Rumour: Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 To Be Powered By Intel Clover Trail+ Chip
Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Tab refresh, known in certain circles as the Galaxy Tab 3 10.1, will be powered by Intel’s Clover Trail+ SoC and not, as widely expected, an ARM-based chip.
According to Reuters and the Korea Times, Samsung is taking Intel’s foray into mobile chips quite seriously, and plans to release other devices — likely only tablets — with its newer, faster, more energy-efficient technology. The Times says that up to 50 Intel engineers are working with Samsung in Korea to develop chips optimized for all use cases, though we’re assuming that does not extend to high-end phones. ARM’s advantage, especially with Qualcomm, is too great at the moment.
Samsung is holding a conference in London on June 20th to show off some of its new Galaxy and ATIV products. It is rumoured that among them will be a new Galaxy Tab, though it’s unclear whether it will remain an entry- to mid-range device like its predecessor or if Samsung will offer a premium experience akin to the hardware on the Nexus 10 (or both).
Apparently LG is also considering using Intel chips as the U.S.-based chip maker lobbies increasingly hard in Korea for the two largest electronics companies to adopt its chips. Intel has also been working very hard to adapt and optimize Android for x86-based processors in recent years, and now has a version of Android 4.2 that appears to be indistinguishable from its ARM-based counterpart.
Applications processors based on technology from ARM and designed by Qualcomm Inc, Samsung and Nvidia now dominate a market that research firm Strategy Analytics estimated could hit $25 billion by 2016 versus $9 billion in 2011.
Intel today launched it’s next generation of chipsets, the Haswell series, which boast of better performance, battery life and better graphics.
Intel is rushing to adapt its powerful PC chips to use less energy and work more efficiently in mobile devices.
[Reuters, Mobile Syrup]
