ARM is officially retiring its iconic Cortex and Immortalis brand names for mobile processors and GPUs. The new branding is streamlined and organized under the Lumex platform. This move signals a strategic shift toward integrated systems with a focus on on-device AI.
New CPUs: The C1 Series
The C1 series is ARM’s new CPU lineup, succeeding the Cortex-X and Cortex-A cores.
- C1-Ultra: The new flagship core, offering up to 25% faster single-thread performance than its predecessor, the Cortex-X925. It’s built for demanding tasks like gaming and real-time content creation.
- C1-Premium: A new core positioned for high-end, sub-flagship designs. It is optimized for a smaller surface area, making it more cost-effective.
- C1-Pro: This core provides a 16% boost in gaming performance compared to the Cortex-A725 while also being more power-efficient for general use.
- C1-Nano: The most efficient core, boasting a 26% improvement in power efficiency over the Cortex-A520, perfect for background and “always-on” tasks.
All C1 cores are built on the ARMv9.3 architecture and support the Scalable Matrix Extension 2 (SME2), which significantly accelerates AI workloads directly on the CPU.
New GPU: The Mali G1-Ultra
The Mali G1-Ultra replaces the Immortalis GPU series and brings major upgrades to graphics and AI. It offers 20% better overall graphics performance and introduces a second-generation Ray Tracing Unit (RTUv2) that delivers up to 2x faster ray tracing. This enables more realistic lighting and reflections in mobile games. The GPU also provides a 20% boost in AI inference, speeding up on-device machine learning tasks.
The Bottom Line
The new Lumex platform is designed for the 3nm manufacturing process and is built with AI-first principles. With the clear new naming convention and a focus on both performance and efficiency, these new C1 CPUs and Mali G1 GPUs are expected to appear in flagship smartphones and tablets starting in early 2026.
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