MediaTek is back with its next top-end processor, expected to appear in flagship phones from various Android makers as a rival to Qualcomm’s upcoming flagship chipset and the newly announced Apple A20 Pro inside the iPhone 18 Pro series.
Announced on Tuesday, the latest MediaTek flagship series includes two processors: the Dimensity 9600 Pro and 9600M. The 9600 Pro is made using a 2-nanometer process, enabling a denser processor, which should lead to improved performance and power efficiency.
MediaTek claims the chip will offer up to 17% higher single-core performance and up to 15% improved multi-core performance compared with its older tech. That multi-core design is also said to be 61% more power-efficient, although MediaTek didn't share single-core efficiency scores.
AI-powered tools will be more impressive thanks to the Dimensity 9600 Pro’s dual neural processing architecture. MediaTek says it reduces power consumption by 40% for always-on AI features. A new NPU 1090 tech also delivers 51% higher large language model prefill performance alongside 55% higher Token generation per watt.
Other improvements include smoother gaming, jumping up to 185 frames per second. A G2-Ultra NX GPU delivers 27% better performance, 24% lower power consumption, and 18% faster ray tracing. An upgrade to the camera will also let manufacturers offer 4K video at 240 frames per second for high-quality ultra-slow motion.
We don’t yet know which phones will feature the Dimensity 9600 Pro, but it’s likely to appear in upcoming Oppo and Vivo flagships, given what those brands have done with flagship MediaTek chips in the past. MediaTek says to expect the first devices sporting a 9600 Pro in the next few months.
Alongside the 9600 Pro, the MediaTek Dimensity 9600M is an alternative for cheaper handsets, allowing for select features from the flagship line. That includes gameplay up to 185 frames per second, along with some NPU improvements, although MediaTek has yet to fully detail its capabilities.
Qualcomm will be MediaTek’s main competitor with its soon-to-be-refreshed Snapdragon line. Qualcomm is expected to introduce a new flagship product on Sept. 22 at the brand's Snapdragon Summit event.