New Delhi, September 10, 2025 – Arm Holdings has introduced its new Lumex chip series, crafted to advance artificial intelligence capabilities on smartphones and wearable devices. These chips enable AI to run natively on devices, thereby reducing the need for continuous internet connectivity or cloud-based processing.
The Lumex family consists of four chip variants, each optimized for specific applications. Specifically, Arm designed the low-power chips primarily for wearable technology, balancing energy efficiency with intelligent performance. In contrast, the higher-tier models target flagship smartphones and provide the power needed for demanding AI tasks. Consequently, users can now perform real-time translation, voice recognition, and image enhancements directly on their devices, resulting in faster responses and improved privacy protections.
Chris Bergey, senior vice president at Arm, stated that AI has shifted from an optional feature to a fundamental expectation. Furthermore, he noted that consumers expect their devices to understand context and react instantaneously. Lumex chips support this transition by running large AI models locally, thus eliminating reliance on remote servers.
Arm’s Compute Subsystems business unit developed these chips. This division offers ready-made chip blueprints to smartphone manufacturers and semiconductor firms, accelerating product development and market entry. By streamlining these processes, Arm aims to broaden its influence in the competitive mobile technology sector.
Manufactured using the 3-nanometer fabrication process, Lumex chips achieve enhanced performance and efficiency by incorporating smaller transistor sizes. Importantly, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the manufacturer behind Apple’s iPhone chips, also employs this process. Arm’s adoption of this technology confirms its commitment to leading-edge chip innovation.
Arm plans to showcase Lumex at a forthcoming event in China, a pivotal market for the global smartphone industry. Bergey emphasized China’s importance, highlighting that many major handset brands, apart from Apple and Samsung, operate there. Therefore, Arm seeks to deepen relationships with these manufacturers and boost chip adoption in the region.
In a related development, Malaysia secured a $250 million agreement with Arm to access its chip design blueprints. Announced by the Malaysian Prime Minister, this collaboration is part of efforts to build local chip design expertise, reflecting Asia’s growing interest in semiconductor self-sufficiency.
Additionally, Arm is exploring the possibility of entering chip manufacturing. While traditionally focused on chip design and licensing, the company recently recruited top specialists to assess this new direction. Bringing manufacturing in-house could provide Arm with greater technological control and open new revenue channels.
The Lumex launch signifies a turning point for Arm and the broader mobile technology industry. Devices can now provide advanced AI features directly on-device, thus enhancing speed and security by avoiding cloud dependencies.
This shift fits into a larger industry trend toward on-device AI, fueled by rising demand for faster, more private, and responsive technology. Lumex chips offer adaptable solutions suitable for various devices and market segments.
By prioritizing power efficiency, performance, and broad access, Arm positions itself as a frontrunner in a swiftly evolving market. These chips could redefine user expectations, enabling smarter, quicker, and more personalized experiences on smartphones and wearables.
Ultimately, Lumex’s debut reflects Arm’s ambition to grow beyond a traditional chip design licensor. The company aims to provide complete solutions and possibly enter chip manufacturing, ensuring it remains at the forefront of mobile AI innovation.
About the Author
