Intel's been aiming at a x86 CPU to compete with ARM chips (which dominate the smartphone market) for a while now, and it looks like they may have finally got there.
Interesting time coming, considering that Windows 8 will have both ARM and x86 support.

Whilst their Atom series CPUs have been around for a while, they've typically had ~2W power draws, compared to sub-watt power typically seen in ARM chips, but this release apparently is more competitive in terms of power.


(Intel avoids putting in names for some reason, apparently they represent: HTC Sensation, Motorola Droid 3, iPhone 4S, LG Optimus 2X and Samsung Galaxy S 2)


Browser benchmarks aren't bad either:



Article: http://www.anandtech.com/show/5365/intel...martphones

x86 on a phone may have some interesting prospects, such as native compatibility with desktop applications, however I really do wonder whether people want to be running desktop applications on their phone.  I guess it may help developers with applications which have highly optimised x86 ASM run on phones.
Wonder if AMD will do anything with its Bobcat platform...