Variscite, a global leader in System on Module (SoM) design and manufacturing and an NXP® Semiconductors Platinum Partner, today announced the upcoming launch of the VAR-SMARC-MX95. Based on NXP’s i.MX 95 applications processor, this new SMARC-compatible SoM provides a scalable foundation for industrial IoT and edge AI applications.
The VAR-SMARC-MX95 addresses the growing demand for safety-critical, AI-enabled industrial systems. It will feature up to six Arm® Cortex®-A55 cores running up to 2.0 GHz, complemented by dedicated Cortex-M7 and Cortex-M33 real-time co-processors for deterministic control tasks. The integrated eIQ® Neutron Neural Processing Unit (NPU) will deliver 2 TOPS (8 eTOPS) of AI acceleration for efficient machine learning inference at the edge. A next-generation NXP Image Signal Processor (ISP) with dual MIPI CSI-2 interfaces will further support advanced vision capabilities, enabling smart camera systems, object detection, and vision-based inspection applications. An independent Safety Island architecture will support functional safety requirements, making the VAR-SMARC-MX95 ideal for applications such as industrial automation, medical imaging, building management systems, and energy infrastructure applications.
The SoM will be available in three variants, integrating NXP’s IW610, IW611 or IW612 tri-radio wireless solutions, providing comprehensive connectivity for industrial and IoT deployments. The chipsets deliver Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) for high-throughput data transfer, Bluetooth for reliable short-range connectivity, and 802.15.4 support for Thread and Zigbee protocols. Native Matter protocol support enables seamless communication across smart building, industrial, and edge computing ecosystems, while WPA3 and chipset-level secure boot ensure encrypted, authenticated communication for connected systems.
The VAR-SMARC family, which includes the VAR-SMARC-MX8M-PLUS powered by NXP’s i.MX 8M Plus applications processor, features an on-module Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 chip with FIPS 140-3 Level 2 compliance, making Variscite the only SMARC vendor offering this security standard. Combined with NXP’s processor-level secure boot and cryptographic acceleration, these features address EU Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) requirements while protecting sensitive data and encryption keys.
“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,” said Ofer Austerlitz, VP Business Development and Sales at Variscite. “The VAR-SMARC-MX95 will bring NXP’s latest processing and AI technologies to the standardized 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.”
“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,” said Amanda McGregor, Senior Director of Product Management at NXP Semiconductors. “The i.MX 95 delivers high-performance compute, dedicated real-time domains, and integrated AI acceleration on Variscite’s scalable SMARC platform.”
