Qualcomm is reportedly considering a strategic acquisition of Intel’s PC client business, marking a significant shift for the ARM chipset maker. If this move materializes, it could reshape the competitive landscape of the PC industry, giving Qualcomm a foothold in the x86-dominated market while allowing Intel to refocus on its broader growth initiatives.
According to an exclusive report from Reuters, two anonymous sources hinted at these discussions. However, no formal communication has occurred between Intel and Qualcomm so far. An Intel spokesperson emphasized the company’s “deep commitment” to its PC business, echoing statements made at the recent Core Ultra Series 2 launch in Berlin.
Intel has faced significant challenges in recent months. Following its announcement of a 15% workforce reduction ahead of its earnings call, the company reported a historic drop in revenue, leading to a 20% plunge in stock prices and investor lawsuits. Revenue from its PC client business declined by 8% to $29.3 billion last year, reflecting broader challenges in the PC market. Meanwhile, Intel’s 13th- and 14th-generation Raptor Lake desktop processors have been plagued by instability issues attributed to increased operating voltages caused by a microcode bug that results in crashes and system freezes.
The potential rationale for Intel considering divesting its PC client division could be to recover costs. Offloading this segment could help the company free up resources to pursue leadership in high-growth areas like artificial intelligence, foundry services, and custom silicon development. Intel’s long-term vision under CEO Pat Gelsinger is to establish itself as a leading chip manufacturer for other companies, and this deal could align with that strategy.
For Qualcomm, acquiring parts of Intel’s PC business would likely accelerate the transition to ARM-based computing. The company recently made strides in the Windows PC market, particularly in the mobile segment with its Snapdragon X Elite processors. Last year, the company reported $35.82 billion in overall revenue, and that figure is expected to grow as the AI-powered PC market gains momentum. By leveraging Intel’s x86 expertise, Qualcomm could develop hybrid processors that combine ARM’s energy efficiency with x86 performance, which is ideal for ultrathin laptops and mobile PCs. This could intensify competition in the PC market, challenging both Intel and AMD while providing consumers with more powerful, battery-efficient devices.
The absolutely absurd idea of putting a touchscreen display on a mouse isn't exactly new. Turtle Beach already did it with its Command Series MC7, which features a 2.25-inch control screen. But apparently, even that wasn't ridiculous enough for Arctic Fox Technologies. Its new Super Mouse looks like someone took the chunky old Atari ST mouse, slapped a touchscreen and scroll wheel on it, and called it an upgrade.
The result is a rather unusual-looking mouse that is now on Kickstarter, starting at $199. And as ridiculous as it looks, some of its features are genuinely intriguing.
Apple is less than a day away from launching its highly anticipated OLED MacBook Pro with a touch-sensitive screen. But it appears that the upgrade is going to cost a pretty penny. According to a report by Bloomberg, Apple is reportedly eyeing a starting price of $2,899 for the 14-inch MacBook Pro, while the 16-inch version could start at $3,399 in the US.
"At $2,899, the 14-inch model would mark the highest starting price for a new MacBook Pro model, surpassing the $2,799 Apple charged for a 17-inch version introduced in 2006," says the report. The report claims that Apple is targeting a minimum price hike of $400 for its upcoming redesigned 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models.
I've spent a good amount of time digging into the spec sheet of the new M6 MacBook Pro (14-inch), and for all intents and purposes, this is a classic Apple "chip and connectivity" refresh. It's not a full redesign. The chassis, Liquid Retina XDR panel, speakers, ports, and battery, all of them carry over unchanged.
However, the M6 brings more cores, stronger on-device AI, higher memory bandwidth on the larger configs, and modern wireless. Here’s the practical rundown of what actually improved, and whether those gains are worth your money.