A leaked next-gen AMD APU is making waves in the gaming tech industry, targeting the handheld, laptop, and mobile gaming markets. The leak from Moore’s Law is Dead hints at a processor named Sound Wave, originally intended to compete with Nvidia for the Nintendo Switch 2 bid.

Given that the Switch consoles rely on ARM CPU, the Sound Wave processor is also rumored to be based on ARM architecture rather than x86. Although AMD lost the bid for the Switch 2, there are speculations that the company may repurpose the ARM APU for handheld, laptop, and mobile gaming markets, potentially even as a competitor to Apple’s M4.

AMD’s strategic moves also include efforts to secure a contract with Microsoft Surface devices to rival Qualcomm’s X Elite CPUs. The leak sheds light on the Sound Wave processor and its prospects in the mobile market.

The AMD Sound Wave processor was initially revealed on Gamm0burst, a platform known for data mining, where it was identified among five upcoming AMD APU codenames. Noteworthy for its departure from the company’s usual animal-themed naming convention, the Sound Wave processor remained a mystery until recent leaks.

While Moore’s Law is Dead has a track record of accurate RDNA 2 GPU leaks, caution is advised regarding the latest AMD APU leak. The processor, based on ARM architecture, was originally intended for the Nintendo Switch 2 but is now expected to find applications in handheld devices, Windows laptops, and mobile gaming devices.

The rise in popularity of handheld gaming devices is evident with options like the Steam Deck, ROG Ally, and Lenovo Legion Go, all powered by AMD APUs. As the gaming tech landscape evolves, the leaked AMD Sound Wave processor could potentially reshape the mobile processor market.