AMD appears to be setting its sights on a new frontier in the tech landscape, as it reportedly begins shipping test kits for a fresh lineup of Arm CPUs integrated with GPUs. This move follows the company’s impressive achievements in the standard gaming CPU market, and aligns with earlier whispers about AMD adopting codenames inspired by the Transformers franchise. The latest chip, codenamed Soundwave, has surfaced in shipping manifests, indicating that AMD is gearing up for a significant return to the Arm arena.
AMD’s Strategic Shift
While x86 CPUs continue to reign supreme in the desktop gaming PC sector—every entry on our best gaming CPU guide utilizes the traditional x86 instruction set—Arm CPUs have long been recognized for their power efficiency. This characteristic makes them particularly well-suited for handheld devices, tablets, and smartphones. Furthermore, the absence of an x86 licensing requirement allows a diverse array of companies, including Nvidia and Qualcomm, to produce Arm CPUs, with AMD now reportedly rejoining the fray.
Historically, AMD has explored the Arm landscape, having released the Opteron A1100 CPUs based on Arm Cortex-A57 cores back in 2016. Although plans for a new line of K12 Arm CPUs were scrapped in 2017, the emergence of the Soundwave Arm CPUs suggests a renewed commitment to this technology. These new chips are anticipated to utilize the forthcoming FF5 socket, which is rumored to replace the FF3 socket currently found in devices like the Steam Deck.
Emerging Evidence and Speculation
Rumors surrounding the AMD Soundwave Arm CPUs have been circulating since May 2025, with potential applications for Microsoft Surface devices. However, recent discoveries have provided tangible evidence of the Soundwave kits being shipped. Tech leaker Olrak29_ uncovered shipping manifests listing several entries for test kits based on BGA1074 sockets—characterized by 1,074 contact points. A review of the listings on NBD.com confirms their authenticity, with descriptions clearly indicating “FF5” and the codename “SWV,” which stands for “Soundwave.”
Speculation from tech site Wccftech suggests that the dimensions of the new chips, along with their use of the FF5 socket, imply they may not be standalone CPUs but rather SoCs (system on chips) equipped with integrated GPUs, similar to the architecture found in the Steam Deck.
The Changing Landscape of Technology
While these developments remain in the realm of leaks and speculation, the prospect of AMD launching a series of Arm chips is intriguing. The recent success of the Switch 2 has highlighted the potential for powerful Arm-based handhelds, particularly when paired with Nvidia GPUs. AMD’s x86 chips have already made a mark in various handheld devices, from the Steam Deck to the latest Xbox Ally. Additionally, Apple has showcased the formidable capabilities of Arm chips through its M series processors.
As Nvidia integrates its GPUs into x86 Intel CPUs and AMD ventures into the Arm CPU domain, the tech world is undeniably evolving. It raises the question: where do you envision AMD Arm CPUs finding their niche? Join the conversation in our community Discord server.
