The i.MX series is a family of ARM architecture-based system-on-chip (SoC) processors designed by NXP Semiconductors for multimedia and embedded applications focused on low-power consumption. Originally developed by Freescale Semiconductor (acquired by NXP in 2015), the i.MX application processors integrate multiple processing units including CPU cores, graphics processing units (GPUs), and video processing units (VPUs) onto a single die. The i.MX family is qualified for automotive, industrial, and consumer markets with most products guaranteed for a production lifetime of 10 to 15 years.
i.MX originally stood for "innovative Multimedia eXtension" and was previously known as the "DragonBall MX" family, the fifth generation of Freescale DragonBall microcontrollers. Notable devices that use i.MX processors include Ford Sync automotive systems, the Amazon Kindle, Zune (except for Zune HD), Purism's Librem 5, and various embedded systems and single-board computers.
History The i.MX family was launched in 2001/2002 with the original DragonBall MX1 series based on ARM920T architecture. Freescale Semiconductor developed successive generations through the 2000s and 2010s, progressively adopting newer ARM architectures from ARM9 through ARM11 to ARM Cortex designs. In 2007, Freescale licensed AMD's Imageon graphics technology to integrate GPU capabilities into later i.MX5 series processors. NXP acquired Freescale in 2015 in a deal worth nearly $12 billion, with the i.MX product line continuing development under NXP.
The i.MX family has expanded significantly over time with newer generations incorporating more advanced ARM cores, improved manufacturing processes, and specialized variants for IoT, automotive, and industrial applications. The i.MX RT crossover microcontroller series was introduced in 2017, combining microcontroller-like features with applications processor performance.
i.MX 1 series
Launched in 2001/2002, the i.MX / MX-1 series is based on the ARM920T architecture.
i.MX1 = 200 MHz ARM920T i.MXS = 100 MHz ARM920T i.MXL = 150-200 MHz ARM920T
i.MX 2 series The i.MX2x series is a family of processors based on the ARM9 architecture (ARM926EJ-S), designed in a 90 nm process.
i.MX 21 family The i.MX21 family is designed for low power handheld devices. It was launched in 2003.
i.MX21 = 266 MHz ARM9 platform + CIF VPU (decode/encode) + security i.MX21S = 266 MHz ARM9 platform + security
i.MX 27 family The i.MX27 family is designed for videotelephony and video surveillance. It was launched in 2007.
i.MX27 = 400 MHz ARM9 platform + D1 VPU (decode/encode) + IPU + security i.MX27L = 400 MHz ARM9 platform + IPU + security
i.MX 25 family The i.MX25 family was launched in 2009. It especially integrates key security features in hardware. The high-end member of the family, i.MX258, integrates a 400 MHz ARM9 CPU platform + LCDC (LCD controller) + security block and supports mDDR-SDRAM at 133 MHz.
i.MX258 (industrial) = 400 MHz ARM9 platform + LCDC (with touch screen support) + security i.MX257 (consumer/industrial) = 400 MHz ARM9 platform + LCDC (with touch screen support) i.MX253 (consumer/industrial) = 400 MHz ARM9 platform + LCDC + security (no touch) i.MX255 (automotive) = 400 MHz ARM9 platform + LCDC (with touch screen support) + security i.MX251 (automotive) = 400 MHz ARM9 platform + security
i.MX 23 family The i.MX233 processor (formerly known as SigmaTel STMP3780 of the STMP37xx family), launched in 2009, integrates a Power Management Unit (PMU) and a stereo audio codec within the silicon, thus removing the need for external power management chip and audio codec chip.
i.MX233 (consumer) = 454 MHz ARM9 platform + LCD Controller (with touch screen support) + Pixel Pipeline + security + Power Management Unit + audio codec. Provided in 128LQFP or 169 BGA packages.
i.MX 28 family The i.MX28 family was launched in 2010. It integrates key security features in hardware, an ADC, and the power management unit. It supports mDDR, LV-DDR2, and DDR2-SDRAM memory at 200 MHz.
i.MX287 (industrial) = 454 MHz ARM9 platform + LCDC (with touch screen support) + security + power management + dual CAN interface + dual Ethernet + L2 Switch i.MX286 (industrial) = 454 MHz ARM9 platform + LCDC (with touch screen support) + security + power management + dual CAN interface + single Ethernet i.MX285 (automotive) = 454 MHz ARM9 platform + LCDC (with touch screen support) + security + power management + dual CAN interface i.MX283 (consumer/industrial) = 454 MHz ARM9 platform + LCDC (with touch screen support) + security + power management + single Ethernet i.MX281 (automotive) = 454 MHz ARM9 platform + security + power management + dual CAN interface + single Ethernet i.MX280 (consumer/industrial) = 454 MHz ARM9 platform + security + power management + single Ethernet
i.MX 3 series The i.MX3x series is a family of processors based on the ARM11 architecture (ARM1136J(F)-S mainly), designed in a 90 nm process.
i.MX 31 family The i.MX31 was launched in 2005. It integrates a 532 MHz ARM1136JF-S CPU platform (with vector floating point unit, L1 caches and 128KB L2 caches) + Video Processing Unit (VPU) + 3D GPU (OpenGL ES 1.1) + IPU + security block. It supports mDDR-SDRAM at 133 MHz. The 3D and VPU acceleration is provided by the PowerVR MBX Lite.
i.MX31 (consumer/industrial/automotive) = 532 MHz ARM1136 platform + VPU + 3D GPU + IPU + security i.MX31L (consumer/industrial/automotive) = 532 MHz ARM1136 platform + VPU + IPU + security
i.MX 37 family The i.MX37 processor is designed for portable media players. It was launched in 2008.
i.MX 37 (consumer) = 532 MHz ARM1176 CPU platform + D1 VPU (multiformat D1 decode) + IPU + security block It supports mDDR-SDRAM at 133 MHz.
i.MX 35 family
The i.MX35 family was launched in 2009 and is the replacement for the i.MX31 series. The high-end member of the family, i.MX357, integrates a 532 MHz ARM1136J(F)-S CPU platform (with Vector Floating Point unit, L1 caches and 128KB L2 cache), a 2.5D GPU (OpenVG 1.1), a IPU, and a security block. It supports DDR2-SDRAM at 133 MHz.
i.MX357 (consumer/industrial) = 532 MHz ARM1136J(F)-S CPU platform + 2.5D GPU + IPU + security i.MX353 (consumer/industrial) = 532 MHz ARM1136J(F)-S CPU platform + IPU + security i.MX356 (automotive) = 532 MHz ARM1136J(F)-S CPU platform + 2.5D GPU + IPU + security i.MX355 (automotive) = 532 MHz ARM1136J(F)-S CPU platform + IPU + security i.MX351 (automotive) = i.MX355 with no LCD interface
i.MX 5 series The i.MX5x series is based on the ARM Cortex A8 core. It consists of two families: the i.MX51 family (high-end multimedia devices like smartbook or automotive infotainment) and the i.MX50 family (eReaders). It is designed in a 65 nm process. Freescale licensed ATI's Imageon technology in 2007, and some i.MX5 models include an Imageon Z460 GPU.
i.MX 51 family The high-end member of the family, i.MX515, integrates an 800 MHz ARM Cortex A8 CPU platform (with NEON co-processor, Vector Floating Point Unit, L1 caches and 256KB L2 cache) + multi-format HD 720p decode / D1 encode hardware video codecs (VPU, Video Processing Unit) + Imageon Z430 3D GPU (OpenGL ES 2.0) + 2.5D GPU (OpenVG 1.1) + IPU + security block. It especially supports DDR2 SDRAM at 200 MHz. The imx51 family was launched in 2009.
i.MX515 (consumer/industrial) = 800 MHz ARM Cortex A8 platform (600 MHz for industrial) + HD VPU + 3D GPU + 2.5D GPU + IPU + security i.MX513 (consumer/industrial) = 800 MHz ARM Cortex A8 platform (600 MHz for industrial) + HD VPU + IPU i.MX512 (consumer/industrial) = 800 MHz ARM Cortex A8 platform (600 MHz for industrial) + IPU i.MX516 (automotive) = 600 MHz ARM Cortex A8 platform + HD VPU + 3D GPU + 2.5D GPU + IPU + security block i.MX514 (automotive) = 600 MHz ARM Cortex A8 platform + 3D GPU + 2.5D GPU + IPU + security block
i.MX 50 family
The i.MX508 processor is the result of Freescale collaboration with E Ink. It is dedicated for eReaders. Launched in 2010, it integrates the E Ink display controller within the silicon to save both BOM cost and space on the PCB. It especially supports LP-DDR2 SDRAM at 400 MHz.
i.MX507 (consumer) = ARM Cortex A8 platform + E Ink display controller. Builds on the i.MX508.Freescale i.MX507 i.MX508 (consumer) = 800 MHz ARM Cortex A8 platform + 2.5D GPU + Pixel Pipeline + E Ink display controller.
i.MX 53 family i.MX535 was announced in June 2010. Shipped since the first quarter of 2011.
i.MX537 (industrial) = 800 MHz ARM Cortex A8 platform + Full HD VPU (1080p decode) + 3D GPU + 2.5D GPU + IPU + security + IEEE1588 i.MX535 (consumer) = 1 GHz ARM Cortex A8 platform + Full HD VPU (1080p decode) + 3D GPU + 2.5D GPU + IPU + security i.MX536 (automotive) = 800 MHz ARM Cortex A8 platform + Full HD VPU (1080p decode) + 3D GPU + 2.5D GPU + IPU + security i.MX534 (automotive) = 800 MHz ARM Cortex A8 platform + 3D GPU + 2.5D GPU + IPU + security
i.MX 6 series The i.MX 6 series are based on the ARM Cortex A9 solo, dual or quad cores (in some cases Cortex A7) and typically comes with one or more Vivante GPUs. It is designed in the 40 nm process. i.MX 6 Solo, Dual and Quad were announced in January 2011, during Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
Name Clock speed CPU cores L2 cachein kB EmbeddedSRAM in kB 3D GPU / shaders /shader clock in MHz 2D GPU Vector GPU VPU other graphics cores other cores i.MX 6 ULL 528 MHz(Cortex-A7) 1 128 128 security i.MX 6 UltraLite 528/696 MHz(Cortex-A7) 1 128 128 security i.MX 6 SLL 800 MHz/1.0 GHz 1 256 128 security i.MX 6 SoloLite 1.0 GHz 1 256 128 Vivante GC320 Vivante GC355 security i.MX 6 SoloX 1.0 GHz 1 256 128 / 1 / 720 Vivante GC320 Vivante GC355 Cortex-M4 core, security i.MX 6 Solo 1.0 GHz 1 512 128 / 1 / 528 Vivante GC320 Full HD (1080p decode) security i.MX 6 DualLite 1.0 GHz 2 512 128 / 1 / 528 Vivante GC320 Full HD (1080p decode) security i.MX 6 Dual 1.2 GHz 2 1024 256 / 4 / 594 Vivante GC320 Vivante GC355 Full HD (1080p decode) security i.MX 6 Quad 1.2 GHz 4 1024 256 / 4 / 594 Vivante GC320 Vivante GC355 dual Full HD (1080p decode) security i.MX 6 DualPlus 1.0 (1.2) GHz 2 1024 512 / 4 / 720 Vivante GC320 Vivante GC355 Full HD (1080p decode) security i.MX 6 QuadPlus 1.0 (1.2) GHz 4 1024 512 / 4 / 720 Vivante GC320 Vivante GC355 dual Full HD (1080p decode) security
"Plus" versions with 1.2 GHz are currently only available via special request to NXP. Vivante GC2000 achieves ~19 GFLOPS for a 594 MHz shader clock and ~23 GFLOPS for a 720 MHz shader clock.
i.MX 7 series The i.MX 7 series is based on the low-power ARM Cortex A7 CPU core with a secondary ARM Cortex M4 real-time co-processor. It is designed 28 nm fully depleted silicon on insulator (FDSOI) process. Only low-powered single and dual-core models, designed for IoT applications, have been released. i.MX 7Solo and i.MX 7Dual were announced in September 2013.
Name Clock speed (MHz) CPU cores L2 cache (KB) 3D GPU 2D GPU Vector GPU VPU other graphics cores other cores i.MX 7Solo 800 1 512 - - - - PXP Secondary CPU – ARM Cortex M4 real-time co-processor i.MX 7Dual 1000 2 512 - - - - PXP Secondary CPU – ARM Cortex M4 real-time co-processor
i.MX 8 series There are four major different series of the i.MX 8:
i.MX 8 series i.MX 8M series, i.MX 8ULP series, i.MX 8X series.
Each series differs significantly from each other and are not pin compatible. Within each series some versions are pin compatible.
Each series also has a suffix such as Quad, Dual, Plus, Max or a combination thereof, for example: QuadMax or DualPlus. The i.MX 8 series has many variants but it is not clear how the name corresponds to a feature set. In previous CPU series the naming convention clearly corresponds to a function or feature set, but this is not the case with i.MX 8.