The Dimensity 9600 Pro is MediaTek’s newest flagship phone chip, announced on September 15, 2026, and built on a 2 nanometer TSMC process. It pairs two very fast performance cores with six more, a 12 core graphics unit, and a newer memory system, and it already powers three flagship phones from vivo and OPPO.
The headline numbers look strong. NanoReview, an aggregator that pools benchmark results, gives the Dimensity 9600 Pro a total score of 98 out of 100, with 99 for CPU performance, 100 for gaming, and 93 for battery life. Those are the aggregator’s own composite scores, not PetaTech24 tests, and every score below was recorded on a different phone.
In Brief
- MediaTek announced the Dimensity 9600 Pro on September 15, 2026, on a 2nm TSMC process, with eight cores in a 2+3+3 layout.
- The graphics unit is the Mali-G2 Ultra NX MP12, a 12 core design running at up to 1,800MHz, on the Valhall sixth generation architecture.
- NanoReview’s crowd aggregate (CR) lists AnTuTu 11 at 4,838,033, Geekbench 6 at 4,188 single core and 13,145 multi core, and 3DMark Wild Life Extreme at 9,245.
- Three phones carry the chip in NanoReview’s listing: the vivo X500 Pro, the vivo X500 Pro Max, and the OPPO Find X10 Pro Max, with AnTuTu 11 totals spread across about 310,000 points.
- Memory support moves to LPDDR6 at 5,333MHz with up to 24GB, and storage support covers UFS 4.1 and UFS 5.0.
- No chip level price exists, because the chip is not sold on its own. Phone prices, availability, and sustained performance in retail handsets remain the open questions.
Why This Matters
Flagship phone chips set the ceiling for everything a phone can do, from how quickly apps open to how long a demanding game holds its frame rate. The Dimensity 9600 Pro matters because it is MediaTek’s first 2nm flagship, arriving alongside Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 family and Apple’s A20 Pro, in phones buyers can actually purchase.
What the Dimensity 9600 Pro does not settle, on the evidence available now, is how it behaves over a long gaming session in a thin phone, or how much battery life any one handset delivers. Those answers depend on the phone around the chip, on cooling, and on software, and no controlled same chassis test has been published. This article keeps that distinction visible throughout, because a chip score and a phone verdict are different claims.
Dimensity 9600 Pro Specifications at a Glance
Every core is a new Arm C2 design, the graphics unit is new, and the memory and storage standards are the newest available. The table below collects the verified specifications for the Dimensity 9600 Pro from NanoReview’s chip page.
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Announced | September 15, 2026 |
| Process and maker | 2nm, TSMC |
| CPU layout | 8 cores, 2+3+3 |
| CPU cores | 2x C2-Ultra 4.55GHz, 3x C2-Pro 4.35GHz, 3x C2-Pro 3.10GHz |
| Instruction set | ARMv9.3-A |
| L3 cache | 16MB |
| GPU | Mali-G2 Ultra NX MP12, Valhall 6th gen, 1,800MHz |
| GPU compute | 1,536 shaders, 5,529.6 GFLOPS |
| NPU | MediaTek NPU 1090 |
| Memory | LPDDR6, 5,333MHz, up to 24GB |
| Max bandwidth | 128 Gb/s (NanoReview listing) |
| Storage | UFS 4.1, UFS 5.0 |
| Max camera | Single 200MP sensor |
| Video | 8K at 60fps, 4K at 120fps capture and playback |
| Connectivity | 5G, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.2 |
The 2nm process is the headline manufacturing change behind this generation’s efficiency claims. The specification page lists no modem model and no 5G band details, so no claim about mmWave support is made here.
Dimensity 9600 Pro CPU: Two Fast Cores Lead the Layout
The CPU uses eight cores in a 2+3+3 arrangement, and the two lead cores matter most for how the Dimensity 9600 Pro feels. Two Arm C2-Ultra cores run at up to 4.55GHz, three C2-Pro cores run at up to 4.35GHz, and three more C2-Pro cores run at up to 3.10GHz. All eight cores use the ARMv9.3-A instruction set, and the chip carries 16MB of L3 cache.
Short, demanding jobs can use the two fastest cores, while longer work spreads across the remaining six, a different balance from the previous generation’s single top core. MediaTek claims up to 17% higher single thread and up to 15% higher multi thread performance than the Dimensity 9500 on its own test platform, so treat those percentages as manufacturer claims (MF), not independent results.
Dimensity 9600 Pro Graphics: A New GPU With a Cooling Caveat
The Dimensity 9600 Pro graphics unit is the Mali-G2 Ultra NX MP12, a 12 core design on the Valhall sixth generation architecture, running at up to 1,800MHz with 1,536 shaders and 5,529.6 GFLOPS of listed compute. The full name matters here, because graphics units are routinely under specified in shorthand, and the MP12 core count is part of the specification, not decoration.
On the aggregate evidence, graphics is where the Dimensity 9600 Pro looks strongest. The AnTuTu 11 GPU sub score of 1,881,401 is the largest single part of the chip’s total, ahead of the CPU sub score of 1,388,289, and the 3DMark Wild Life Extreme score of 9,245 sits at flagship level among the aggregates NanoReview publishes. Both figures are crowd aggregates (CR), so they show where pooled results land, not what a controlled lab measured on one handset.
Remember that real world sustained performance depends on each phone’s cooling design, software tuning and ambient temperature as much as on the chip itself. A thicker phone with a better vapour chamber can outperform a thinner phone running the same silicon.
Dimensity 9600 Pro Benchmarks: What the Aggregates Show
Testing note: No published same-chassis lab test exists; treat phone scores as orientation only. Results below come from different retail phones, as pooled by NanoReview, and are useful for ballpark comparison, not a controlled duel. All figures here come from NanoReview’s crowd aggregate database (CR), with benchmark versions kept separate, because AnTuTu 11 totals cannot be compared with AnTuTu 10 totals, and Geekbench 6 scores cannot be compared with Geekbench 5 scores.
| Benchmark (CR) | Score | Source |
|---|---|---|
| AnTuTu 11 total | 4,838,033 | NanoReview aggregate |
| AnTuTu 11 CPU | 1,388,289 | NanoReview aggregate |
| AnTuTu 11 GPU | 1,881,401 | NanoReview aggregate |
| AnTuTu 11 memory | 488,503 | NanoReview aggregate |
| AnTuTu 11 UX | 1,079,840 | NanoReview aggregate |
| Geekbench 6 single core | 4,188 | NanoReview aggregate |
| Geekbench 6 multi core | 13,145 | NanoReview aggregate |
| 3DMark Wild Life Extreme | 9,245 | NanoReview aggregate |
| AnTuTu 11, vivo X500 Pro | 5,016,623 | NanoReview phone listing |
| AnTuTu 11, vivo X500 Pro Max | 4,838,033 | NanoReview phone listing |
| AnTuTu 11, OPPO Find X10 Pro Max | 4,706,878 | NanoReview phone listing |
The per phone spread is the most instructive part of the table. The Dimensity 9600 Pro records 5,016,623 in the vivo X500 Pro, 4,838,033 in the vivo X500 Pro Max, and 4,706,878 in the OPPO Find X10 Pro Max, a gap of about 310,000 points. Cooling, tuning, storage, and firmware all feed into that gap, so no single total should be quoted without naming the phone behind it.
Early prototype testing points in a similar direction. Notebookcheck reported pre launch tests, run by Xiaobai’s Tech Reviews on MediaTek’s prototype machine, that recorded 4,216 single core and 12,765 multi core on Geekbench 6.
Notebookcheck also reported efficiency gains of up to 40% on performance per watt against the Dimensity 9500 in those prototype tests. Prototype conditions differ from retail phones, so the two sets of numbers are reported side by side and never averaged into one figure.
The Find X10 Pro Max gives the clearest price anchor among the three handsets: PetaTech24’s camera shootout coverage records 1,799 euros in Europe and Rs 1,99,999 at launch in India, with no US price stated. No vivo price is stated in the sources read here, so none is given.
AI, Camera and Memory: The Supporting Cast
The NPU 1090 handles on device AI work on the Dimensity 9600 Pro, and the specification page gives no TOPS figure for it, so none is stated here. Real AI features are decided by each phone maker, so judge AI by the features shipping on a specific phone. Camera support is generous on paper, with a single sensor of up to 200MP, 8K video at 60 frames per second, and 4K at 120 frames per second.
The OPPO Find X10 Pro Max shows what that ceiling enables, with three 200MP rear cameras, but the sensor, lens, and tuning in each phone decide the photos. Memory is where the generational change is clearest: LPDDR6 at 5,333MHz replaces LPDDR5X, with support for up to 24GB, and storage steps up to UFS 5.0 alongside UFS 4.1. The phone’s own configuration decides how much of that ceiling a buyer actually gets.
Battery Life: A Phone Property, Not a Chip Verdict
NanoReview’s composite battery life score for the Dimensity 9600 Pro is 93, but that is part of the aggregator’s own scoring system, not a measured endurance result from any phone. It should not be read as hours of use, and it cannot rank phones against each other. No identical condition battery duel was found in the sources read here, so no battery evidence table is presented, and none has been invented.
Battery life is primarily a phone property, not a chip property. Battery size, display, software tuning, modem behaviour, and charging hardware all shape endurance more directly than the silicon alone.
Bottom line on battery: No identical-condition battery duel was found across the reviewed phones. Treat battery life and charging speed as properties of the specific phone (its mAh size, software, screen and charger), not of the chip. Do not pick a chip winner on battery.
Connectivity in Daily Use
The Dimensity 9600 Pro connectivity list covers 5G, Wi-Fi 7, and Bluetooth 6.2, plus GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, QZSS, and NavIC navigation. In practice it matters mainly for buyers whose other gear matches it, since Wi-Fi 7 speeds need a Wi-Fi 7 router and Bluetooth 6.2 features need compatible accessories. Most buyers in Bangladesh, South Asia, and much of Europe on sub-6GHz 5G or LTE will see no daily benefit from the newest radio labels alone.
Not to Be Confused With the Dimensity 9600M
MediaTek announced two chips in this generation, and the names invite confusion. The Dimensity 9600M is a 3nm chip on older C1 cores, with a 1+3+4 layout, a Mali-G1 Ultra MP12 graphics unit, the NPU 990, and LPDDR5X memory. Its aggregate is lower across the board: AnTuTu 11 at 4,011,932 and Geekbench 6 at 3,302 and 10,240, against 4,838,033, 4,188, and 13,145 for the Dimensity 9600 Pro.
The gap is real but it should be read carefully. The Dimensity 9600 Pro aggregate sits about 21% above the 9600M aggregate on AnTuTu 11, on the same version and the same aggregator.
The two chips land in different phones at different prices, so the aggregate gap alone does not decide which phone to buy. The naming lesson is simpler: if a listing says 9600M, it is not the Dimensity 9600 Pro, and its scores should not be quoted as Pro scores.
| Detail (CR) | 9600 Pro | 9600M |
|---|---|---|
| Process | 2nm TSMC | 3nm TSMC |
| CPU layout | 2+3+3, C2 cores | 1+3+4, C1 cores |
| Top clock | 4.55GHz | 4.21GHz |
| GPU | Mali-G2 Ultra NX MP12 | Mali-G1 Ultra MP12 |
| NPU | NPU 1090 | NPU 990 |
| Memory | LPDDR6 | LPDDR5X |
| AnTuTu 11 | 4,838,033 | 4,011,932 |
| Geekbench 6 | 4,188 / 13,145 | 3,302 / 10,240 |
Confirmed vs Reported vs Unknown
Confirmed
- Announced September 15, 2026, on a 2nm TSMC process, with eight C2 cores in a 2+3+3 layout, per NanoReview’s specification page.
- GPU: Mali-G2 Ultra NX MP12 at up to 1,800MHz. Memory: LPDDR6 at 5,333MHz, up to 24GB. Storage: UFS 4.1 and UFS 5.0.
- AnTuTu 11 at 4,838,033, Geekbench 6 at 4,188 and 13,145, and 3DMark Wild Life Extreme at 9,245, with per phone AnTuTu 11 totals for three handsets.
Reported
- Notebookcheck reported prototype tests of 4,216 and 12,765 on Geekbench 6, and efficiency gains of up to 40% against the Dimensity 9500.
- MediaTek claims up to 17% single thread and up to 15% multi thread gains over the Dimensity 9500 on its own test platform (MF).
- Find X10 Pro Max at 1,799 euros in Europe and Rs 1,99,999 in India, per PetaTech24’s camera shootout coverage.
Unknown
- Sustained gaming and throttling in retail phones, unmeasured by any controlled lab review read here.
- Real world battery endurance for any specific phone using the chip.
- Further phones beyond the three listed, and their prices by market.
- The NPU’s rated throughput, unpublished on NanoReview’s specification page.
FAQ
Is the Dimensity 9600 Pro faster than the Dimensity 9600M?
On NanoReview’s same version aggregates, yes. The Dimensity 9600 Pro records 4,838,033 on AnTuTu 11 against 4,011,932 for the 9600M, and leads on both Geekbench 6 figures. The aggregate gap is a guide to the silicon, not a verdict on any two handsets.
Which phones use this chip?
The Dimensity 9600 Pro listing names three: the vivo X500 Pro, the vivo X500 Pro Max, and the OPPO Find X10 Pro Max. Availability and prices differ by market.
Does a higher AnTuTu score guarantee better battery life?
No. The aggregate battery life score of 93 is a composite, not a measured endurance result, and battery life depends on the phone’s battery size, display, and software. No chip winner on battery is declared here, because no identical condition test supports one.
Should buyers wait for independent lab reviews?
For a purchase decided mainly on sustained gaming or battery life, yes. The aggregate scores establish the chip’s class, but controlled lab testing settles throttling, heat, and endurance. For everyday speed, the evidence already points to flagship class performance.
Verdict
The Dimensity 9600 Pro is a genuine flagship chip on the evidence available: a 2nm process, two fast lead cores, a new 12 core GPU, LPDDR6 memory, and aggregate scores at the top of NanoReview’s table.
The evidence is pooled and phone dependent, not controlled lab proof. The chip class is settled. Any single phone’s behaviour is not.
Buy a phone with the Dimensity 9600 Pro if you want flagship speed, heavy gaming headroom, and the newest memory and storage standards, and if the phone around it also earns its place on cameras, display, battery size, and price. Skip the chip as a buying reason on its own if your use is light, or if battery life and sustained gaming decide your purchase and no lab review of your exact model exists yet.
At the same price and similar condition, prefer the better phone overall, not the better chip on paper. Chip performance is only one factor, and screen quality, camera tuning, battery size, software support, and the condition of the specific unit matter more than a benchmark gap for most buyers. Do not over-index on specs.
Sources
- NanoReview, MediaTek Dimensity 9600 Pro specifications and benchmarks
- NanoReview, Smartphone Processors Ranking, AnTuTu 11 and Geekbench 6 aggregates
- Notebookcheck, MediaTek Dimensity 9600 Pro benchmarks are in, October 2026
- CpuTronic, MediaTek Dimensity 9600 Pro detailed specifications and benchmark ratings
- PetaTech24, Pixel 11 Pro XL vs OPPO camera shootout, October 26, 2026
Score methodology: Lab-reviewer (LR) scores come from named outlets’ controlled testing, crowd (CR) scores come from aggregator databases such as NanoReview that pool user-submitted and collected results, and company (MF) numbers are manufacturer claims. All benchmark scores in this article are CR unless stated otherwise, and no PetaTech24 testing was performed.
