringing newer AI and system-management features to devices using the Dimensity 9600M.
MediaTek Dimensity 9600M Key Features
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Manufacturing Process | TSMC 3nm N3P |
| CPU | Octa-core, all-large-core design |
| Prime Core | 1x Arm C1-Ultra, up to 4.21GHz |
| Performance Cores | 3x Arm C1-Premium |
| Efficiency Cores | 4x Arm C1-Pro |
| L3 Cache | 16MB |
| System Cache | 10MB SLC |
| GPU | Arm Mali-G1 Ultra MC12 |
| NPU | MediaTek NPU 990 |
| RAM | LPDDR5X 10667 |
| Storage | UFS 4.1, 4-lane |
| 5G | 3GPP Release 17, Sub-6GHz |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Wi-Fi Speed | Up to 7.3Gbps |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 6.0 |
| Max Camera Support | 320MP |
| Video Capture | Up to 8K at 60fps |
| Display Support | WQHD+ at 180Hz |
| AI | Generative AI and Agentic AI |
| AI Features | Agentic AI Engine, Dimensity Scheduling Engine |
3nm Flagship-Class CPU Architecture
The Dimensity 9600M uses an all-large-core CPU design rather than combining large and small cores. The processor features one Arm C1-Ultra core with 2MB of L2 cache, three Arm C1-Premium cores with 1MB of L2 cache each and four Arm C1-Pro cores with 512KB of L2 cache each.
The Arm C1-Ultra core can reach a maximum frequency of 4.21GHz, while the chipset also includes 16MB of L3 cache and 10MB of system-level cache.
MediaTek is manufacturing the chipset using TSMC’s 3nm N3P process, which provides the foundation for its flagship-level performance and power efficiency.
Mali-G1 Ultra GPU for High-End Graphics
Graphics processing is handled by the Arm Mali-G1 Ultra MC12 GPU. The graphics architecture is the same hardware used in the Dimensity 9500, giving the 9600M a strong foundation for demanding mobile games and high-resolution graphics.
The chipset supports displays with resolutions up to WQHD+ at 180Hz. It also includes tri-port MIPI support for tri-fold display configurations, opening the door to more unusual flagship device designs.
LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.1 Storage
The Dimensity 9600M supports LPDDR5X 10667 memory for high-speed data access. For storage, the chipset supports UFS 4.1 using a four-lane interface.
This combination is designed to provide fast application loading, smoother multitasking and quick access to large files, while also supporting the requirements of modern flagship smartphones.
Advanced AI with NPU 990
AI is one of the most important additions to the Dimensity 9600M. The chipset features MediaTek’s NPU 990, which supports both generative AI and agentic AI workloads.
More importantly, the 9600M brings MediaTek’s latest Agentic AI Engine to this platform. Agentic AI is designed to help smartphones handle more complex tasks by allowing AI systems to work through multiple steps rather than simply responding to individual prompts.
The Dimensity Scheduling Engine is another notable addition. It is designed to help manage processing resources for different workloads, including AI-related tasks.
These software and AI improvements are a key part of what differentiates the Dimensity 9600M from the underlying hardware it shares with the Dimensity 9500.
320MP Camera and 8K Video Support
The chipset is built to handle advanced smartphone photography, with support for camera sensors of up to 320MP.
For video recording, the Dimensity 9600M supports video capture at up to 8K resolution and 60fps. It can also handle 4K video at 120fps with electronic image stabilization (EIS) and supports a 4K60 cinematic mode.
The platform supports 10-bit video decoding for HEVC, AVC, VP9 and AV1 formats. For encoding, it supports 8K30 10-bit video in HEVC and AVC, as well as 8K60 8-bit HEVC encoding.
Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.0
Connectivity is another strong area for the new chipset. The Dimensity 9600M supports Wi-Fi 7 with triple-band, triple-concurrency (TBTC) technology and theoretical speeds of up to 7.3Gbps.
Bluetooth 6.0 is also supported through a dual Bluetooth engine, with speeds of up to 12Mbps.
For mobile networks, the chipset supports 3GPP Release 17, Sub-6GHz 5G, 5G carrier aggregation and 4G carrier aggregation. It also supports both SA and NSA 5G modes.
Dual SIM and Global Navigation Support
The Dimensity 9600M supports 5G/4G Dual SIM Dual Active and dual-data functionality. It supports NR FR1 TDD and FDD, DSS, VoNR and other modern cellular features.
MediaTek has also included broad GNSS support. Compatible devices can use GPS, BeiDou, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS and NavIC, depending on the smartphone implementation and supported bands.
Power Efficiency Features
Alongside the 3nm manufacturing process, the Dimensity 9600M incorporates MediaTek’s 5G UltraSave technology and Release 17 power-saving enhancements.
These technologies are designed to reduce power consumption during cellular connectivity, which can be particularly useful when smartphones are operating on 5G networks for extended periods.
Dimensity 9600M vs Dimensity 9500
From a hardware perspective, the Dimensity 9600M is essentially a repackaged version of the Dimensity 9500. The two platforms share the same fundamental CPU, GPU and NPU configuration.
The distinction comes primarily through the software and AI side of the platform. MediaTek has brought the Agentic AI Engine and Dimensity Scheduling Engine to the Dimensity 9600M, giving manufacturers another option for integrating newer AI capabilities into flagship smartphones.
This approach allows MediaTek to extend some of its latest platform-level features without creating an entirely different hardware architecture.
When Will Dimensity 9600M Phones Launch?
MediaTek says the first smartphones powered by the Dimensity 9600M are expected to launch later this quarter. Specific device names and launch dates will depend on individual smartphone manufacturers.
As the first devices arrive, more details should emerge about how manufacturers are implementing the chipset’s AI capabilities, camera features and connectivity options.
Final Thoughts
The MediaTek Dimensity 9600M is an interesting addition to the company’s flagship chipset lineup. Rather than introducing a completely new hardware platform, MediaTek has combined the established hardware foundation of the Dimensity 9500 with newer AI and scheduling technologies.
Its 4.21GHz Arm C1-Ultra core, Mali-G1 Ultra MC12 GPU, NPU 990, LPDDR5X memory support, UFS 4.1 storage and Wi-Fi 7 connectivity give it a comprehensive flagship specification sheet. The addition of the Agentic AI Engine and Dimensity Scheduling Engine further expands its capabilities for newer AI-focused smartphone experiences.
With the first Dimensity 9600M-powered phones expected later this quarter, the platform should soon make its way into upcoming flagship devices.
Via: (MediaTek)
Note: Product details, pricing, and availability may change over time. While we try to keep information accurate, please verify details from the official website before purchasing. Some content may be assisted by AI tools like ChatGPT, and some articles may contain affiliate links that may earn us a small commission at no extra cost to you. Reviews, opinions, and feature highlights are based on official specifications and publicly available information at the time of writing.
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