NVIDIA launches its first ARM laptop chip at Computex, with Microsoft Surface and Dell XPS on board

NVIDIA officially entered the laptop processor market at its Computex 2026 keynote in Taipei on June 1, unveiling the N1X -- its first ARM-based system-on-chip designed for Windows PCs. The announcement was coordinated with Microsoft and Dell, both of which confirmed N1X-powered devices launching before the end of 2026, as reported by Ina Fried at Axios.

What the N1X actually is

The N1X is built on TSMC's 3-nanometer process and co-developed with MediaTek. At the top end, it pairs a 20-core ARM CPU -- ten Cortex-X925 performance cores and ten Cortex-A725 efficiency cores -- with an integrated Blackwell-architecture GPU packing 6,144 CUDA cores. That GPU core count matches NVIDIA's desktop RTX 5070, a striking number for an SoC. Unified memory support goes up to 128 GB of LPDDR5X across a 16-channel interface, similar in architecture to Apple's M-series chips. Total package TDP runs between 45W and 80W.

A lower-end N1 variant also exists, with 12 or 10 CPU cores and a reduced GPU configuration, aimed at business laptops and productivity-focused devices. Both chips are built on the same silicon foundation NVIDIA uses in its DGX Spark mini PC -- the GB10 Superchip -- now repackaged and officially supported on Windows for the first time.

Who is building laptops with it

Dell confirmed its XPS laptop with the N1X when its embargo lifted on May 31, making it one of the first public confirmations ahead of the keynote. Microsoft is building a new Surface device around the chip -- a significant move given Surface's role as a showcase for Windows capabilities. Lenovo has multiple N1-based machines in development, including a Legion 7 gaming laptop, an IdeaPad Slim 5, a Yoga Pro 7, and a Yoga 9 2-in-1. ASUS has committed a ProArt laptop to the platform, and MSI is also among the launch partners.

The first devices are expected to reach retail before the 2026 holiday season, with a broader wave in early 2027.

Why this matters for Windows on ARM

Qualcomm's Snapdragon X series has made real progress on Windows ARM laptops over the past two years, but the platform has lacked a credible discrete-GPU tier. The N1X changes that: integrating a Blackwell-class GPU means developers and users get access to NVIDIA's full CUDA software stack, DLSS, and the NVIDIA AI ecosystem on ARM hardware for the first time on Windows.

Gaming performance remains a question mark. ARM-on-Windows requires x86 emulation for older titles, which introduces overhead and compatibility gaps. NVIDIA acknowledged the limitation. But the chip's native performance for ARM-native workloads -- including modern AI applications -- is expected to be strong.

Jensen Huang also teased at least one additional unannounced product during pre-keynote events in Taipei, calling the second half of 2026 very busy alongside Grace Blackwell and Vera Rubin. The full Computex keynote runs at 11am Taipei time on June 1 (3am UTC).