Share of Intel and AMD x86 laptop CPUs worldwide 2012-2023, by quarter

Intel processors made up 69.3 percent of laptop central processing units (CPUs) test benchmark results in the fourth quarter of 2023, down from the higher share seen in previous quarters. AMD processors accounted for 22.7 percent of laptop CPUs detected via the tests. When looking more broadly at all computers CPUs, Intel’s share is slightly lower, accounting for 61.1 percent of computer CPU test benchmark results in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Apple Mac processors

The x86 processor is the predominant hardware platform for laptops, desktops and servers globally. Both Windows and Mac laptops use x86 chips; previously, Apple’s line of Mac products used PowerPC microprocessors, with the transition to Intel x86 architecture first acknowledged in 2005. The first generation of Intel-based Mac computers were released in January 2006, a partnership that continued through until 2020, where Apple announced it will begin switching the Mac line from Intel CPUs to ARM CPUs. The decision was been made in order to standardize on one CPU architecture for all iPhone, iPad, and Mac products, with the transition to Apple's custom Arm-based chips expected to take place over a two-year period.

Intel’s next-generation chips

In recent years, Intel has faced problems manufacturing its own chip designs, leading to the company having to issue a public apologies. Intel both designs and manufactures computer chips, whereas most of its rivals only do one or the other. An example of this is Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), who simply manufactures chips designed by other companies, such as AMD and Apple.