NVIDIA and MediaTek may soon expand their footprint into the growing mobile computing market, this time with a dedicated processor designed for gaming laptops. According to a report from Taiwan Economic Daily, both companies are collaborating on a new APU (Accelerated Processing Unit) intended for high-performance mobile systems, with the first wave of products expected to arrive as early as late 2025.
The new chip is said to be the result of a strategic shift from previous plans that focused on ARM-based desktop processors. Instead, NVIDIA and MediaTek are now aiming at the laptop market, leveraging MediaTek’s experience in efficient mobile SoC design and NVIDIA’s GPU technology. The upcoming APU is expected to combine an ARM-based CPU architecture with an integrated GPU based on NVIDIA’s upcoming Blackwell graphics architecture.
Initial plans indicate that Dell’s Alienware brand will be the first to adopt the chip. Dell has reportedly secured an exclusive launch window, giving Alienware early access to the hardware. Dell and NVIDIA have maintained a close working relationship, particularly in AI infrastructure and high-performance computing, which likely influenced the decision to debut the product through Dell’s gaming lineup.
Although specific technical details remain limited, the APU is expected to be designed with a focus on performance efficiency, a key factor in mobile gaming systems. This aligns with MediaTek’s strengths in power-efficient processor design and NVIDIA’s track record in graphics performance. By targeting gaming laptops, the companies are entering a segment where performance-per-watt metrics are critical, and where Intel and AMD currently hold dominant positions.
AMD’s Phoenix, Strix Point, and upcoming Strix Halo chips have raised the bar for mobile processors, delivering desktop-class performance in thin-and-light form factors. Intel’s Meteor Lake and future Lunar Lake platforms are also designed with similar goals. NVIDIA and MediaTek’s collaboration will be entering this competitive landscape, where factors such as thermal management, battery efficiency, and integrated graphics performance will play a crucial role in adoption.
Dell’s exclusive partnership may also act as a testbed for the new chip. By limiting the initial rollout, NVIDIA and MediaTek can evaluate real-world usage and gather feedback before expanding availability to other OEMs. This strategy could also help fine-tune driver support and software optimization ahead of a broader launch.
If the rumors hold true, the chip could enter production later this year with final products arriving on shelves in Q4 2025 or early 2026. For now, the companies have not issued any official statements regarding the collaboration. As the mobile APU space heats up, the entry of NVIDIA and MediaTek could introduce new dynamics into the competitive landscape.
Source: Wccftech
