Arm Unveils C2 CPUs and AI-Native GPUs for Next-Gen Android Flagships

Arm announced its next-generation C2-Ultra and C2-Pro CPU cores, delivering a 15% improvement in single-thread performance and 12% faster application launch times. The architecture shifts local AI processing directly onto the CPU itself, reducing the traditional reliance on dedicated NPUs or TPUs for neural workloads. The standout hardware is the new Mali G2-Ultra NX GPU, which achieves a 14% performance increase while integrating neural acceleration directly into the graphics pipeline. This architecture natively supports Unreal Engine 5 MegaLights, enabling the GPU to generate intermediate frames and upscale low-resolution gameplay on mobile devices. Xiaomi's unreleased 18 Fold, powered by the XRing O3 chip, is confirmed as the first smartphone to integrate the new Arm silicon.