AMD SmartShift will only feature in one laptop this year

Announced at CES 2020, AMD SmartShift is a technology that dynamically shifts power between the CPU and GPU depending on the situation, which should enable higher performance. However, the technology is yet to really take off, and now the Chief Architect of Gaming Solutions at AMD has said that only one laptop model will utilise SmartShift in 2020.

Even if a laptop is built with all-AMD components, it isn't a guarantee that it will be compatible with SmartShift, as other factors – like a laptop's cooling system – are also at play. In a nutshell, it seems like it's quite a delicate art to design a laptop that will actually support the technology, since the Dell G5 SE is the only machine expected to support SmartShift, at least until next year. AMD says that the technology can squeeze out up to 14% better performance when enabled.

It's a brand new technology and to @dell credit they jumped on it first. I explained reasons why during my interview with @pcworld @Gordonung @BradChacos No more SmartShift laptops are coming this year but the team is working hard on having more options ASAP for 2021.

— Frank Azor (@AzorFrank) June 4, 2020

Posted on Twitter, Frank Azor, Chief Architect of Gaming Solutions at AMD, said that SmartShift is a “brand new technology” and that Dell was first to jump on the new feature. However, Azor also said that AMD is working hard to make the technology available in more laptops during 2021. It remains to be seen which companies and how many models that will start supporting AMD SmartShift next year.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: What do you think will happen to SmartShift technology in the future? 

Become a Patron!