MediaTek has unveiled its latest high-end phone chip, the Dimensity 9500, and early hands-on tests show it keeping pace with Apple’s new A19 Pro in basic processing tasks while pulling ahead in graphics performance. The results, from prototype devices, suggest the Dimensity 9500 could give Android phones a strong edge in gaming and visual apps when it hits devices like the Vivo X300 and Oppo Find X9 in October.
The Dimensity 9500, built on a tiny 3-nanometer manufacturing process from TSMC, powers up with eight high-performance cores from ARM’s latest designs.
In everyday speed tests like Geekbench 6, it scored 4,007 in single-core tasks—handling one job at a time, like opening apps—and 11,217 in multi-core, managing several things together, such as editing videos while browsing.
These numbers line up closely with the A19 Pro’s 3,895 single-core and 9,746 multi-core scores from the iPhone 17 Pro Max, showing the chips are neck-and-neck for quick, daily use.
Where the Dimensity 9500 really stands out is in graphics, the part that handles games and videos. On the 3DMark Wild Life Extreme test, it hit 8,251 points, beating the A19 Pro’s 6,557 by about 25%.
Similar wins came in other checks: 155 frames per second on GFXBench’s Aztec test versus the Apple’s 96, and 2,605 on a light-tracing challenge compared to 2,411.
This means phones with the Dimensity 9500 could run smoother, more detailed games without slowing down as much, a big plus for mobile gamers.
These tests happened on a test version of the chip, so real phones might vary slightly depending on how companies like Vivo or Oppo set them up.
MediaTek says the Dimensity 9500 uses less power overall, thanks to smart software that predicts tasks and saves energy—up to 40% better in some AI jobs compared to its older version.
It also boosts 5G speeds to 7.4 gigabits per second for faster downloads and includes tools for clearer calls in weak signal spots.
The launch comes right after Apple’s iPhone 17 event, putting the two chips head-to-head in the race for the best phone brains.
While the A19 Pro edges out in some power-saving tests, the Dimensity 9500’s graphics lead could make Android flagships like the upcoming Vivo X300 feel snappier in fun, visual-heavy apps. Early chatter on forums like Reddit calls it a “wake-up call” for Apple, with one user noting, “MediaTek’s closing the gap—graphics wins could steal some gamers.”
MediaTek expects the Dimensity 9500 in stores by October, powering premium phones from Chinese brands first, with wider rollout soon after. This could shake up the market, giving buyers more choices for high-speed, battery-friendly performance.
