lipflip – MediaTek’s next-generation flagship chipset, the Dimensity 9500, has surfaced early on Geekbench ahead of its expected September release. The listing appears to be an engineering sample, as the performance numbers are lower than expected. Although this early version does not reflect the final capabilities of the chip, it gives a first glimpse of the new hardware and confirms some key details, including the GPU model. This early leak offers a valuable preview of what MediaTek plans to bring to the premium smartphone segment with its latest SoC.
Dimensity 9500 Scores Low on OpenCL Benchmark Due to Early Testing
The Dimensity 9500 achieved a score of 15,717 points on Geekbench’s OpenCL benchmark test. This result is noticeably lower than the previous Dimensity 9400, which scored around 20,937 points. Such a difference likely stems from the fact that the chip tested was a preliminary engineering sample. The GPU clock speed was reported to be just 1 MHz, which is far below the expected operating frequency. This clearly indicates that the chip was not running at its full potential during testing, and the final product should deliver significantly better performance.
New GPU Identified as Mali-G1-Ultra MC12, Not Immortalis
The Geekbench listing reveals that the Dimensity 9500 uses the Mali-G1-Ultra MC12 GPU from Arm. This discovery is notable because it rules out the presence of an Immortalis-branded GPU, which some had speculated. The Mali-G1-Ultra MC12 could be part of Arm’s recent rebranding efforts, which also include new names for their Cortex CPU cores, now called Lumex. MediaTek’s choice to use this GPU suggests a focus on efficiency and balanced performance. Aiming to compete effectively in the mid to high-end market.
CPU Configuration and Clock Speeds Show Early Sample Limitations
The Dimensity 9500 follows a familiar 1+3+4 CPU core layout. A configuration often used in flagship chipsets for balancing power and efficiency. However, the clock speeds reported in the Geekbench listing are surprisingly low—lower even than those of the Dimensity 9400. This again reinforces the idea that the tested chip is a development model not optimized for final performance. Earlier leaks indicated the chip aims to rival Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 in multi-core processing power. Although single-core performance may lag behind.
What to Expect From the Final MediaTek Dimensity 9500
Although the current Geekbench results are underwhelming, the Dimensity 9500 is expected to deliver strong performance when it officially launches. MediaTek likely optimized the chip further after this early test, improving GPU clock speeds and CPU frequencies. The Dimensity 9500 is positioned to compete in the premium smartphone market, balancing power, efficiency, and advanced AI features. The upcoming launch in September will reveal whether MediaTek can successfully challenge competitors like Snapdragon’s latest processors and deliver a top-tier experience for flagship smartphones.