Competition between ARM-based processors is expected to become fiercer as Samsung turns aggressive pushing its chip business, while China-based white-box ARM chipmakers as well as Lenovo, which reportedly plans to enter the ARM processor market, will also have potential to create pressure on existing suppliers, according to sources from the upstream supply chain.

Due to the fact that entry into the ARM-based processor market has a low threshold and can be easily done with a team of about a hundred technicians, headhunting talent from competitors has become the quickest way for new players to enter the market, the sources said.

Although most chipmakers are still unable to compete against first-tier makers such as Apple, Qualcomm and Nvidia in terms of technology, their processors' performances and specifications are already able to satisfy mid-range and entry-level models' demand.

With its Galaxy S and Note series products as well as its new eight-core S4 smartphone, Samsung successfully raised its share in the ARM processor market and become the biggest competitor of Qualcomm. Nvidia, which used to supply Tegra 2 processor for Samsung's smartphones, may also see its cooperation with the Korea-based company be phased out, the sources noted.

With the competition, the sources believe the ARM processor market will see a giant reshuffling in terms of ranking in the next two years.

By: DocMemory
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