ARM CPUs – Future Expectations

Strengths:

• Mature Ecosystem: ARM has decades of development, with robust tools, software support, and deep integration in mobile, embedded, and even cloud computing (like AWS Graviton).

• Licensing Model: ARM makes money by licensing its IP, which helps ensure quality control and steady development.

• Strong Backing: Owned by SoftBank and recently IPO'd, it’s supported by big players like Apple, Qualcomm, NVIDIA (which tried to acquire it), and others.

Future Outlook:

• Likely to remain dominant in smartphones, tablets, and embedded systems.

• Will expand in data centers (e.g., AWS, Ampere CPUs).

• Continues to innovate with performance-per-watt leadership.

RISC-V – Future Expectations

Strengths:

• Open Source ISA: Free to use without paying royalties—very attractive for startups and governments.

• Customizability: Developers can create custom instructions for specific tasks.

• Growing Adoption: Countries like China and India are investing in RISC-V to reduce reliance on Western tech.

• Expanding Ecosystem: Now has compilers, OS support (Linux, RTOS), and even high-performance chips.

Future Outlook:

• Expected to dominate IoT, academic research, and specialized embedded systems.

• Could threaten ARM’s low-power embedded market in the long term.

• Needs more maturity for high-performance applications, but it's catching up fast.

Who Will Be More Successful?

Conclusion:

• Short-Term (next 5 years): ARM will likely stay ahead in performance and commercial adoption.

• Long-Term (10+ years): RISC-V may disrupt many ARM markets, especially in IoT, open hardware, and even data centers—if its ecosystem continues to grow.