Arm Introduces CSS for Mobile 2 With Focus on AI and Gaming

Arm has introduced a new computing platform designed to handle the growing demands of artificial intelligence and mobile graphics. Called Arm CSS for Mobile 2, the platform is built for smartphones that need to run AI agents, advanced applications, and more demanding graphics while keeping power consumption under control.

Arm Introduces CSS for Mobile 2 With Focus on AI and Gaming

The new platform brings together CPU, GPU and system technologies in one package. Arm says this approach will help chip manufacturers develop new mobile products faster while giving developers a common platform for building AI-powered applications.

Built for Agentic AI

AI is becoming a bigger part of everyday smartphone use. Instead of simply responding to individual commands, AI agents are expected to manage multiple tasks, maintain context, and interact with different applications and services.

This puts more pressure on smartphone processors. Arm says the CPU will play an important role in managing these workloads by coordinating different parts of the system.

The CSS for Mobile 2 platform includes the new Arm C2 CPU cluster. It combines the high-performance C2-Ultra CPU with efficiency-focused C2-Pro CPUs. The cluster also includes two SME2 units to improve on-device AI performance.

According to Arm, the C2-Ultra offers up to 1.7 times higher AI performance than the previous C1-Ultra. It also provides up to 15% better single-thread performance while using up to 38% less power at the same performance level.

Arm says the additional SME2 capability can provide a 70% speed improvement for the latest small language models. This could help smartphones handle AI tasks with lower latency.

New Mali GPU Brings AI to Mobile Graphics

Arm has also introduced the Mali G2-Ultra NX, its new mobile GPU. It is the company’s first Mali GPU to include dedicated neural accelerators.

The GPU combines traditional graphics processing with neural processing. This allows AI-based graphics tasks to run alongside regular graphics workloads.

AI can be used to reconstruct and enhance visual details instead of relying completely on traditional rendering techniques. This could help mobile games deliver better image quality and more advanced visual effects without placing as much pressure on the hardware.

The Mali G2-Ultra NX also features a new execution engine and a next-generation Ray Tracing Unit. These upgrades are designed to support more demanding games and modern game engines.

Arm claims the GPU can deliver up to four times higher performance per watt for neural graphics when used with its Neural Technology. Traditional graphics performance has also improved, with up to 14% higher performance on existing game content compared with the previous generation.

Focus on Developers

Arm is also putting a strong focus on software. The company says CSS for Mobile 2 will be supported by tools and frameworks designed to make the new hardware easier for developers to use.

Its software ecosystem includes Arm KleidiAI and the Arm Neural Graphics Development Kit. Arm has also introduced an AI Portal that provides developers with access to optimized models, code, and development tools.

The company is already working with game developers and studios to demonstrate the possibilities of AI-powered mobile graphics.

A Platform for Future Mobile Devices

Arm believes the next generation of smartphones will need more than a dedicated AI accelerator. AI workloads will increasingly require the CPU, GPU and other system components to work together.

CSS for Mobile 2 is designed around this idea. By combining agentic AI capabilities with AI-native graphics, Arm aims to give chipmakers and developers a platform for creating more capable mobile devices.

If adopted widely, the new platform could help smartphones deliver faster on-device AI, improved gaming graphics and more responsive AI-powered experiences while keeping power use within mobile limits.