AMD takes the ARM leap – “Sound Wave” APUs planned for Microsoft’s Surface from 2026

The rumor mill is churning, and this time the focus is on AMD. According to several leaks – including from well-known hardware informant Jukanlosreve – the previously purely x86-based manufacturer is working on a new SoC project called “Sound Wave”. The special feature: These are ARM-based APUs that are to be used in Microsoft’s Surface devices from as early as 2026. A remarkable change in strategy that is not without reason – because competition in the form of NVIDIA is already waiting in the wings.

ARM at AMD: an old acquaintance returns

Anyone who remembers 2014 will realize that AMD is not a complete newcomer with ARM. Back then, the experiment was called “Skybridge”, a hybrid approach with x86 and ARM on a common platform. The idea was never ready for the market – the market simply wasn’t ready. Ten years later, the situation looks different: Windows on ARM has established itself under Qualcomm chips, Microsoft is investing heavily and the industry is looking for alternatives to Intel’s dominance in the mobile segment. This time, AMD’s attempt should have more substance.

Technical details: RDNA 3.5 meets 3nm from TSMC

According to the source, Sound Wave is based on TSMC’s 3nm process – the same production size that NVIDIA intends to use for its upcoming “N1X” SoCs. In terms of graphics, an RDNA 3.5 iGPU is allegedly used, which bridges the gap between AMD and its own GPU DNA. Whether the integration will take place as a chiplet design, as with the Strix Halo APUs, remains to be seen – but AMD is likely to rely on familiar scaling techniques here. Everything points to the design being optimized for slim, efficient mobile devices.

Goal: Competitive in the AI PC era

The context is crucial: NVIDIA is planning its own ARM-based SoCs for AI PCs, Intel has announced Lunar Lake, an energy-optimized x86 architecture, and Qualcomm is increasingly establishing itself in Windows notebooks. The time was ripe for AMD to respond with its own ARM offensive – not as a replacement for x86, but as a supplement. The positioning seems clear: an ARM SoC with in-house GPU expertise, adapted to AI acceleration and mobility. In contrast to classic APUs, “Sound Wave” could particularly shine in devices with long runtimes in the foreground.

https://x.com/Jukanlosreve/status/1922541396818375122

Microsoft’s role: more than just a platform partner

It is hardly surprising that Microsoft is named as the first customer. Surface devices have often served as a showcase for new platforms – be it Qualcomm or AMD. The integration of Sound Wave into upcoming Surface laptops is therefore a logical step, especially as Microsoft now has a stable software base thanks to Windows-on-ARM. What was once considered an experiment now has broad support from drivers, developers and OEMs.

Timing: CES 2026 at the earliest, perhaps as early as the end of 2025

There are no official details on “Sound Wave” yet – neither in the form of roadmaps nor statements from AMD. Nevertheless, a time frame seems to have been set: Market launch with Surface from 2026, which amounts to a presentation at the end of 2025 or at CES 2026. AMD is unlikely to miss the opportunity to launch this new chapter in a high-profile manner, as it is breaking new ground with an ARM processor – at least officially.

x86 stays, ARM comes – AMD is taking a two-pronged approach

The introduction of ARM at AMD is not a break with the previous strategy, but a logical extension. In a market in which efficiency and mobility are becoming increasingly important, it would be negligent to forego the advantages of ARM. With “Sound Wave”, AMD could show for the first time what an ARM SoC with GPU know-how can look like from a single source – and at the same time counter the growing competitive pressure from Qualcomm and NVIDIA. The key question will be whether AMD can strike a balance between software integration, energy efficiency and performance. The potential is certainly there.

Source: Jukanlosreve via X