Following Qualcomm, MediaTek is reportedly developing an Arm-based SoC for Windows

MediaTek is the second most well-known company in the smartphone SoC industry after Qualcomm, and in addition to smartphone SoCs, it also develops chips for Chromebooks and smart TVs. Reuters has reported that MediaTek is developing an SoC for Windows PCs.

Exclusive: MediaTek designs Arm-based chip for Microsoft's AI laptops, say sources | Reuters
https://www.reuters.com/technology/mediatek-designs-arm-based-chip-microsofts-ai-laptops-say-sources-2024-06-11/

On May 20, 2024, Microsoft announced the 'Copilot+ PC,' a PC standard that can run AI locally. At the same time, Microsoft announced that the initial Copilot+ PC product lineup will include the '11th Generation Surface Pro' and '7th Generation Surface Laptop,' as well as PCs from manufacturers such as Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, Lenovo, and Samsung. In addition, it has been revealed that these initial Copilot+ PC products will be equipped with Qualcomm's Arm processor-equipped SoC 'Snapdragon X' series.

'Copilot+ PC' that can execute Windows AI functions locally will be released by Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, Lenovo and Samsung all at once - GIGAZINE

According to information obtained by Reuters from a related party, Qualcomm has signed a contract with Microsoft to 'exclusively develop SoCs equipped with Arm processors for Windows PCs until 2024.' On the other hand, it is possible that SoCs equipped with Arm processors for Windows PCs will appear from manufacturers other than Qualcomm after 2025. In addition, Arm CEO Rene Haas also said in June 2024 that 'Windows SoCs using Arm processors will appear from manufacturers other than Qualcomm,' making it highly likely that SoCs for Windows PCs will appear from semiconductor manufacturers such as MediaTek.

Arm CEO says 'Arm processor-equipped PCs will account for 50% of the market by 2029' & Qualcomm CEO mentions the possibility of 'Snapdragon X for desktops' - GIGAZINE

Meanwhile, Reuters reported on June 12, 2024 that it had received information that MediaTek is developing an Arm-based chip for Windows PCs. According to the report, MediaTek's SoC for Windows PCs is in the design stage and will take more than a year to start production.

In addition, Reuters reported in 2023 that 'NVIDIA and AMD are developing Arm-based chips for Windows,' but NVIDIA's chip development is being done in collaboration with MediaTek. However, two of the people who provided information to Reuters testified that 'MediaTek's development of SoCs for Windows PCs is unrelated to NVIDIA's plans.'

In addition, Qualcomm acquired CPU development company Nuvia in 2021, but Arm has filed a lawsuit against Qualcomm, claiming that 'Qualcomm should abandon designs developed under the license partnership between Nuvia and Arm.' In relation to this lawsuit, Arm claims that 'Nuvia technology is also used in Qualcomm's Windows SoC,' and it has been pointed out that depending on the outcome of the lawsuit, the future of Qualcomm's Windows SoC may be in doubt.