NVIDIA’s N1X System-on-Chip (SoC), a crucial component of its Windows on Arm (WoA) strategy, is now expected to launch in Q1 2026, delayed from its original 2H 2025 target.
The delay is attributed to several factors, including Microsoft’s slower development roadmap for its next-generation Windows platform, a slower-than-anticipated adoption rate for WoA devices, and NVIDIA’s internal evaluation of new revisions for its N1X and N1 SoCs. The N1X SoC, co-developed with Mediatek, represents NVIDIA’s significantay into the enterpriseay into the enterprise and consumer “AI PC” segment. Although NVIDIA and its partners showcased various devices at Computex 2025, the actual market availability has been postponed.
The delay in Microsoft’s Windows OS update, which is expected to introduce advanced AI features and enhance the WoA ecosystem, is a primary reason for NVIDIA’s adjusted timeline. This critical software foundation is deemed essential for the optimal performance and market reception of the N1X. Furthermore, the broader market adoption of WoA platforms has not met initial expectations. Despite some manufacturers’ claims of strong sales, overall consumer demand for WoA laptops is reportedly slowing.
NVIDIA is leveraging the extended timeline to refine its N1X and N1 SoCs, evaluating new revisions that are expected to incorporate design changes and various optimizations. The chips are being manufactured using TSMC’s N3B process technology. The N1X SoC integrates a Grace (Arm) CPU and a Blackwell GPU, also referred to as GB10 in platforms like the DGX Spark. The N1X designation is specifically tailored for the consumer market.
The NVIDIA GB10 Superchip, which shares many characteristics with the N1X SoC, features a 20-core Arm CPU based on the Grace architecture, a Blackwell GPU capable of up to 1 PetaFlop of FP4 AI compute, supports up to 128 GB of LPDDR5X memory, and incorporates advanced I/O technologies. Early performance indicators for the N1X SoC are promising, with a Geekbench 6 listing showing a single-core score of 3096 and a multi-core score of 18,837.
The tested chip operated at 2.81 GHz, with samples of the GB10 known to reach clock speeds of up to 3.9 GHz. For context, AMD’s Ryzen AI MAX+ 395 chip achieves single-core scores around 3000-3100 and multi-core scores between 19000-21000, indicating that the N1X demonstrates competitive performance, with the planned revisions.
The NVIDIA N1 series is expected to encompass multiple chip variants, with the N1X targeted at the Enterprise/Commercial segment, the N1C catering to the consumer market, and an for niche applications. for niche applications. Initial expectations for these chips included AI TOPs performance in the range of 180-200, but the final configurations and performance metrics are subject to change due to ongoing design revisions.
Upon its eventual launch, the NVIDIA N1 series will enter a competitive landscape, vying for market share against established players such as AMD’s “Ryzen AI MAX,” Apple’s M4, and Intel’s AX series. These chips are poised to play a significant role in the evolving “AI PC” market in the coming years. Further details regarding the N1X and the broader N1 series are expected to be unveiled at CES 2026.
