MediaTek has entered the growing AI laptop market with a new processor designed for thin and lightweight Googlebook devices. The Dimensity CX C10 Max targets premium, ultra-portable laptops and is expected to appear in Googlebook models later this year.
The new chip puts AI performance at the centre of MediaTek’s latest laptop strategy, as manufacturers increasingly look for processors that can handle on-device AI features without sacrificing battery life or portability. The company is positioning the C10 Max alongside processors from Qualcomm, Intel and AMD in a market that has become increasingly focused on local AI processing.
MediaTek targets thin and fanless laptops
The Dimensity CX C10 Max is manufactured using TSMC’s 3nm process and uses an “All Big Core” architecture. The design combines an eight-core CPU with an 11-core GPU and is intended for thin, lightweight and fanless laptops where power efficiency is particularly important.
MediaTek has also equipped the processor with its eighth-generation NPU, known as the NPU 890. The neural processing unit can deliver up to 55 trillion operations per second, or 55 TOPS, for AI workloads. This is intended to provide enough processing capability for demanding AI functions to run locally on compatible devices.
The company says the C10 Max will support Google’s Gemini Intelligence features on future Googlebook laptops. These features are expected to include tools such as Magic Pointer, Create My Widget, cross-device Android integration and contextual AI assistance.
The focus on Google’s software ecosystem is also part of MediaTek’s broader relationship with the company. Vince Hu, MediaTek’s corporate vice president, linked the processor launch to the companies’ long-running collaboration, particularly around Android-based hardware. The new platform extends that relationship into a laptop category where AI capabilities are becoming increasingly important.
The processor is not limited to AI acceleration. MediaTek has included its Imagiq 1090 image signal processor, which is designed to improve camera processing and video-call quality. That could be particularly useful for premium portable laptops that are increasingly used for remote work, online meetings and video communication.
Connectivity is another major part of the platform. The C10 Max supports Wi-Fi 7 with speeds of up to 7.3Gbps, alongside Bluetooth 6.0. These technologies are intended to provide faster wireless connections and support a range of connected devices and peripherals.
C10 Max aims at Qualcomm, Intel and AMD
The 55 TOPS AI performance places the Dimensity CX C10 Max close to the leading processors designed for AI-focused laptops. Qualcomm’s first-generation Snapdragon X Plus, for example, offers up to 45 TOPS of NPU performance, while Intel’s Lunar Lake platform reaches around 48 TOPS.
AMD’s Ryzen AI 300 series sits in a similar range, with certain models reaching approximately 50–55 TOPS. Qualcomm has since increased its AI performance considerably with the Snapdragon X2 Plus, which can reach up to 80 TOPS. As a result, the C10 Max’s 55 TOPS rating gives MediaTek a strong position against several current-generation laptop processors, although raw TOPS figures do not necessarily translate directly into real-world performance.
The comparison highlights how quickly AI processing has become a major specification for laptop processors. Instead of relying entirely on cloud-based services, newer chips are increasingly designed to handle AI tasks directly on the device. This can reduce reliance on an internet connection and potentially improve response times while also helping with privacy for some workloads.
Apple’s M-series processors are also designed around efficient performance and on-device AI, although they operate within Apple’s hardware and software ecosystem. MacBooks and iPads use the processors for features associated with Apple Intelligence, making them part of the wider shift towards locally processed AI capabilities despite the different platforms involved.
For MediaTek, entering this market expands beyond its established position in smartphones and other connected devices. The company has increasingly focused on bringing its chip technology into new categories, including laptops and other computing products.
The C10 Max’s combination of CPU, GPU, NPU, connectivity and imaging technology suggests that MediaTek is aiming to provide manufacturers with a complete platform rather than an AI accelerator alone. That approach could make the processor suitable for premium portable machines where manufacturers want to balance performance, battery efficiency and compact designs.
Googlebook laptops are expected later this year
MediaTek has confirmed that Googlebook laptops using the Dimensity CX C10 Max are expected to arrive later this year. However, the company has not yet revealed which manufacturers will use the processor, nor has it provided a specific release date for the first devices.
The lack of a confirmed product means the C10 Max’s real-world performance and efficiency have yet to be established. Specifications such as TOPS provide a useful indication of an NPU’s theoretical AI capability, but actual performance can vary depending on software optimisation, memory, thermal limits and the specific AI applications being used.
The first Googlebook models powered by the processor will therefore provide a clearer indication of how MediaTek’s approach compares with competing platforms. Their battery life, sustained performance and ability to run Gemini-powered features locally will be particularly relevant for users considering AI-focused laptops.
The timing also places MediaTek’s new processor in an increasingly competitive laptop market. Qualcomm has continued to develop its Snapdragon X family, while Intel and AMD are adding stronger AI capabilities to their respective processor platforms. With Google also expanding its AI features across its ecosystem, laptop manufacturers have more reasons to consider dedicated AI hardware.
For users, the arrival of the C10 Max could bring another processor option to the premium Googlebook category. MediaTek has not yet provided pricing information or detailed specifications for the first laptops, so the overall positioning of the devices remains unclear.
More information is expected when manufacturers begin announcing their Googlebook products. Until then, the Dimensity CX C10 Max represents MediaTek’s entry into a laptop segment where dedicated AI processing, efficient designs and strong wireless connectivity are becoming increasingly central to new devices.
