Share of Intel and AMD x86 computer CPUs worldwide 2012-2021, by quarter

In the first quarter of 2020, 60.6 percent of x86 computer processor or CPU tests recorded were from Intel processors, a fall from the higher percentage share seen in previous quarters of 2020, whilst 39.4 percent were from AMD processors. When looking solely at laptop CPUs, Intel is the clear winner, accounting for 80 percent of laptop CPU test benchmark results in the first quarter of 2021.

Traditional x86 processors

The x86 is a family of instruction set architectures (ISA) for computer processors, otherwise known as central processing units (CPUs), which were initially developed by Intel. They refer to the way a CPU handles information, with x86 architecture of variable instruction lengths, and primarily of a complex instruction set computer (CISC) design. Although additions and developments to the x86 processor have taken place, backward compatibility has remained a key feature of the architecture; the newer x86 processors can run all the programs that older processors could run.

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-based processors. 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.