Lenovo Set to Design Own Microprocessors – Report

From X-bit Labs: Lenovo Group, one of the largest suppliers of personal computers in the world, is developing its own system-on-chip solution for mobile devices, a media report claims. The application processors are set to be integrated into the new generation of media tablets and smartphones offered by the company.

Lenovo, which only had a small IC design team that employed around 10 people over the last decade, is now committed to expanding this team to about 100 engineers by the middle of this year, according to a China-based industry source with direct knowledge of Lenovo’s recruitment of chip designers, reports EETimes web-site.

This plan seems to be driven by the company’s intention to completely control feature-set, performance and capabilities of its smartphones and tablets, it is reported. Given the fact that the company wants maximum customization of the system-on-chip solutions, it is logical to expect Lenovo to significantly expand its line of mobile devices.

Nowadays Lenovo uses microprocessors designed by companies like Intel and MediaTek, which specialize on chip design and/or manufacturing. Samsung reportedly turned down a proposal to supply its Exynos system-on-chips to Lenovo, which was another reason for the company to boost its chip design team.

While the expansion of Lenovo’s chip design team seems to be significant, the result of it remains completely unclear. Apple employs over a 1000 of chip designers; its system-on-chips are, without any doubts, among the leading on the market; yet they do not feature extraordinary capabilities. It is logical to expect 100 engineers from Lenovo to create mainstream SoCs without breakthroughs, just enough for the company to make advanced products with premium features created by the software. Still, with Lenovo’s advanced programs and its yet-to-be release chips, the company may offer rather ultimate solutions that will not be available from its rivals.

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