AMD States ARM Offers No Real Advantage Over x86 – Even in Power Efficiency

AMD has doubled down on its belief in the x86 ecosystem, claiming that ARM no longer provides an edge in areas such as energy efficiency or AI performance. During its discussion at IFA 2025, AMD executives emphasized that modern x86 processors, particularly the company’s latest APUs, rival — and in some cases surpass — ARM-based chips across critical benchmarks.

The Short-Lived ARM Momentum

ARM’s rise in the Windows space, boosted by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite and the hype surrounding Windows on ARM, was once seen as a serious challenge to x86 dominance. Proponents pointed to ARM’s reputation for lower power draw and efficient AI processing as the deciding factor.

However, according to AMD, both its own Ryzen APUs and Intel’s latest Core chips have erased that gap. The claim that x86 couldn’t match ARM in energy efficiency is now, as AMD put it, a “myth of the past.”

Efficiency & Performance – The New x86 Standard

Modern AMD Ryzen and Intel Core processors now offer long-lasting battery life in notebooks while providing full compatibility with the established x86 software ecosystem. This balance of performance and endurance means that ARM’s once-celebrated advantages no longer stand out.

In fact, AMD highlighted its recent Strix Point and Strix Halo APUs as benchmarks of efficiency, delivering impressive performance-per-watt results in laptops, handheld consoles, and mini-PCs.

AI Capabilities Strengthen x86’s Case

One of AMD’s strongest arguments lies in AI. The company’s flagship Ryzen 9 AI MAX 395+ boasts 126 TOPS (trillions of operations per second), far surpassing ARM-based solutions currently in the market. Intel has also responded with its Lunar Lake processors, which deliver significant gains in both NPU (Neural Processing Unit) performance and efficiency.

This evolution has essentially dismantled the Windows on ARM hype, showing that x86 remains competitive in the very areas ARM was expected to dominate.

What This Means for ARM and the Future

While this doesn’t mark the end of ARM, it signals that x86 still has a long lifespan in the consumer market. AMD and Intel are preparing future lineups such as Medusa Point and Panther Lake, ensuring continued innovation in laptops, compact PCs, and AI-focused devices.

ARM continues to power Apple’s M-series chips and certain mobile platforms, but in the Windows ecosystem, AMD believes x86 has already reclaimed the upper hand.

Conclusion

AMD’s message is clear: x86 isn’t just surviving — it’s thriving. With next-gen APUs showcasing superior AI processing, competitive efficiency, and full ecosystem support, AMD argues there’s no compelling reason for PC makers or users to favor ARM over x86 at this stage.