What you need to know
- MediaTek debuted two new chips: the Dimensity 9500s and the Dimensity 8500.
- The 9500s features a strong All-Big-Core structure, offering one ultra core with a top speed of 3.73GHz with NPU upgrades for AI features, and stronger GPU updates.
- The 8500 settles for a 4nm process; however, MediaTek still worked in upgrades to help prolong Android batteries and more for mobile games.
Before the week’s over, MediaTek is unveiling a new SoC duo for Android phones, following its flagship release late last year.
MediaTek published a press release this morning (Jan 15) regarding the debut of the Dimensity 9500s and the Dimensity 8500 chips. Out of the gate, MediaTek states these chips are designed to bolster the flagship and premium phone markets, as it looks to bring more competition to Qualcomm. The Dimensity 9500s takes center stage, built on a 3nm process and rocking MediaTek’s All-Big-Core structure.
This structure includes a Cortex-X925 ultra core, clocked at speeds up to 3.73GHz. MediaTek paired it with three Cortex-X4 premium cores and four Cortex-A720 performance cores.
Though it features that “S” tag, the company says this chip can still join the big leagues with a flagship NPU. This NPU is designed to handle “generative reasoning and multi-modal models” for a phone’s camera and “content generation capabilities.” Essentially, this concerns the post-processing of live photos, AI photo editing tools, AI summaries, and more.
Speaking of creating content, the Dimensity 9500s features the MediaTek Imagiq image processor for 30fps motion tracking and 8K full-focus Dolby Vision HDR recording.
Power and content generation are major highlights for the Dimensity 9500s; however, MediaTek’s not shying away from its gaming power.
The 9500s features an Immortalis-G925 GPU, capable of handling intensive games, such as Genshin Impact, Wuthering Waves, and more. MediaTek teases that it also included support for ray tracing, alongside efficiency upgrades and battery life longevity updates.
The Dimensity 8500
The second chip, the Dimensity 8500, is built on MediaTek’s 4nm process. This SoC was still equipped with the All-Big-Core structure. Unlike the 9500s, the 8500 offers eight Cortex-A725 cores with speeds up to 3.4GHz.
MediaTek focused its efforts elsewhere with the 8500, as it debuts it with “accurate scheduling technology and LPDDR5X 9600Mbps memory” support. The post states this was done to help foster a smoother phone experience for Android users, as well as a device battery life that can go further.
The Mali-G720 GPU aims to reduce power consumption by 25% when compared with MediaTek’s older generation. This SoC also upgraded its gaming engine, bringing faster loading times, higher energy efficiency, and more to mobile gamers.
As mentioned earlier, Mediatek launched the Dimensity 9500 back in September, its response to Qualcomm’s major flagship chip reveal. This chip is an Android powerhouse with an octo-core setup and a 32% power boost over the 9400. The GPU was upgraded, capable of pulling 120fps in games with ray tracing.




















