One of the most exciting announcments at IFA 2014 was Intel's launch of the tiny 14nm system on chip, the Intel Core M. It brings with it the promise of some exciting thin, silent and above all powerful new two in one PCs which Intel claims will be up to three times faster than the any tablet packing the Qualcomm Snapdragon 805.
Speaking to TrustedReviews Matt Dunford, Worldwide Client Benchmark Manager at Intel, fired a shot across the bows of ARM processors by claiming that the new Intel Core M is significantly more powerful than Qualcomm’s best.
“The Intel Core M is two to three times faster than the top of the line premium tablets out there. So if you’re talking about the Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 or 805 we’re going to be about two to three times faster. We’re about two times faster on gaming and three times faster on most of the other things you’re doing like web applications.”
He also thinks that people often don’t comprehend the total costs of buying a tablet for productivity use which means they end up spending more than they should.
“When you really get honest about the price of a tablet you need to add the price of the cover, a keyboard, extra storage etc. When you add all that up you’re talking about the same price as a good two in one PC which delivers so much more capability. People haven’t grasped that yet.”
It’s the large top of the range tablets like the Samsung Galaxy Pro series or the mooted iPad Pro that could be most vulnerable to Intel Core M packing hybrids.
Karen Regis, Mobile Marketing Manager at Intel, explains:
“Intel Core M provides a good alternate choice for people looking for a large screen premium tablet, like two in one buyers.”
It’s a view supported by Dunford who believes that some premium tablets don’t quite offer as much productivity or performance as they should.
“I went out and got a Samsung Galaxy Notepro 12.2 and it’s big, it’s not quite as light as some of the smaller tablets. People looking at that size are some of the people who could look at the Intel Core M instead. A big premium tablet is going to be thin and light and have a battery that is going to last a long time. You’re going to be able to do your consumption of media and maybe some basic productivity although the typing on some of those premium tablets is not as good as a clamshell. When you start looking at tasks that require more performance, where you’re really trying to make it do something, the Intel Core M is going to be dramatically better.”
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