Glossary · Hardware

SoC (System on a Chip)

An SoC integrates the CPU, GPU, memory controller and other components onto a single chip, common in phones, tablets and some laptops.

Updated October 6, 2026

An SoC (System on a Chip) is an integrated circuit that combines a CPU, GPU, memory controller, connectivity and often AI or media accelerators on one piece of silicon. It is the core of most phones and tablets.

Why it matters

Putting components together saves space, lowers power draw and cuts cost, which is vital for battery-powered devices. Apple Silicon Macs and many single-board computers also use SoCs.

The tradeoff is limited upgradability, since memory and graphics are tied to the chip or package.

Example

A typical phone SoC might include:

- 8 CPU cores (big and small)
- integrated GPU
- image signal processor
- neural engine
- cellular and Wi-Fi modem

A desktop would spread these across separate chips and cards.

Common misconceptions

  • An SoC is just a CPU. It includes many other blocks.
  • SoC means weaker. Modern SoCs are very powerful.
  • You can swap the RAM on any SoC device. Often it is soldered or in the package.

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