Apple surprised the industry this year when it launched the iPhone 5s in September with a 64-bit chip. Now it looks like Android devices will also be gettin 64-bit chips starting early next year. Qualcomm, Nvidia, and Broadcom are already prepping 64-bit quad-core chips for introduction in Android devices.

Qualcomm, Nvidia and Broadcom are prepping s 64-bit quad-core chips for introduction in smartphones and tablets in the first half of 2014, reports Digitimes. The report aligns with ARM’s roadmap for 64-bit chips that will see its partners begin mass production of 64-bit chips using its Cortex-A57 and Cortex-A53 designs in early 2014. Although not mentioned in the report, Samsung is also expected to produce a 64-bit Exynos Octa chip for its forthcoming Galaxy S5 that will use ARM’s big.Little arrangement pairing four high-performance 64-bit cores with four low-power 64-bit cores.