Variscite, an NXP® Semiconductors Platinum Partner, has announced the upcoming launch of its VAR-SMARC-MX95 system-on-module. Built on NXP’s i.MX 95 applications processor, this SMARC-compatible SoM is designed to offer a scalable and flexible platform for industrial IoT and edge AI applications.
The VAR-SMARC-MX95 is aimed at meeting the rising demand for safety-critical, AI-driven industrial systems.
It Will Feature Up To:
- Six Arm® Cortex®-A55 cores clocked at up to 2.0 GHz,
- With dedicated Cortex-M7 and Cortex-M33 real-time co-processors to handle deterministic control tasks.
- For AI workloads, the module integrates NXP’s eIQ® Neutron Neural Processing Unit (NPU), delivering up to 2 TOPS (8 eTOPS) of performance for efficient edge inference.
- Includes a next-generation Image Signal Processor (ISP) with dual MIPI CSI-2 interfaces, enabling advanced vision capabilities such as smart cameras, object detection, and vision-based inspection.
- An independent Safety Island architecture further supports functional safety requirements, making the module well-suited for applications in industrial automation, medical imaging, building management, and energy infrastructure.
The SoM will be offered in three variants, each integrating NXP’s IW610, IW611, or IW612 tri-radio wireless solutions.
These provide Wi-Fi 6 for high-speed data transfer, Bluetooth for short-range connectivity, and 802.15.4 support for Thread and Zigbee. With native Matter support, the module enables seamless interoperability across smart building and industrial ecosystems.
Security is also a key focus, with WPA3 and chipset-level secure boot ensuring encrypted and authenticated communication.
The broader VAR-SMARC family, which includes the VAR-SMARC-MX8M-PLUS based on the i.MX 8M Plus processor, already features an on-module TPM 2.0 chip with FIPS 140-3 Level 2 compliance making Variscite the only SMARC vendor offering this level of security.
Combined with NXP’s secure boot and cryptographic acceleration, these capabilities help meet EU Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) requirements while safeguarding sensitive data and encryption keys.
Leadership Comments
“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.”
