Qualcomm unveils new CPUs built by former Apple engineers

Qualcomm takes on Apple Silicon with next-gen PC chips designed by former Apple engineers

9to5Mac By Chance Miller November 16, 2021

[{"selector":"#anim-1b3a9bc2-130f-4a3f-a8a9-53460f2f58d8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Qualcomm is ramping up its efforts to compete with Apple’s new M-series chips for the Mac.

[{"selector":"#anim-788e69c1-ed4d-4ffe-ad67-78d6872c30a0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The chip maker today held its 2021 investor day event , focused on unveiling its “next-generation” technology, including new CPU hardware designed by Nuvia.

[{"selector":"#anim-8eb4f6ea-72e7-4bc1-bf6e-2d9f1a77ad77","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] For those keeping track, Nuvia is the chip startup founded by three former Apple A-series engineers that Qualcomm acquired earlier this year.

[{"selector":"#anim-0b67362e-80e3-4bd6-b31a-76974c5fb942","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Qualcomm’s acquisition of Nuvia has been very messy for a number of reasons. Nuvia CEO Gerard Williams serves as Qualcomm’s senior vice president of engineering.

[{"selector":"#anim-5410a9a0-8463-4500-8a6a-8e79f6729ef7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Williams departed Apple in March of 2019, and shortly thereafter, he was sued by Apple . The lawsuit from Apple alleges that Williams exploited Apple technology and poached other Apple employees to join him at Nuvia.

[{"selector":"#anim-d387b46d-e3a3-4023-9140-5106f5f9955b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Williams then fired back with his own lawsuit, saying that Apple illegally monitored his text messages and that his so-called “breach of contract” is unenforceable. There has been no resolution in this lawsuit yet.

[{"selector":"#anim-3dbcef6b-23f8-4641-b46d-f84e43cea03d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Can Qualcomm's new processors compete against Apple's M1 lineup? Learn more at 9to5mac.com.