The forthcoming VAR-SMARC-MX95 is built on NXP Semiconductors’ i.MX 95 applications processor and will form part of Variscite’s SMARC-compatible product range. The module is intended to provide a scalable platform for safety-critical and AI-driven industrial systems.
According to the company, the SoM will feature up to six Arm Cortex-A55 cores operating at speeds of up to 2.0 GHz. These are complemented by dedicated Cortex-M7 and Cortex-M33 real-time co-processors designed for deterministic control tasks. The integration of NXP’s eIQ Neutron Neural Processing Unit (NPU) will provide up to 2 TOPS (8 eTOPS) of AI performance, allowing efficient machine learning inference at the edge.
The module also incorporates a next-generation NXP image signal processor (ISP) with dual MIPI CSI-2 interfaces, enabling advanced vision capabilities such as smart camera systems, object detection and vision-based inspection. Additionally, an independent Safety Island architecture is included to support functional safety requirements, making the platform suitable for applications including industrial automation, medical imaging, building management and energy infrastructure.
Variscite said the VAR-SMARC-MX95 will be offered in three variants, each integrating NXP’s IW610, IW611 or IW612 tri-radio wireless solutions. These chipsets provide Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Bluetooth and 802.15.4 connectivity, supporting Thread and Zigbee protocols. Native support for the Matter standard is intended to enable interoperability across smart building and industrial ecosystems, while features such as WPA3 and secure boot aim to ensure encrypted and authenticated communications.
The new module builds on the existing VAR-SMARC family, which includes the VAR-SMARC-MX8M-PLUS based on NXP’s i.MX 8M Plus processor. This range incorporates an on-module Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 chip compliant with FIPS 140-3 Level 2 security standards. Variscite states that this combination, along with processor-level secure boot and cryptographic acceleration, helps meet requirements under the EU Cyber Resilience Act while safeguarding sensitive data and encryption keys.
Ofer Austerlitz, Vice President of Business Development and Sales at Variscite, said: “The collaboration between Variscite and NXP on our SMARC-standard SoM family demonstrates our shared commitment to simplifying embedded development while delivering AI-enabled, standards-compliant solutions with advanced capabilities. The VAR-SMARC-MX95 will bring NXP’s latest processing and AI technologies to the standardised SMARC form factor. Equally important, Variscite’s in-house manufacturing maintains tight control over production scheduling and quality validation, ensuring stable lead times and availability to its SMARC customers even when the semiconductor market is volatile.”
Amanda McGregor, Senior Director of Product Management at NXP Semiconductors, added: “By combining NXP’s latest i.MX applications processors with Variscite’s robust SMARC platforms, customers get a jumpstart on building secure, AI-enabled industrial and IoT solutions. The i.MX 95 delivers high-performance compute, dedicated real-time domains, and integrated AI acceleration on Variscite’s scalable SMARC platform.”