The Arm-based Windows Laptop Race Heats Up
The competition for Arm-based Windows laptops is about to get more interesting with MediaTek reportedly gearing up to enter the game. This development comes at a time when a legal battle between Arm and Qualcomm threatens to disrupt the latter’s products.
Qualcomm showcased over 20 vendors at the recent Computex show who are set to launch Windows on Arm laptops and systems, including Microsoft Surface devices. These devices, branded as Copilot+ PCs, are powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite and X Plus SoCs, thanks to an exclusivity deal with Microsoft that is set to expire this year.
However, Reuters reports that MediaTek is preparing to launch its own Windows on Arm SoC once Qualcomm’s exclusivity agreement ends. The chip is expected to debut late next year and will be based on one of Arm’s core designs, raising questions about Microsoft’s approval for the Copilot+ Windows program.
While MediaTek’s intentions have been known since 2021, a potential obstacle could arise from the legal dispute between Arm and Qualcomm over licensing. This conflict could lead to a halt in shipments of Windows on Arm products, as discussed at Computex.
The legal battle between Arm and Qualcomm began in 2022 following Qualcomm’s acquisition of Nuvia, a chip design startup. Arm claimed that Qualcomm could not use Nuvia’s designs without permission, leading to terminated licenses and potential injunctions on products using Nuvia’s chip designs.
Arm’s case against Qualcomm is set for trial in December 2024, with Qualcomm being a significant customer accounting for 10% of Arm’s revenue. The outcome of the legal dispute could have far-reaching implications for both companies.
Amidst these developments, rumors suggest that Nvidia might also enter the Windows on Arm market with a Copilot+ SoC featuring cutting-edge Arm core designs and GPUs based on its Blackwell architecture.
