MediaTek is reportedly working on a flagship Dimensity 9600 processor, which could be its first chip built on a 2nm process. The leak comes from reliable insider Digital Chat Station, who claims the new platform will deliver a substantial performance boost, rivaling Apple chips in single-threaded tasks and even surpassing them in multi-core scenarios.
The Dimensity 9600 is rumored to adopt a 2+3+3 CPU architecture using only large cores. This design is expected to enhance performance in demanding apps, games, and multi-threaded tasks. However, it's unclear whether the comparison is against the upcoming A20 Pro or the current A19 Pro, so any claims of superiority should be taken with a grain of salt.
The insider also notes a major upgrade in CME/SME capabilities, potentially doubling over the previous generation. Cache memory changes, however, appear to be modest. MediaTek's focus, per the leak, is squarely on raw compute power, graphics, and new image processing features.
The GPU is also getting a major overhaul. The Dimensity 9600 is said to feature a larger next-gen Magin GPU with native frame interpolation, super-resolution, improved ray tracing, and more efficient rendering. These enhancements could make the chip particularly appealing for gaming phones and camera-focused devices with advanced video processing.
The first Dimensity 9600-powered devices could arrive as early as September. The vivo X500 Pro series is tipped to be among the first, along with the OPPO Find X10 Pro and Find X10 Pro Max. However, it's unclear if the OPPO models will launch in September or follow the previous generation's October timeline.
September is shaping up to be a busy month for flagship Android chips. Qualcomm is also expected to unveil the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and Gen 6 Pro, likely debuting in the Xiaomi 18 series. If these leaks pan out, MediaTek and Qualcomm will square off once again for the title of the year's most powerful mobile platform.