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As you can see, gaming laptops have become a major focus for AMD, as this is the only area where AMD has managed to win designs from Intel. A good example is the Razer Blade 16 2025which upgraded to the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 rather than using one of Intel’s HX chips.
Like Intel and Qualcomm, AMD would also launch its next-generation chips at CES 2026, which would use the Zen 6 architecture.
Apple now manufactures several chips, used in MacBooks, Macs, iPads and iPhones. The M-series chips have seen huge success since 2020, significantly increasing performance and battery life. Fortunately, the designations are a little simpler to parse. Each generation of chip is designated by a number, while add-ons such as Pro and Max improve processing and graphics performance.
The M5 family of chips for MacBook is the latest version, although its deployment has been limited so far. It is only available in the 14-inch MacBook Pro right now, which means Apple is still selling the MacBook Air M4 and MacBook Pro M4 Pro/Max.
It’s also important to know about older chips, especially since you can still buy the M1 MacBook Air. You can also buy “renewed” or refurbished versions of older models, like the MacBook Pro M3 Pro or M2 Max. If generation changes (from M3 to M4, for example) have allowed constant increases in processor performance, it is necessary to engage in very precise comparisons to know the difference between the M2 Max and the M3 Pro, for example. For more information, see our Guide to the best MacBooks.
The MacBook Air M5, MacBook Pro M5 Pro, and MacBook Pro M5 Max are all expected to launch in early 2026.
How much processing power do you need?
If you’re a typical user who uses a web browser, Microsoft’s Office suite, and maybe even photo editing software, we recommend a laptop with one of Intel’s Core Ultra V-series chips, like the Core Ultra 7 258V. These work quite well and have excellent battery life.
There are, however, some good reasons to go with Qualcomm. While the battery life of these devices is similar to Intel’s (and Apple’s, for that matter) latest chips, performance doesn’t drop as much as Intel’s. Prices are also lower, especially on Snapdragon X and X Plus configurations. Laptops using the Snapdragon X sell for just $799. While they don’t perform as well as the X Plus or X Elite models, they still get excellent battery life, which is impressive for a laptop of this price.
