# Episode 40: Apple M3, Qualcomm X Elite, and Increased Competition for X86

- Show: [The Circuit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit)
- Published: 2023-10-31
- Length: 43m
- Episode: 42
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2023-10-31-episode-40-apple-m3-qualcomm-x-elite-and-increased-competition-for-x86
- Listen: https://share.transistor.fm/s/50f4b1fd

## Summary

Ben Bajarin and Jay Goldberg discuss the recent announcements from Qualcomm's Snapdragon Summit and Apple's 'Scary Fast' event, focusing on the competitive landscape between ARM and x86 architectures. They analyze Qualcomm's return to custom ARM cores with the Snapdragon X Elite, noting its performance parity with Apple's 3-nanometer M3 chip, and examine Apple's strategic decision to omit AI marketing in favor of efficiency and user experience. The hosts debate whether this increased competition will meaningfully erode x86 market share or simply drive innovation across Intel, AMD, and NVIDIA.

## Chapters

- [0:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2023-10-31-episode-40-apple-m3-qualcomm-x-elite-and-increased-competition-for-x86#t=8) Introduction: Ben Bajarin and Jay Goldberg on Qualcomm and Apple Events
- [3:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2023-10-31-episode-40-apple-m3-qualcomm-x-elite-and-increased-competition-for-x86#t=184) Qualcomm Snapdragon Summit: Snapdragon X Elite and Custom ARM Architecture
- [10:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2023-10-31-episode-40-apple-m3-qualcomm-x-elite-and-increased-competition-for-x86#t=651) ARM vs. x86 PC Market Competition and Consumer Adoption
- [17:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2023-10-31-episode-40-apple-m3-qualcomm-x-elite-and-increased-competition-for-x86#t=1039) Apple M3 Chip: 3nm Process, Dynamic Caching, and Product Lineup
- [26:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2023-10-31-episode-40-apple-m3-qualcomm-x-elite-and-increased-competition-for-x86#t=1596) The Role of NPUs and AI Inference Metrics (TOPS) in Consumer Devices
- [35:56](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2023-10-31-episode-40-apple-m3-qualcomm-x-elite-and-increased-competition-for-x86#t=2156) Future Outlook: ARM Gaining PC Share and Impact on Intel/AMD

## Topics

- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)

## Most relevant to

large enterprises

## Mentioned

- Qualcomm (company)
- Snapdragon X Elite (product)
- Apple (company)
- M3 (product)
- Intel (company)
- AMD (company)
- NVIDIA (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Smartphones, China, Gaming, AR — and a Snapdragon to Rule Them All](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2019-12-13-smartphones-china-gaming-ar-and-a-snapdragon-to-rule-them-all) (EE Times Current)
- [Whither Semiconductors? The Wheels on the Bus Go ‘Round and ‘Round](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2021-07-16-whither-semiconductors-the-wheels-on-the-bus-go-round-and-round) (EE Times Current)
- [66: Apple Hardware Computers](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2021-02-10-66-apple-hardware-computers) (Thoroughly Considered)
- [Inside the emerging frontier of models, machines and manufacturing hell.](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/built-2-scale/2025-12-11-inside-the-emerging-frontier-of-models-machines-and-manufacturing-hell) (Built 2 Scale)
- [The Spark Gap - Episode 16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2014-10-01-the-spark-gap-episode-16) (The Spark Gap)

## Citing this page

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