Upcoming MediaTek Dimensity 9500 ( ) processor expected to use TSMC’s N3P processor MediaTek Dimensity 9500 is expected to use TSMC’s N3P processor, moving away from earlier speculation about a 2nm manufacturing process. The move appears to be driven by high costs and limited production capacity, especially as Apple prepares to use TSMC’s 2nm node for its future M5 series chips.
MediaTek’s Dimensity 9500 also marks a significant architectural change, moving to a 2+6 core layout instead of the 4+4 layout of its predecessor. The new design features two Cortex-X930 “super cores” and six Cortex-A730 performance cores, with clock speeds expected to exceed the 4 GHz mark. The processor should support the SME (Scalable Matrix Extension) instruction set.
For comparison, the Dimensity 9400 runs on one Cortex-X925 super core clocked at 3.62 GHz, three large Cortex-X4 cores clocked at 3.3 GHz, and four large Cortex-A720 cores clocked at 2.4 GHz. According to industry insider Digital Chat Station, the Dimensity 9500’s X930 cores are expected to deliver significantly higher single-core performance.
MediaTek is targeting an October 2025 launch, setting the stage for a potential rivalry with Samsung’s Exynos 2600, which would be manufactured using Samsung Foundry’s 2nm technology. Both chips could power various flagship devices, with rumors suggesting the Exynos 2600 could power the Z Fold 7, Z Flip 7, and Samsung’s (Galaxy) S26 series.
Although TSMC’s N3P process does not achieve the power efficiency of 2nm, it is still an improvement over the N3E process used in the current Dimensity 9400. The choice of the N3P process also reflects a broader industry trend : Several major tech companies are apparently questioning their immediate move to TSMC’s 2nm node, citing high costs and limited production capacity.
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