As early as 2020, when Apple first released the M1, laptops based on ARM chipsets began to emerge, with performance comparable to high-end desktop processors and efficiency unmatched by previous competitors. Intel and AMD have tried to launch x86 counterparts with the same features, but judging from current trends, ARM notebooks have begun to consolidate their position in this market.
Research firm TechInsights predicts that by 2029, 40% of laptops will be equipped with ARM chipsets, and X86 processors will become popular.
With Qualcomm joining the race for ARM chipsets for laptops with the launch of Snapdragon X Elite and Snapdragon X Plus, it is certain that Windows processors powered by these SoCs will help increase market share. In addition, Qualcomm CEO Christiano Amon said that in 2025, various laptops equipped with the above-mentioned SoC will start at just $700, which will make these hardware more accessible to millions of users on tight budgets.
Both MediaTek and Huawei will launch more PC chips next year, which means that the ARM laptop field will usher in new players, and the market share is expected to continue to increase.
In short, the momentum for ARM laptops is clearly in Intel's favor, which is why TechInsights predicts that by 2029, four out of 10 laptops shipped will use chips that don't use the x86 instruction set. As more players enter this space, it should provide a much-needed catalyst that will help increase the adoption of these machines. For example, MediaTek and NVIDIA will launch their "artificial intelligence PC" for the first time in the second half of 2025, which may be mass-produced on TSMC's 3nm architecture.
Similarly, Huawei, which is rumored to launch a custom chipset this year, has also delayed its launch to 2025, as the former Chinese giant is eager to grab a part of the market for itself despite trade sanctions restricting Huawei's development. A few years ago, only Apple and its M1 made waves in this field, and with new players joining the ranks, the market situation is about to become even more interesting. There is no doubt that these products will attract consumers with their "performance per watt" and amazing energy efficiency, as each of the more efficient ARM laptops can have a battery life of up to ten hours.
For Windows-based machines, the current hurdles are how to bring native applications to the ARM platform and how to increase the graphics processing power so that games can run smoothly without significantly reducing visual quality. Over time, we believe chipmakers will address these issues.