Arm Holdings, the British semiconductor design giant, has launched its next-generation Lumex Compute Subsystem (CSS) platform, optimized for delivering powerful, real-time AI capabilities directly on mobile devices like smartphones, wearables, and next-gen PCs. Announced on September 9, 2025, during a launch event in China, Lumex represents a strategic evolution in Arm’s architecture, emphasizing on-device processing to reduce reliance on cloud computing, enhance privacy, and improve efficiency. The platform integrates advanced CPU, GPU, and system IP, promising up to 5x faster AI performance and 3x greater energy efficiency compared to previous generations, all while supporting the growing demands of generative AI in consumer tech.
At the heart of Lumex is the Armv9.3-based C1 CPU cluster, the first to incorporate Scalable Matrix Extension 2 (SME2) units directly into the cores for accelerated matrix operations essential to AI workloads. This enables low-latency tasks like voice translation, personalized content generation, and real-time assistants without internet access. The C1 family offers four scalable core types: the flagship C1-Ultra, delivering a 25% single-thread performance uplift over the prior Cortex-X925 with double-digit Instructions Per Cycle (IPC) gains; the C1-Premium for balanced high performance in a compact form; the C1-Pro with 16% sustained performance improvements for streaming and inference; and the C1-Nano, up to 26% more power-efficient for low-end devices. Overall, the cluster achieves 30% better benchmark scores, 15% faster app performance, and 12% lower power consumption in daily tasks like browsing and video playback.
Complementing the CPUs is the new Mali G1 GPU series, led by the G1-Ultra, which boasts 20% improved graphics performance across benchmarks and doubles ray tracing capabilities via a second-generation Ray Tracing Unit (RTUv2). This enhances mobile gaming and extended reality (XR) experiences in titles like Fortnite and Genshin Impact, while also supporting AI-driven visuals. The G1-Premium and G1-Pro variants cater to mid-range and efficiency-focused devices. Lumex’s scalable interconnect and memory management unit further optimize bandwidth for AI-heavy loads, ensuring responsiveness without thermal throttling.
Designed for 3nm manufacturing nodes from foundries like TSMC, Lumex is production-ready, with early tape-outs already completed by partners. It includes developer tools like KleidiAI libraries—integrated into Android 16, PyTorch ExecuTorch, Google LiteRT, and Alibaba’s MNN—for seamless AI deployment. Alibaba demonstrated running billion-parameter models like Qwen on smartphones with low-latency quantized inference, while Samsung confirmed plans to use Lumex for future flagships. Chris Bergey, Arm’s SVP and GM of Client Business, emphasized, “AI is no longer a feature; it’s the foundation of next-generation mobile technology,” highlighting use cases like 4.7x lower latency for speech processing and 2.8x faster audio generation.
The platform’s focus on edge AI addresses privacy concerns and battery life, enabling features like on-device photo editing in Google Photos or real-time personalization in apps without cloud dependency. Arm’s simplified naming—part of a May 2025 update—streamlines adoption across its portfolio. First Lumex-powered devices are expected in late 2025 or early 2026, potentially powering Android flagships and challenging x86 dominance in laptops.
This launch positions Arm at the forefront of the AI mobile race, with implications for partners like Qualcomm, MediaTek, and Samsung. As on-device AI proliferates, Lumex could accelerate innovation in wearables, automotive infotainment, and beyond, though challenges like software ecosystem maturity remain.
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