AMD’s Soundwave APUs Reportedly Headed for Microsoft Surface Laptops

AMD is reportedly preparing to bring its first Arm-based CPUs in more than a decade to Microsoft Surface laptops, using chips codenamed Soundwave. The report says the plan would put AMD in competition for devices positioned around the value of Apple’s MacBook Neo, though it provides no pricing details.

Soundwave was first spotted in 2024 as a next-generation 3nm APU design, according to Wccftech. More details emerged about a year later, when the project was described as AMD’s attempt to enter the Arm ecosystem.

The chips were initially expected to appear in Microsoft’s 2026 Surface lineup, but the report says those plans have since changed. It does not specify a revised launch date or explain how the change affects the Surface lineup. Microsoft currently uses Snapdragon processors in its Surface range, the report says.

The reported move would mark a return to Arm for AMD after more than a decade. The source does not provide confirmed specifications, pricing, or a launch timeline for Soundwave, so its potential role in Surface laptops remains uncertain.