Qualcomm, Nvidia and Broadcom 64-bit processors to appear at CES 2014

Apple introduced the iPhone 5S with the 64-bit A7 processor under the hood earlier this year and the entire Android world has been under pressure ever since. Obviously, the problem lies in the hardware running the operating system and not the software layer, since Android is based on Linux whose kernel has been able to handle 64-bit processing for a very long time.

According to industry observers who spoke to DigiTimes all relevant chip makers are set to introduce 64-bit quad-core processors for handsets next year including the big names like Broadcom, Nvidia and Qualcomm. The sources say these three companies "have revamped their product roadmaps for 2014, aiming to release 64-bit smartphone solutions in the first half of 2014." Budget chipmaker MediaTek could delay the launch of these quad-core chips for the second half of the year, as it is currently focusing on octa-core mobile processors.

While the roll out dates of these new chips are far from official, January's CES 2014 in Las Vegas is the earliest time and place to see them coming to life. Even if this proves to be true it may take at least a few months to see the first 64-bit Android handsets showing up but this remains to be seen.