Arko Store, which is an online exchange platform for different electronic goods, is currently running a “Smart Exchange” offer. Under this, customers can exchange their used and old phones for a brand-new Samsung phone with an additional exchange bonus. Let’s learn more.
Arko Store Smart Exchange Offer:
About Arko Store
Okay, before getting into the offer itself, let’s learn a little more about Arko Store. As aforementioned, it’s a platform that lets you exchange your old electronic devices and appliances like smartphones, televisions, refrigerators, washing machines, air conditioners, and such for a new one from Samsung.
And right now, Arko Store’s Smart Exchange offer is live at 8 Bhatbhateni outlets: Boudha, Koteshwor, Maharajgunj, Naxal, Pulchowk, Bhaktapur, Narayanghat, and Pokhara. And you can visit these Bhatbhateni stores to exchange your phone/tablet for a new Samsung phone/tablet. But do note that you can’t trade multiple phones or tablets for a new one. Arko Store will only offer a valuation for one used device for exchange.
A bonus of Rs. 2,000 in valuation
Under this offer, Arko Store is also providing an additional Rs. 2,000 bonus on top of the usual valuation when trading old devices. And this is a limited-time offer only, although the company hasn’t specified any exact date as to how long this offer will run. So if you have an old phone or tablet you want to get rid of in exchange of a brand new Samsung devices, then this looks like the perfect opportunity.
A company as influential as Google will certainly not sit back when it comes to developing AI generative tools. Hence, just like AI text-to-image generators, such as DALL-E 2, Dream by Wombo, and Stable Diffusion, Google has recently launched a BETA version of its own AI model; Imagen Editor. It is an interesting tool that uses generative AI to recreate pictures in one sentence. If you are looking forward to knowing about it more, this article is specifically written for you!
Google Imagen Editor Overview:
The clever wordplay between “Imagine” and “Image” readily gives off a clear hint about what the Imagen Editor is all about. It is an AI tool that creates customized images from a single sentence prompted by the user. The tool doesn’t generate the entire image content from scratch. Instead, it utilizes millions of images from the internet and modifies these existing images according to the user’s preferences.
Though there are many AI generative tools- Imagen Editor is unlike any other. The dataset on which the Imagen Editor’s AI model is trained is LAION-400M. These sorts of information are rather not disclosed by AI companies, like DALL-E 2, but this time around, it is publically informed.
Capabilities it holds for the time being
This generative tool is at present mainly capable of generating two distinct outputs called City Dreamer and Wobble. City Dreamer allows the creation of unique buildings, while Wobble generates animated creature-like characters based on descriptions. With City Dreamer, users can provide unique descriptions of buildings and receive output with weird or visually appealing designs. Meanwhile, Wobble allows users to enhance the image of animated creatures by adding effects, clothing, or background elements.
1 of 3
Due to its current emphasis on generating specific types of images, Google’s Imagen Editor falls slightly behind in comparison to well-established generative AI tools like DALL-E 2.
Google typically launches its new AI-related technology through an app named AI Test Kitchen. This time as well, the new Imagen Editor is available on the same platform with beta access. This approach allows Google to gather enough user feedback and address any issues before a public release.
Also, Google itself says, the application is not ready for security-related concerns, making it a wiser decision to introduce a beta version rather than facing huge public backlash on the initial release.
By simply providing instructions in sentences, Imagen enables the addition of realistic-looking elements in any image.
Here’s how to use the beta version
Currently, Google Imagen Editor is only available for beta testing to a very small group of people. To use Imagen, all you need to do is visit the AI Test Kitchen website and register. If you are fortunate enough to gain access to the beta testing, which only a few get, make sure you provide enough feedback to contribute to the development of the system.
Later when Google decides to make it publicly available, it will probably be accessible from Google Photos. You supposedly have to add an image to Google Photos and provide a description of the required changes. Imagen Editor will then generate the modified image according to the instructions. The main purpose of the tool is to make changes to the picture without having to manually edit it.
About a month ago, I remember writing news about ISPs silently increasing the price of their low Mbps internet plans. Now, Oasis Broadband Internet is here to fill the gap offering a blazing-fast speed of 100 Mbps at just Rs 699 per month. Oasis Broadband aims to deliver affordable and high-quality internet connectivity to residential and business customers across the country. However, this internet package is available only if you buy it for a whole year.
Oasis Broadband Internet Overview:
Oasis Broadband Internet was established in 2016 with the commitment to fulfilling the growing demand for reliable internet services in Nepal. Now, they are probably trying to grasp customers from the whole Nepal with their price penetration strategy. They had also come up with the New Year offer for different internet speeds. Moreover, if you refer this internet to your friend, you also get free internet for a month.
Oasis Broadband Internet Plans and Pricing
Oasis Broadband Internet is providing four kinds of services like Internet, Internet + IPTV Combo, SME Solution, and IPTV with different price ranges on a yearly, half-yearly, quarterly and monthly basis.
Broadband-only Plans
Keeping the affordable and high-quality internet connectivity vision, Oasis Broadband Internet is providing a wide range of Internet speeds up to 300Mbps plans to its customers. It is comparatively cheaper than other telecommunication services.
With the two services combine Internet and IPTV where users can have access to both high-speed internet connectivity and IPTV services. This allows them to not only browse the internet but also stream television channels, movies, and other video content directly through their internet connection.
INTERNET + IPTV
Yearly
Half-yearly
Quarterly
Monthly
30 Mbps
Rs. 8,182
Rs. 4,226
Rs. 2,173
Rs. 835
50 Mbps
Rs. 9,852
Rs. 5,056
Rs. 2,603
Rs. 985
75 Mbps
Rs. 10,512
Rs. 5,426
Rs. 2,793
Rs. 1,045
100 Mbps
Rs. 12,100
Rs. 6,205
Rs. 3,200
Rs. 1,194
150 Mbps
Rs. 13,100
Rs. 7,100
Rs. 3,650
Rs. 1,344
200 Mbps
Rs. 14,782
Rs. 7,596
Rs. 3,950
Rs. 1,444
250 Mbps
Rs. 15,530
Rs. 7,995
Rs. 4,100
Rs. 1,494
300 Mbps
Rs. 17,700
Rs. 9,100
Rs. 4,700
Rs. 1,694
Note: These prices are exclusive of 13% VAT.
One time Charge
If we install 100Mbps for a yearly internet package, it is not only cheaper but also the installation and dual-band router rental is also free. However, the price of Rs. 699 is not their official price but actually an offered price for a limited time.
BROADBAND ONLY
Yearly
Half-yearly
Quarterly
Monthly
Installation Charge
Free
Dual Band Router Rental
Free
Rs. 1,000
Rs. 1,500
Free
The one-time charge for Internet + IPTV packages is however different as it takes into account the rental of the set-top box. Other details are mentioned in the table below:
INTERNET + IPTV
Yearly
Half-yearly
Quarterly
Monthly
Installation Charge
Free
Dual Band Router Rental
Free
Rs. 1,000
Rs. 1,500
Rs. 2,000
Set-top Box Rental
Rs. 2,000
Rs. 2,000
Rs. 2,000
Rs. 2,000
The introduction of the 100 Mbps package at an affordable price is expected to further enhance its customer base and maintain its position as a leading broadband service provider in the country. Internet services continue to play an important role in various aspects of daily life, Oasis Broadband’s commitment to reliable, high-speed connectivity ensures that individuals and businesses can stay connected, and productive, and enjoy a seamless online experience throughout Nepal.
To book an internet connection, you can contact the Oasis Broadband Company at the following address:
Apple’s Mac computers have been in the market for decades and are quite popular in terms of their productivity among everything else. But when it comes to gaming, macOS isn’t the first choice for players or game developers. Well, this might change pretty soon as Apple’s new “Game Porting Toolkit” (GPTK) makes porting games from Windows to Mac a lot easier and less time-consuming. Let’s find out more.
Apple Game Porting Toolkit: Overview
Looking back at the WWDC23
At WWDC23 last week, Apple announced quite a few stuff, including a 15-inch MacBook Air, Mac Studio, Mac Pro, and the Vision Pro mixed-reality headset. Whereas on the software side of things, the company previewed iOS 17, iPadOS 17, watchOS 10, and macOS 14 (Sonoma). Alongside all this, Apple’s Game Porting Toolkit also made its debut. This toolkit aims to pave the way for developers to port Windows games on macOS to evaluate how well their games run without additional coding.
Apple Mac Studio (2023)
How does it work?
Here, the GPTK enables a translation layer (emulation environment) for running existing Windows games with x86 instructions and Windows APIs to their respective macOS APIs. Whereas its Metal Shader Converter converts existing GPU shaders and graphics code to Metal, which is Apple’s graphics API.
And anyone with an Apple developer account can access the Game Porting Toolkit (which is currently in the beta stage) to see how their games perform on Mac by following this guide. It will significantly make things easier and less time-consuming for developers to port games from Windows to Mac. Whereas it can also act as a performance metric to figure out if porting their game to macOS is feasible or not.
Interestingly, Apple Game Porting Toolkit is already capable of running DirectX 12 (DX12) games. Although games with anti-cheat mechanisms or aggressive DRM (Digital Rights Management) are not running as per the guide. Going by Dave2D’s video, the YouTuber was able to run Cyberpunk 2077 up to 71 fps, Diablo 4 at 97 fps, and Hogwarts Legacy at 59 fps on an M1 Ultra-powered Mac Studio. And you can check its results on a 14-inch MacBook Pro (M2 Max), M2 MacBook Air, and M1 MacBook Air below.
Source: Dave2D (YouTube)
While those fps numbers might not seem too tempting, it’s important to understand these are raw, unoptimized numbers from a simple port using GPTK. And should the developers work to optimize these titles for a proper port, we could see massive performance uplifts.
Apple Game Porting Toolkit: Conclusion
To wrap it all up, it’s clear that Apple is finally serious about gaming on Mac. And besides the Game Porting Toolkit, macOS Sonoma also include a new “Game Mode” that prioritizes CPU and GPU resources whenever you’re gaming. Besides that, it results in reduced audio latency on AirPods and third-party game controllers by doubling Bluetooth sampling rate. Apple also announced a bunch of new games coming to macOS Sonoma, including Kojima Productions’ “Death Stranding: Director’s Cut”.
Asus held its “Thincredible” launch a couple of weeks back, where it announced the latest Vivobook and Zenbook lineup of ultraportable laptops. The event was headlined by the new Zenbook S 13 (UX5304), which is the world’s thinnest OLED Laptop. This MacBook Air M2 rival is now available in Nepal as well. So, let’s get into the specs, features, official price, and availability of the Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED (2023) UX5304VA in Nepal.
Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED (2023) Overview:
Plasma ceramic aluminum
Measuring just 1cm at its slimmest part and weighing just 1kg, the 2023 Zenbook S 13 is among the most portable laptops. To achieve this feat, Asus has carved the chassis and its internal layout from magnesium-aluminum alloy through the CNC process. The IR camera is infused directly into the lid, making it 30% thinner.
The lids go through a special water and electricity treatment, creating a unique texture. Asus says the Plasma ceramic lid manufactured this way has a higher level of toughness, protection against rust, improved thermal management, and a longer lifespan. It is also more eco-friendly since no organic compounds, heavy metals, and strong acids are involved.
Lumina OLED display
Also new to the Zenbook S 13 UX5304 is the new Lumina OLED display. This is a unique branding used by Asus for OLED displays with Panonte Validation, VESA DisplayHDR True Black certification, and factory calibration of Delata E < 1. In addition, the Lumina OLED has Splendid color-gamut management, OLED Power Saving, True2life, OLED Care burn-in prevention, and other in-house display technologies.
The Lumina OLED in the new Zenbook S 13 measures 13.3 inches diagonally with a 2.8K resolution. It is a 16:10 screen with 550 nits of peak brightness and 100% DCI-P3 coverage.
Inside the Zenbook S 13 OLED (2023), you get the latest 13th Gen Intel processors with boosted TDP of up to 20W. Along with the added power of the Raptor Lake CPUs, it brings the assurance of Evo certification. You can choose between the Core i5-1335U and i7-1355U. It is backed by LPDDR5 RAM (5200 MHz) soldered into the motherboard. Asus offers the laptop in two RAM configurations: 16GB and 32GB, with no prospect of future upgrades. Likewise, the laptop supports up to 1TB of PCIe Gen 4 SSD.
Battery and Connectivity
Fueling the laptop is a 63 Wh battery rated for up to 14 hours of backup. It ships with a 65W Type-C fast charging adapter that can fill the battery to 70% in 50 minutes.
Despite the thin form factor, Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED (2023) doesn’t compromise on ports. You get two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports with fast charging, 4K display output, and 40 Gbps data transfer speeds. Then there are two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports, an HDMI 2.1, and a 3.5mm audio jack. For wireless connectivity, Asus has included WiFi 6E with in-house WiFi Master technology.
Rest of the features
Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED (2023) comes with an FHD IR camera enabling WFH professionals to connect to their colleagues remotely. It is complemented by AI-powered visual and noise-cancelation solutions for an enhanced web conferencing experience. You can also use it for Windows Hello Face authentication. The audio setup consists of two Harman Kardon-tuned speakers with Dolby Atmos support.
Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED (2023) Specifications:
Design&Build: 296.2 x 216.3 x 10.9 ~ 11.8 mm, 1.00 kg
Color Options: Basalt Gray, Ponder Blue.
Durability: US MIL-STD 810H military-grade standard
The official Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED (2023) price in Nepal is Rs. 199,490 for the i7 model with 16GB RAM and 1TB SSD. You can buy Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED (2023) in Nepal from Hukut and authorized stores.
Soon enough, Sony Xperia Pro-I II is expected to release as a successor to the Xperia Pro I handset, which was launched in October 2021. There are certain rumors and speculations pointing to this release- backed up by some leaked posts as well. In this article, I will share all the currently available specifications and features of the smartphone.
Where is the speculation coming from?
All the buzz began from the sketch shared on Weibo by username Jason2025, which revealed a rear camera module with two large cameras, specifying the possibility of two 1.0″ type sensors. If this has some truth, it is probably a huge upgrade from its predecessor i.e., the Sony Xperia Pro I, which had only one of these as the main camera.
However, the reliability of the leaked sketch is doubtful, as the account that shared it has a small number of followers (probably around 2,700) and lacks the reputation for leaking tech-related rumors.
In addition to the sketch, a YouTube channel called Multi-Tech Media has shared a 3D image of the expected Sony Xperia Pro-I II. The image reveals that the smartphone has two primary rear camera sensors with Tessar lenses from Zeiss, both measuring 1-inch and placed in the center. This provides further insight into the potential camera setup of the smartphone.
The Sony Xperia Pro-I features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 SoC, a 4,500mAh battery with 30W fast charging, and a triple rear camera setup with 12-megapixel sensors. It has an 8-megapixel front camera and has a price of around $1,799.99. So, probably the specifications of the Sony Xperia Pro-I II will be somewhat related to this specification of its predecessor.
Also, there are rumors about a future Sony smartphone potentially featuring a “double-layer transistor stacked pixel sensor,” which is larger than the 1.0″ sensor. However, it is uncertain if this sensor will be available to the Xperia Pro-I II.
Meanwhile, check out our unboxing and review of the Realme 11 Pro+.
Fourth Frontier is a leading health tech company that focuses on improving heart health. Its flagship device, the Frontier x2 is a smart heart monitor that captures real-time high-quality ECG readings and uses AI analysis to understand heart health. What sets it apart from regular heart monitors is the real-time vibration alerts that notify users when they exceed their limits during activities. In this article, we will be discussing its abilities, expected price in Nepal, features, and more of the Frontier X2 to understand how it can improve heart monitoring and overall health.
Frontier X2 Overview:
Health Tracking
Frontier X2 is the world’s first smart heart monitor that can capture ECG in real-time which can then be shared live or exported in a file for any other use. Other heart monitors require you to stay still for 30 seconds.
It majorly measures Heart rate, strains, and heart rate variability during any activities or when resting (including sleeping). It also records additional parameters such as breathing rate, training load, body shock, and step cadence. The device comes with an embedded AI system, that recommends users different personalized workout insights based on their daily routine. The Frontier X2 can track and analyze up to 20 different activities, including running, cycling, meditation, sleep, swimming, and more.
One standout feature of the Frontier X2 is its real-time vibration alerts. This feature helps users stay within their limits, preventing them from pushing too hard too soon. It eventually allows users to exercise confidently without constantly checking their watch or phone.
Design and Dimension
The Frontier X2 is designed to be worn around the chest, similar to other heart monitors, to track and analyze heart activities. However, unlike regular monitors that transmit the measured signals directly to a watch or smartphone, the Frontier X2 has the capability to measure, record, and process the heart’s activities internally within the device itself.
The Frontier X2 is a lightweight device, weighing only 25 grams. It is made of durable plastic material and has an IP67 rating, which means it is resistant to dust and water(for up to 1.5 meters). This enables one to wear it without worrying about potential damage caused by dust, sweat, or water exposure.
Battery life on health monitoring devices is essential, but integrating a high-power battery on such a compact device is hard. Still, Frontier X2 comes with an impressive battery life of up to 12-15 days of typical use (1hr a day) and 24 hours with continuous use. The device is easily chargeable as well – a full charge takes under 45 minutes.
Connectivity
Talking about connectivity, Frontier X2 offers Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, allowing it to sync on various external devices such as Apple Watches, Garmins, Pelotons, Zwifts, and more. It supports simultaneous multi-device connectivity as well – up to three devices simultaneously. The device can also be integrated with health apps such as Apple Health, Google Fit, Garmin, and Strava. Frontier X App is available for iOS and Android phones, which can further set milestones and display actual improvements.
Moreover, the device does not require a constant connection to a watch or phone, as it has internal storage to store the data for 24 hours.
Frontier x2 Quick specification
Dimension: 72mm x 24mm x 13mm, 25 grams
Battery life: 12-15 days of typical use, 24 hours with continuous use
Performance: Breathing Rate, Training Load, Body Shock, Step Cadence
IP rating: IP67
Frontier X2 Price in Nepal (Expected)
The Frontier X2 can be purchased directly from the official Fourth Frontier website, with a price of $549. It is also available for purchase on popular e-commerce platforms such as Amazon and Flipkart, with an approximate price of ₹39,000. In the event of an official launch in Nepal, the device will probably cost around Rs. 65,000.
Device Model
Official price by Fourth Frontier
Price offered by Amazon
Price in Nepal(estimated)
Frontier x2
$549
₹39,000
Rs.65,000
Meanwhile, check out our unboxing and review of the Realme 11 Pro+.
We are all aware of the Honor, that separated from Huawei under the pressure of US trade sanctions. Currently, Honor is honored with surprisingly impressive growth in various markets. As per Counterpoint Research, Honor’s shipments grew by 400% in a year in Europe after it expanded its partnership with major mobile operators like Vodafone, Orange, and Wind Tre. Its midrange and budget series are the main driving force for the growth in Europe.
In the Middle East and Africa too, Honor saw a growth of 500% in shipments. Similarly, they are also expanding in Latin America with a 700% growth in shipments. These growths in different markets are generated compared with the previous year. Moreover, Honor is looking out to expand into other major markets to continue increasing shipments. The company is even teasing the launch of its flagship phone in Nepal hinting at a market expansion here
Honor to re-enter the Indian market with former Realme CEO
According to some Indian reports, Honor is on its way to re-enter the Indian smartphone market in August, this year. This news has become a challenge to other Chinese brands like Realme. To launch Honor’s smartphones in India, they asked Madhav Sheth, the former CEO of Realme India (current VP for business & corporate strategy).
Madhav Sheth will probably join Honor India to re-launch the brand in India. Not just him, but we can also expect several other director-level executives from Realme’s online and offline verticals to join Honor India with Sheth. His appointment is worth noting at a time when Apple and Samsung are expanding their position in the Indian smartphone market, while Chinese firms face competition.
Honor product expansion
From this, we can see that Honor is committed to increasing its market share in big markets like India even after its separation from Huawei. Moreover, they have also expanded their product portfolio. Recently, they launched laptops like Honor MagicBook X14 and X16 2023 powered by the 12th Intel Core H-series processors. Honor is looking to offer products more than just smartphones in the Indian market as well.
The companies have not officially confirmed these developments, but we will get more information soon. Stay updated to find out more about Honor’s plan for expansion in the key business markets.
In today’s fast-paced world, efficient time management plays a vital role in the success of any organization. Recognizing this need, a group of individuals from diverse backgrounds came together to develop Smart Haajir – a human resource management solution. The system is available as a web application and mobile application for both Android and iOS platforms. In this article, we will be providing all the features of this system, along with the various packages available, discussing pricing options, and much more.
With the ease in the digital market, smart haajir ensures to mark attendance within the blink of an eye
Smart Haajir Overview
Any small or large organization can make use of Smart Haajir. As the name suggests, it provides a digital approach to the attendance system. However, it provides various other modules as well, which include leave management, appointment booking, employee tracking, and more. The system also offers additional features such as reporting capabilities of each employee, travel management, and payroll processing.
Since each organization has unique requirements, Smart Haajir offers on-demand customization. This flexibility ensures that the system can be adjusted to meet specific organizational needs. It also assists organizations with system setup, troubleshooting, and any other inquiries they may have. Additionally, Smart Haajir regularly updates its system to offer users the latest features and improvements, ensuring a smooth user experience.
Why switch from a traditional system to a digital one?
Firstly, a digital system like Smart Haajir reduces the need for manual work, saving valuable time and reducing the risk of errors. Secondly, a digital system can report the current status of each employee. With Smart Haajir, organizations can have accurate attendance records, track employee performance, and generate reports from them. Therefore, this approach enables informed decision-making and enhances overall productivity.
Smart Haajir Plans and Pricing
Smart Haajir is accessible anytime, anywhere as a web application and mobile application for both Android and iOS platforms. Hence, this multi-platform accessibility provides easiness and flexibility in managing human resource attendance and related functions.
Smart Haajir offers flexible pricing options. It has different pricing categories, including Basic, Standard, and Premium packages, with corresponding prices of Rs. 7,000, Rs 300,000, and Rs. 900,000, respectively.
Category of Package
Pricing
Features included in the package
Basic
Rs. 7,000 / year
Rs. 200 per year for extra 25 employees
Employee PIS
Real-Time Attendance System
Employee Tracking
Leave Management
Events/Appointments
Regular Update
Instant support
Standard
Rs. 300,000
Unlimited Employees
Employee PIS
Real-Time Attendance System
Employee Tracking
Leave Management
Events/Appointments
Regular Update
Instant support
On-Demand Customization
Premium
Rs. 900,000
Unlimited Employees
Employee PIS
Real-Time Attendance System
Employee Tracking
Leave Management
Events/Appointments
Payroll
Travel Management
Reporting
Regular Update
Instant support
On-Demand Customization
Smart Haajir is located in Thapathali, Kathmandu, Nepal. You can contact them through:
ARM and x86 are two major architectures in the world of computer processors, with long-standing competition in the market. One notable incident that highlighted the battle between them was when Apple made a huge decision to transition from using x86 architecture to adopting ARM for their Mac computers. So, what exactly are they, and what sets them apart? In this article, let’s take a closer look at these architectures and learn about what makes them unique, their benefits, and the compromises they come with.
What are ARM and X86?
ARM (Advanced RISC Machines) is an instruction set architecture developed by ARM Holdings. The ARM-based processors are built upon the Reduced Instruction Set Computing (RISC) design. They are known for their power efficiency, making them popular in computer systems with low power requirements.
x86 on the other hand is the instruction set architecture developed by Intel Corporation and AMD. The x86-based processors are built on the Complex Instruction Set Computing (CISC) design. The architecture is well-known for being able to run older software without any issues, and it is also very good at handling tasks that need a lot of computing power.
ARM and x86 architectures differ in terms of their instruction set design, power efficiency, and scalability/customization options.
Architecture
As mentioned above, ARM follows the RISC architecture, which focuses on simplicity and efficiency. Here, the architecture has simpler instruction sets, that can execute as fast as possible (one instruction in one cycle). This results in quicker execution of tasks.
CISC architecture often features more complex instructions, which can reduce the number of instructions needed to perform certain tasks. Although these complex instructions may take multiple clock cycles to execute, the overall task completion rate can be faster due to the reduced instruction count.
Power Consumption
ARM processors are good in terms of power efficiency. They try to complete commands using the simplest instructions, saving a substantial amount of power. This makes ARM chips suitable for battery-powered devices and mobile applications.
x86 CPUs generally use more power when solving problems and performing tasks because they require additional energy to execute complex instructions. However, recent advancements have improved the power efficiency of x86 processors, especially in the low-power and ultra-low-power segments.
ARM utilizes a design called big.LITTLE architecture. This means it has two sets of cores: powerful cores (big) and efficient cores (little). Demanding tasks use powerful cores, while efficient cores handle less intensive tasks. Historically, x86 architecture did not have this specific big.LITTLE design, but Intel introduced Performance and Efficient cores with 12th Gen “Raptor Lake” onwards.
Scalability and Customization
ARM Holding does not manufacture the silicon chips, it only gives a design architecture of how the chips can be manufactured. Manufacturers can customize ARM-based processors to meet the specific requirements of different devices and markets. As a result, ARM architecture is popular for its high scalability and extensive customization options.
Intel and AMD themselves design, combine, and manufacture the silicon chip based on x86 architecture. It too also offers scalability, but to a lesser extent compared to ARM. The scalability and customization are typically limited to modifications made by the processor manufacturers themselves i.e. Intel or AMD.
Apple switched from using x86 to adopting ARM architecture for its Mac
Apple is famous for its unique technologies in mobile and Mac computers. Initially, the company relied on x86 chips for its Macbooks, but it eventually changed to ARM. Apple switched to ARM because it offered benefits in scalability and customization.
From the beginning, the Mac has always embraced big changes to stay at the forefront of personal computing. Today we’re announcing our transition to Apple silicon, making this a historic day for the Mac. – Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) held on June 22, 2020.
Apple holds an architectural license from ARM, enabling them to design and produce their own chips. This grants Apple greater control over the hardware support they incorporate into the chips. Consequently, Apple can create highly optimized computing devices customized to meet their customers’ needs. Also, RISC-based microprocessors are small in size, which helps Apple achieve its slim design.
Compromises that come with both the Architecture
ARM processors have a strong existence in the mobile market and are compatible with various operating systems, including Android and iOS. However, they may not offer full compatibility with some older desktop applications and software. Also, they are energy efficient, that’s why, they may not provide the same level of performance as high-end x86 processors in certain demanding tasks.
x86 processors dominate the desktop and server markets. They are compatible with a wide range of operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux. Since it can operate complex tasks, it is expensive, less scalable, and highly demanding in power.
Meanwhile, check out our comparison of the latest smartphone chipsets.
