Debunking the Hype: Qualcomm and Intel’s Acquisition Rumors Squashed
Is Qualcomm Buying Intel? Not a Chance!
Have you seen the rumors swirling around about Qualcomm buying Intel? Yeah, I did too, and I’m here to set the record straight. In a nutshell, no, Qualcomm isn’t buying Intel, and Intel is far from being up for grabs. Despite Qualcomm’s recent victories with the new Snapdragon X Elite chip, there’s no acquisition plan in the works, and Intel remains committed to its processor business.
What’s Been Going On in the Computing World?
It’s been a wild week in the computing industry, with AMD announcing that it’s abandoning its flagship gaming GPU and Apple Intelligence making its debut at the "Glowtime" event – but don’t expect to see it on iPhones or Macs anytime soon. Meanwhile, Reuters published a report claiming that Qualcomm has "examined acquiring different pieces of Intel." But let’s take this with a pinch of salt, shall we?
Qualcomm’s Rise to the Top
Qualcomm is on a roll, folks. I personally reported from Computex 2024 in Taipei earlier this year, and let me tell you, Qualcomm was the clear winner of the event. Their keynote address was packed with guest appearances from multiple laptop manufacturer executives, all throwing their hats into the Snapdragon ring.
The Snapdragon X Elite Chip
The Snapdragon X Elite chip has been a game-changer for the laptop processor market. It’s a huge shake-up, and Intel’s struggling to keep up. AMD’s systems-on-a-chip are giving Intel a run for its money, and we’re seeing some impressive hardware from the likes of Asus and MSI.
Investors are Unhappy
Intel’s market capitalization has dropped to $80 billion this week, its lowest point in over a decade. Meanwhile, Qualcomm’s market cap sits at $176 billion, while AMD’s is at $224 billion. Nvidia’s AI investments have seen massive returns, bringing them up to a staggering $2.62 trillion.
Never Bet Against Intel
I’m not worried about Intel’s future. Even if Qualcomm does end up buying out some of Intel’s business ventures, there’s plenty of potential for Team Blue to bounce back. With a confirmed release date of September 24 for the new Lunar Lake CPUs and a slew of laptops coming bearing those chips, Intel is due for a resurgence. We’re also expecting Intel’s second-gen Arc ‘Battlemage’ discrete GPUs to make a splash in the affordable graphics card market.
The MSI Claw 8 AI+
The recently-revealed MSI Claw 8 AI+ will utilize an Intel Lunar Lake chip for its newly boosted gaming capabilities. It’s a welcome addition to the affordable graphics card market, and we can’t wait to see how it performs.
The Bottom Line
So, while rumors may swirl, Intel is far from being up for grabs. The company has numerous long-running contracts and agreements with the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy, so if things do get dire, a government-assisted bailout is likely. So, Team Blue fans, have no fear – even the military-industrial complex has your back.
