This is why AMD struggles to break through with PC makers
Earlier this week, Samsung announced some stunning new Windows laptops. The company has made some excellent PCs in the past, but with its first-ever Galaxy Unpacked event dedicated to Windows, it is evident the South Korean company is raising the stakes this time.
But it was on stage, and behind the scenes, that is the real story. Many AMD fans often wonder why PC makers ignore the Intel competitor for new laptops, as for some, AMD is the preferred choice.
The reason is, as always, about money. But it is also about Intel (and Microsoft) working more closely with laptop makers so consumers get better devices. And it’s working.
Intel co-engineers (and gives support)
Intel on stage with Samsung this week talking about its new laptops.Source: Samsung
But Intel doesn’t just lean on capital. A few years ago, it began its “Project Athena” program as a multi-year journey to push the laptop segment forward. That later evolved into a more formalized (and marketable) Intel Evo certification. For a company to earn the Evo sticker, a laptop needs to meet specific criteria, including:
- Consistent responsiveness on battery.
- Wake from sleep in less than 1 second.
- 9 or more hours of real-world battery life on laptops with a Full HD display.
- 4 or more hours of battery life in a 30-minute charge on laptops with Full HD display.
- Thunderbolt 4 and Wi-Fi 6.
- Touchscreen.
It’s a tremendous joint program between OEMs and Intel as it ensures a certain level of performance and features when people buy a laptop. It is also a response to Apple’s tight marriage of hardware and software, which a company like HP or Dell would struggle with since they only build the laptop, they do not design the OS or the chipsets.
Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central
All of this is evident this week with Samsung. Intel was literally a part of the show with “co-engineered” emblazoned next to the Intel Evo logo. They’re not kidding, either. The new Galaxy Book Pro and Book Pro x360 have unique features like tuned Bluetooth to work better with Galaxy accessories and phones. And, for the first time, the Core i7-1165G7 in these Samsung laptops have an optional fanless mode. Indeed, performance will be limited when that feature is enabled, but it is a fascinating advancement for those who do not like whirring fans while doing lighter work.
Intel’s engineering goes even further. They work with Sensel, who is now making haptic trackpads. And the whole dual-screen PC initiative, which Microsoft endorses, is driven by Intel who created reference devices for OEMs to emulate. Remember ‘Tiger Rapids’?
Intel is behind the dual-screen concept devices seen in 2020.Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central
Intel is also behind Thunderbolt (in collaboration with Apple) and is the largest producer of Wi-Fi 6 mobile cards displacing Marvel (thankfully). The company is also leading the charge on the fascinating new security tech of humand presence detection in laptops.
Say what you want about Intel, but the company is behind many of the recent innovations in PCs.
Intel: It’s about marketing, too
There are also TV and print ads. Every night I see an Intel Evo ad on primetime TV. It boasts Intel’s new features, but it also features new laptops from OEM partners. Often, it’s the Dell XPS 13, one of the most popular Windows laptops around. (The ad is often a variation on the video above).
If you are Dell, you just received some sweet marketing that did not come out of your budget. You will also never put an AMD chip into that laptop as Intel helped you make it. The XPS 13 was one of the first Intel Evo laptops, after all.
AMD doesn’t do much of this (yet)
Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central
It is working, too. AMD has made substantial gains in servers, desktops, and, yes, increasingly laptops.
But, many consumers do not care about that stuff. They see a laptop and wonder why Razer does not throw in an AMD chip – after all, it has more cores, so obviously better (spoiler: it’s not obviously better).
While you may care about core counts, the companies making these laptops look for an advantage in design, marketing, support, and performance. Intel gives them that edge. So, do not be shocked when your favorite co-designed Intel laptop doesn’t support AMD Ryzen chip. It is just business. And frankly, Windows laptops are now better for it.
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