Quantum computing represents the future of high-speed calculation, able to solve complex optimization and simulation problems intractable for classical machines. But what price tags come attached to these revolutionary devices now coming onto the commercial market? What quantum computers are or will be available for purchase, and at what cost?
Quantum Computer Price – Today and Predicted
Today’s quantum computers sit at the cutting edge of technological possibility, requiring ultra-precise engineering and exotic cooling systems to leverage quantum effects. As the only two commercially for sale, IBM’s Quantum System One likely costs multiple millions for purchase and installation while IonQ quotes in the low-to-mid millions per system.
Top cloud access to pioneers like IBM and IonQ runs $5,000 to $10,000 a month currently. But usage-based pricing models are emerging to lower costs over time as hardware scales up.
Industry projections estimate quantum computers could see total costs drop to the $200,000-$500,000 range for subscription access by 2024. Purchase prices for bleeding-edge proprietary systems likely still reach the multi-million level but continue trending down.
10 Quantum Computers You Can Buy in 2024
Projecting quantum scaling trends out to 2024, experts expect buyers will have more options at expanded scales. Here are 10 commercially available quantum computers expected to be purchasable based on public company roadmaps:
1. IBM Quantum Computer
IBM Osprey – IBM’s next-generation quantum processor, announced to have 433 qubits by late 2023. It would be accessible via the IBM Quantum cloud or purchasable by select businesses and research groups for gate-model quantum algorithms.
2. IonQ Quantum Computer
IonQ Aria – While not publicly announced, experts predict IonQ will launch a modular trapped-ion based quantum computer in the 2023-2024 timeframe. If achieved, this system could reach a scale of 500-1,000+ qubits, enabling more complex quantum computations.
3. Amazon Quantum Computer
Amazon Quantum Solutions – Amazon’s quantum hardware efforts remain largely under wraps but should crystallize into purchasable offerings by 2024 as part of its Amazon Braket quantum service.
4. Rigetti Quantum Computer
Rigetti QPU – Quantum computing startup Rigetti aims to deliver a 1,000+ qubit quantum processor by 2024-2025 through its modular, multi-chip architecture. It would offer both cloud access and dedicated systems.
5. Quantum Brilliance Quantum Computer
Quantum Brilliance Diamond QPU – This startup uses diamonds for quantum computing processors. While Quantum Brilliance has not publicly announced plans to sell devices by 2024, experts anticipate specialized diamond quantum accelerators from them in the coming years ideal for optimization and quantum machine learning.
6. Rosenberger AES Quantum Computer
Rosenberger AES Quantum Computer – A Germany-based company working on commercially available quantum computers, with plans to allow purchasable processor access by 2024. But concrete details have not yet been shared publicly.
7. D-Wave Quantum Computer
D-Wave Quantum Annealer – D-Wave’s quantum annealing computers for optimization tasks should reach 5,000+ qubits in 2023-2024, sold to select pioneering businesses.
8. Fujitsu Quantum Computer
Fujitsu Quantum Computing System – Fujitsu projects the commercialization of a 64-qubit digital quantum computer by 2024 as well as hybrid quantum-classical cloud services.
9. small-scale Quantum Computer
Universal Quantum Computer Qubit Pro – While lagging major players, this startup expects to sell small-scale but universal cloud-accessed quantum processors by 2024.
10. Pasqal Quantum Computer
Pasqal Quantum Processing Unit – French company Pasqal focuses on neutral atom technology for quantum computing and aims to allow purchasable processor access by 2024.
Quantum Computer Public Availability – An Expert’s View
With quantum systems now crossing into the commercial domain, questions persist around practical access and usage for most organizations. To shed light on this issue, we spoke with a physicist leading quantum computing research at one of the national laboratories in the United States.
“While recent quantum devices represent huge accomplishments, they remain small and temperamental compared to the fault-tolerant machines we can envision down the road,” he comments. “I compare them to the room-filling mainframes of early classical computing.”
He estimates that, while now commercially accessible in theory, requirements for cryogenic temperatures, electromagnetic shielding, specialized facilities, and expert operations teams limit near-term purchase capacity to technology giants, top research institutions, and government agencies. Significant stabilization and scale-up of quantum technology awaits.
“Give it at least 5 years before we see cloud-based ‘Quantum Computing as a Service’ offerings at mainstream availability,” he predicts. “And longer before these systems have sufficient coherence time and qubits to provide an unambiguous quantum advantage for practical applications.”
So while pioneering quantum computers now available harbor immense promise, their specialized upkeep and fragility make broad public and enterprise availability a longer-term prospect according to experts. Widespread access awaits both technological improvements and cloud services as middleware and virtualization protocols mature in the coming years.
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