MediaTek Dimensity 9600 Pro goes official with 2nm process and performance gains

MediaTek has introduced its latest flagship chipset, the Dimensity 9600 Pro, which is built on TSMC’s advanced 2nm process. This new chip features a 2+3+3 All Big Core CPU design, utilizing Arm’s newly developed C2-Ultra cores operating at 4.55GHz, along with three C2-Pro cores running at 4.35GHz and another three at 3.1GHz. MediaTek claims that this design delivers a 17% improvement in single-core performance and a 15% increase in multi-core performance compared to the previous generation.

The Dimensity 9600 Pro represents MediaTek's first-wave 2nm smartphone chip, designed to elevate performance, capability, and power efficiency simultaneously. The heart of the chipset is MediaTek’s 4th-generation All Big Core CPU, which employs a revolutionary 2+3+3 configuration. This design incorporates two Arm C2-Ultra processors, three Arm C2-Pro processors with 1MB L2 cache, and three Arm C2-Pro processors with 512KB L2 cache, resulting in a 21% larger L2 cache system.

MediaTek is also the first to offer support for both UFS 5.0 and LPDDR6 in this design. The former offers twice the read/write speeds compared to its predecessor, while the latter enhances effective memory bandwidth by 33% at the same frequency. The chip incorporates LPDDR6 memory and UFS 5.0 storage.

The G2-Ultra NX GPU provides a 27% boost in peak performance while consuming 24% less power. Ray-tracing is reported to be 18% faster, with the chip capable of supporting up to 185fps in games. On the artificial intelligence front, the Dimensity 9600 Pro’s second-generation Super Efficient NPU reduces power consumption by 40% while delivering superior performance and higher token generation per watt.

Finally, the Imagiq 1290 ISP supports native 4K240 ultra-slow-motion video output, 4K120 cinematic log, and AI-powered True Color Tone and 60fps motion capture features. One of the first devices to feature the Dimensity 9600 Pro is expected to be Oppo’s Find X10 Pro Max, which is set to be announced in the coming week. MediaTek is also unveiling the Dimensity 9600M, a more affordable version of this chip that offers "flagship-level performance" but lacks UFS 5.0 support and uses Arm's C1 cores instead of the C2 variants.