Overview

An SoC combines the CPU, GPU, RAM (sometimes), storage controllers, and wireless radios (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 5G) onto a single piece of silicon. This is the standard architecture for smartphones, tablets, and modern laptops.

Advantages

  • Size: Extremely compact, allowing for thin and light devices.
  • Power Efficiency: Components are close together, reducing the power needed for communication.
  • Cost: Cheaper to manufacture a single chip than many separate ones.

Examples

  • Apple A-series and M-series chips.
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon.
  • Samsung Exynos.

Related Terms