Handset chip vendors including Qualcomm, Nvidia and Broadcom are reportedly set to roll out 64-bit quad-core solutions for smartphones during the first half of 2014, according to industry observers.

　　The planned 64-bit quad-core smartphone chips are expected to debut at CES 2014 at earliest, said the sources.

　　Although MediaTek has landed 8-core CPU orders from first-tier and second-tier China-based smartphone vendors, international smartphone brands are still conservative about the 8-core chips. Instead, international players are more concerned about the 64-bit A7 processor used in the iPhone 5s and are mapping plans to catch the iPhone 5s in terms of hardware specifications, revealed the sources.

　　To cope with demand from smartphone vendors, Qualcomm, Nvidia and Broadcom reportedly have revamped their product roadmaps for 2014, aiming to release 64-bit smartphone solutions in the first half of 2014, the sources added.

　　Since MediaTek has been focusing on 8-core chips recently, the Taiwan-based chipset provider may delay the launch of its 64-bit CPUs to the second half of 2014, the sources noted.