VAR-SMARC-MX95: NXP i.MX 95 Edge AI and Advanced Security on the SMARC Form Factor

Variscite is expanding its SMARC-compliant product family with the upcoming VAR-SMARC-MX95 – a new System on Module built around NXP’s iMX95 applications processor and designed to serve safety-critical, AI-enabled industrial, medical, and other applications.

Processing Architecture

The VAR-SMARC-MX95 comes with up to six Arm Cortex-A55 cores at 2.0 GHz with dedicated Cortex-M7 and Cortex-M33 real-time co-processors, a combination of high-throughput computing and deterministic control. An independent Safety Island architecture supports functional safety requirements, making the module suited for applications such as industrial automation, medical imaging, building management systems, energy infrastructure deployments.

For machine learning workloads, the integrated eIQ Neutron NPU delivers 2 TOPS of AI acceleration – enough processing capacity for real-time inference at the edge without offloading to the cloud. A next-generation NXP Image Signal Processor (ISP) with dual MIPI CSI-2 interfaces extends these capabilities to vision-based applications including smart cameras, object detection, and automated visual inspection.

Connectivity for Industrial IoT

The module will ship in three wireless variants, each integrating one of NXP’s IW610, IW611, or IW612 tri-radio chipsets. All three options cover Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Bluetooth, and 802.15.4 for Thread and Zigbee – the connectivity stack that industrial and smart building deployments increasingly require. Native Matter protocol support ensures the module can communicate across diverse ecosystems without additional middleware, while WPA3 and chipset-level secure boot provide authenticated, encrypted communication out of the box.

VAR-SMARC-MX95 Main Features Includes:

• i.MX95 with up to 6 A55 cores at 2.0 GHz, plus M7 and M33 real-time co-processors
• Integrated eIQ Neutron NPU with 2 TOPS for local AI inference
• Independent Safety Island architecture
• Dual MIPI CSI-2 interfaces for AI/ML vision
• Three wireless variants – IW610, IW611, or IW612
• On-module TPM 2.0 chip with FIPS 140-3 Level 2 compliance
• Low-power, high-performance SMARC-compatible SoM: 82mm x 50mm, 314 pins.

Security Built to Current Standards

The VAR-SMARC-MX95 joins the VAR-SMARC Pin2Pin family, which includes an on-module TPM 2.0 chip certified to FIPS 140-3 Level 2. Variscite is the only SMARC vendor offering this security standard. Combined with processor-level secure boot and cryptographic acceleration from NXP, the module addresses EU Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) requirements directly at the hardware level.

This layered security approach matters beyond regulatory checkboxes: it protects encryption keys and sensitive data in deployed systems where software-only solutions fall short.

SMARC Standardization and Supply Chain Stability

Adopting the SMARC form factor gives engineers a standardized, interoperable interface that reduces carrier board design risk and simplifies migration between modules. Variscite’s in-house manufacturing adds the practical advantage where production scheduling, quality validation, and lead times remain under direct control regardless of broader semiconductor market conditions.

The VAR-SMARC-MX95 builds on the same Pin2Pin family architecture as the VAR-SMARC-MX8M-PLUS, giving existing SMARC customers a clear path to upgrade to i.MX 95 performance without a carrier board redesign.

Visit our VAR-SMARC family page to get full specifications for our SMARC-standard SoMs.