MediaTek Dimensity 9600M: Dimensity 9500 with a New Scheduler

The MediaTek Dimensity 9600M is the lower-tier platform in the Dimensity 9600 series, intended for more affordable flagship smartphones. In hardware terms, it is an updated 3nm Dimensity 9500 rather than a cut-down 2nm version of the Dimensity 9600 Pro. The CPU, GPU, and NPU configurations remain unchanged.

The main changes focus on workload scheduling, gaming algorithms, and software AI features. As a result, the Dimensity 9600M does not promise a dramatic increase in peak performance over the Dimensity 9500. Its actual performance will depend on the firmware, power limits, and cooling of each specific smartphone.

Dimensity 9500 Under a New Name

MediaTek introduced the Dimensity 9600M on September 15, 2026, alongside the Dimensity 9600 Pro. The similar names conceal a significant difference between the two platforms.

The Dimensity 9600 Pro belongs to a new generation, with a 2nm process, Arm C2 cores, Mali-G2 Ultra graphics, LPDDR6 memory, and UFS 5.0 storage. The Dimensity 9600M uses the familiar Dimensity 9500 foundation, manufactured using TSMC’s 3nm N3P process.

The Dimensity 9600M does not receive a new CPU or GPU. MediaTek retained the Dimensity 9500 die and limited the update to software mechanisms, leaving LPDDR6, UFS 5.0, and the 2nm process as advantages exclusive to the Dimensity 9600 Pro.

Processor

The CPU uses a 1 + 3 + 4 configuration and contains no traditional small efficiency cores. One Arm C1-Ultra core runs at up to 4.21 GHz, three C1-Premium cores reach up to 3.5 GHz, and four C1-Pro cores operate at up to 2.7 GHz. The shared L3 cache totals 16 MB, while the system cache is 10 MB.

Eight large cores provide high multithreaded performance but require precise control of clock speeds and temperature. MediaTek links workload distribution and power consumption management to the Dimensity Scheduling Engine 3.0.

Before sales began, an early result appeared for the presumed Oppo Find X10 with the model number PMW110: 1732 and 6791 points in Geekbench 7. It cannot be directly compared with the Geekbench 6 results in the table below. The preliminary firmware and possible power limitations also make it impossible to assess the chip’s final performance.

Benchmarks on Real Devices

There are no commercially available smartphones with the Dimensity 9600M yet. The closest hardware reference point is represented by models with the Dimensity 9500, which has the same cores, clock speeds, cache, GPU, and memory subsystem. This is not a substitute for testing the 9600M, so the table also includes current competitors based on the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and Apple A19 Pro.

Prices are shown in euros at the time of the reviews. The Xiaomi figure refers to the cost of an imported device, while the other models use European retail pricing, so they cannot be compared directly. Benchmark results also depend on the firmware and performance mode. AnTuTu uses different software components on Android and iOS and indicates the overall performance class rather than an exact percentage advantage.

The two smartphones with the Dimensity 9500 are on par with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 in Geekbench 6. Xiaomi leads Vivo by approximately 2% in the single-core test, while the difference in the multicore test is less than 1%. The Apple A19 Pro leads in single-core performance but trails the best Android devices under an all-core workload. With comparable power limits, the Dimensity 9600M should remain in the same performance class.

Graphics

Graphics are handled by the 12-core Mali-G1 Ultra MC12 from the Dimensity 9500. The claimed improvements are related to drivers, the scheduler, and rendering algorithms.

MediaTek claims up to 185 frames per second in games and up to 120 frames per second with ray tracing and upscaling. These figures require game support and appropriate settings, and may include neural reconstruction or frame generation.

There are no 3DMark results for the Dimensity 9600M yet. The Vivo X300 Pro and Oppo Find X9 Pro use the same Mali-G1 Ultra MC12 and indicate the possible level of peak performance.

Both smartphones with the Dimensity 9500 outperform the selected competitors in Wild Life Extreme and Solar Bay, but sustained workloads change the picture. Vivo retains about half of its original performance, while Oppo retains less than 40%. Xiaomi and the iPhone start at lower levels but maintain their clock speeds more effectively.

The difference between Vivo and Oppo demonstrates the impact of cooling and power limits even with the same GPU. The key question for the Dimensity 9600M is whether Scheduling Engine 3.0 can reduce throttling. MFRC 3.0 increases the displayed frame rate using intermediate frames, but it does not replace an increase in native rendering speed. Therefore, the claimed 185 frames per second says nothing about performance after sustained load.

AI, Cameras, and Memory

The APU 990 includes a primary compute block and an energy-efficient module with in-memory computing. The second block is intended for speech recognition, context analysis, and local assistants without frequently activating the main part of the NPU.

MediaTek claims support for Gemini Nano 4, Qwen 3.5 Omni 4B, image generation at resolutions of up to 4K, and Camera Agent features. Their availability will depend on the smartphone manufacturer, interface language, and regional firmware.

The image signal processor supports cameras of up to 320 MP, 8K recording at 60 frames per second, 4K recording at 120 frames per second with electronic stabilization, and cinematic 4K video at 60 frames per second. The specific modes will depend on the smartphone’s cameras and firmware.

The memory controller supports LPDDR5X at speeds of up to 10,667 MT/s and four-lane UFS 4.1. The Dimensity 9600 Pro uses the newer LPDDR6 and UFS 5.0 standards.

Connectivity and First Devices

The platform supports Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and MediaTek’s proprietary 5G UltraSave 2.0 mechanisms for reducing modem power consumption. The final 5G bands, satellite features, and set of wireless capabilities will depend on the specific smartphone.

According to preliminary information, the first models with the Dimensity 9600M will include the Oppo Find X10 and Vivo X500. Until their official release, pricing, cooling, and benchmark results remain unknown. Commercial devices will show whether the new scheduler provides an advantage over the Dimensity 9500.

Conclusion

The Dimensity 9600M is an updated Dimensity 9500 with a new scheduler and software features for gaming and local AI. The hardware remains unchanged.

In CPU and graphics performance, the platform should remain close to the Dimensity 9500, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, and A19 Pro. Results from commercial smartphones with the Dimensity 9500 show high peak performance but also reveal substantial throttling. Beyond price, cooling will be the main factor for each specific device.

Its positioning will depend on price. If 9600M smartphones are significantly cheaper than models with the Dimensity 9600 Pro, the difference in hardware will be offset by the device’s price. At similar prices, the 9600M offers few advantages. A final assessment can be made only after testing commercial devices with final firmware.