What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
Google Willow and IBM Heron are both superconducting quantum processors, but they are intended to prove different things. Willow’s headline result is a below-threshold surface-code experiment in which enlarging the code reduced the logical error rate. Heron is a processor family focused on low physical-gate errors, tunable couplers, signal delivery, and integration into IBM’s modular System Two and cloud platform. Willow has 105 physical qubits; the documented Heron r2 generation has 156. Neither count, by itself, identifies a universal winner.
Willow and Heron at a glance
The most useful comparison separates three layers that are often mixed together: the number of physical qubits on the chip, the quality of individual operations, and the progress toward a logical qubit that actively corrects errors. Willow’s public milestone is primarily at the third layer. Heron’s published specifications and product positioning are primarily at the first two layers and at system integration.
| Characteristic | Google Willow | IBM Heron |
|---|---|---|
| Processor status | Single 105-qubit superconducting processor announced December 9, 2024 | Processor family; IBM documents a 133-qubit r1 generation and a 156-qubit r2 generation |
| Public headline | Below-threshold surface-code error-correction experiment | High-performance physical processor and building block for modular System Two |
| Qubit count cited here | 105 physical qubits | 156 physical qubits in documented r2; 133 in r1 |
| Published error figure | Mean simultaneous single-qubit gate error of 0.035% ± 0.029% on the specification sheet | Best two-qubit gate error of 8 × 10−4, measured by randomized benchmarking |
| Control and connectivity emphasis | Surface-code lattice with integrated control and readout performance | Fixed-frequency superconducting qubits, tunable couplers, and signal-delivery improvements |
| Scaling path described publicly | Increase surface-code size and lower logical error rates | Combine processors in System Two and expose them through IBM’s cloud-accessible fleet |
IBM’s processor documentation describes the Heron family and its generations at IBM Quantum’s processor guide. Google’s explanation of Willow’s error-correction result appears in Google Research’s Willow announcement.
What Willow is designed to demonstrate
A 105-qubit chip built around a logical-qubit milestone
Google announced Willow on December 9, 2024, as a 105-qubit superconducting processor. The chip matters less because 105 is a large integer than because Google used it to test whether a surface-code error-correction architecture improves as it grows. In a fault-tolerant design, many noisy physical qubits are combined to represent a smaller logical qubit. The central engineering question is whether adding the next layer of physical qubits suppresses errors faster than it introduces new opportunities for failure.
Popular on Amazon
- Powerful Turbo Fan:CAGIWIRU Electric Air Duster have reached speed up to 130000RPM,Can efficient remove dust and debris.With LED light and Three Adjustable Speed to meet with different cleaning tasks.
- With Attached USB C Fasting Charging cable.Charing 3 hours,Enjoy up to 240 minutes of use on the lowest setting, For third speed can use for 25mins.with four charging options to meet with your needs.
- Wide Application: attached 5 different nozzles,making it suitable for a variety of scenes, such as car,pet, pc, keyboards, and other electronic devices. It also serves for office and home clean duster.
- Handy Design & Portable:Cordless air duster electric nozzle is Light weight and small size, design and comfortable to hold and space saving, convenient to carry around. You can put it in your room or inside the car without taking up space.
- Economical &Reusable: Built durable materials with a long-lasting battery,our CAGIWIRU air duster it's a sustainable alternative to disposable air cans.
Google reports that Willow crossed the relevant surface-code threshold in its experiment: when the code was scaled to larger sizes, the logical error rate went down rather than up. That direction of change is the crucial result. A processor can have excellent individual gates and still be unable to produce a useful logical qubit if error correction gets worse at larger code sizes.
What “below threshold” means
The surface-code threshold is not a single marketing score for a chip. It is a boundary in an error-correction scheme. Below the threshold, the effective physical error rates are low enough, and the operations are controlled well enough, that increasing the code distance can reduce the probability that an encoded logical operation fails. Above the threshold, adding more physical qubits to the same code does not deliver that benefit.
Willow’s result therefore demonstrates a scaling trend, not a finished fault-tolerant computer. The announcement calls the system a prototype for a scalable logical qubit. It does not mean that Willow can run arbitrary long algorithms without error, nor that the chip has converted all 105 physical qubits into one production-ready logical qubit.
Willow’s other published performance information
Google also reports random-circuit-sampling performance for Willow. That benchmark indicates how quickly a particular processor can generate samples from a deliberately difficult circuit, but it is not the same measurement as the surface-code logical-error experiment. The Willow specification sheet lists a mean simultaneous single-qubit gate error of 0.035% ± 0.029%. The figure is a processor specification, while the below-threshold claim concerns how encoded errors change as the surface-code size increases.
What Heron is designed to demonstrate
A family rather than one fixed chip
“Heron” refers to a family of IBM processors. IBM’s documentation lists an earlier 133-qubit r1 generation and a 156-qubit r2 generation. When someone asks whether Heron has more qubits than Willow, the precise answer is yes for the documented r2 generation: 156 versus 105. The comparison must identify the Heron revision, because the family includes more than one generation.
Also popular on Amazon
- Screen Cleaner is Your Screen’s New Bestfriend! - EVEO is proud to present a screen cleaner that’s perfectly suited for your TV. Meet your new screen cleaner, computer screen cleaner, laptop cleaner, iPad cleaner, Macbook,tv cleaner or any other electronic device. Our screen cleaner spray and wipe along with the included plush microfiber cloth, easily removes dust, fingerprints & other smudges on the screen’s surface. Clean effectively for a streak-free screen
- Gentle on your Screens - Our screen cleaner spray and wipes is compatible to be used even for the most sensitive LCD, LED, CRT, and OLED screens in proper use. Be at ease knowing that this product is compatible with all the major brands: LG, SONY, Samsung, Sharp, iPad, iPhone, Android screens, Kindle, PC monitors - we’ve got you covered! Can be used as LCD screen cleaner, tv cleaner, smart tv screen cleaner, and more
- Premium Super Soft Plush Microfiber Cloth - Included in this efficient screen cleaning kit. This screen cleaner spray and wipe has our signature plush microfiber cloth specially designed to comply with screens and monitors and leave them streak-free. Has been shown to effectively absorbs stubborn stains, zero streaks, and no fiber shedding. Always use this together with our screen cleaner for the best results
- Easy-to-Use Screen Cleaner Kit + microfiber cleaning cloth - The EVEO Screen Cleaning Kit will easily be your new favorite tool when it comes to taking care of the things you love most, quick and easy solution for a streak-free screen. Simply screw on the sprayer gun on the screen cleaner bottle. Spray the cleaning liquid onto the microfiber cloth, then wipe the screen until desired cleanliness & shine is achieved.
- Quality Screen Care Kit Worth Purchasing - Enjoy a convenient Screen Cleaner anytime, anywhere you need it. Your satisfaction is our top priority. We stand behind the quality of our products and that’s why, you shouldn’t be worrying at all. We manufacture the Best Screen Cleaner. and can be used for laptop cleaning kit, laptop screen cleaner, tv screen cleaner for smart tv. MacBook screen cleaner, monitor cleaner or screen cleaner spray for electronic devices with microfiber cleaning cloth
IBM describes Heron as an Eagle-sized upgrade to Egret that incorporates signal-delivery innovations previously deployed in Osprey. The emphasis is on making a high-performance processor that can operate as part of a larger service, not solely on demonstrating one surface-code scaling curve.
Fixed-frequency qubits and tunable couplers
IBM’s public hardware approach uses fixed-frequency superconducting qubits connected through tunable couplers. A coupler is the controllable interaction element that lets neighboring qubits exchange information for two-qubit operations while reducing unwanted interactions when that connection is not being used. IBM highlights this coupling arrangement alongside improvements in how control signals are delivered to the chip.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Those design choices target the physical layer: reliable two-qubit operations, manageable crosstalk, and control electronics that can support a larger processor. They are important ingredients for error correction, but they are not themselves a claim that Heron has achieved Willow’s below-threshold surface-code result.
Heron’s published two-qubit metric
IBM’s 2024 annual research letter reports a best two-qubit gate error rate of 8 × 10−4 for its 156-qubit Heron chip, measured using randomized benchmarking. That is a physical-operation metric. Randomized benchmarking estimates how errors accumulate in a selected family of gates under a defined test protocol; it does not directly report the logical error rate of a surface-code qubit.
The distinction matters when reading headlines. A low two-qubit gate error can make an error-correcting architecture more practical, but it cannot be converted directly into a Willow-style logical-error result without knowing the code, decoder, measurement cycle, connectivity, leakage behavior, and other system details.
Also popular on Amazon
- 【Large size】：Measuring 800 x 300 mm/ 31. 5×12 inches, which is wider and taller than others. Large mouse pad can perfectly fit your keyboard and mouse of any size, and there is also ample space for peripherals such as phones, tablets, etc.
- 【LED backlight mouse pad】：Blade Hawks RGB mouse pad provides 7 static modes and 7 dynamic modes will give you the options you are looking for. Power-off memory function remembers the last lighting mode you selected. The super glow fiber Chroma will give you a colorful gaming setup that you want.
- 【Anti-slip rubber base】：Made from Natural rubber, this gaming mousepad will firmly grip your desktop, allowing you to enjoy the ultimate precision in the games you are most passionate about. It also comes with a texture that enhances this ability even further.
- 【Smooth and waterproof surface】: Micro-textured cloth surface, for extremely precise mouse control and a smooth movement. When liquid splashes on the gaming mouse pad, it forms water droplets and slides down. Will not delay your work or gameplay.
- 【Plug and play】: This mouse and keyboard pad is powered by USB, plug and play, no driver required. One button control light modes. Press one time to change the lighting mode, press twice to change the brightness, press and hold about 3 seconds turn ON/OFF.
Why the qubit count does not decide which chip is better
Physical qubits are the raw devices on a chip. Logical qubits use groups of physical qubits plus repeated measurements and classical decoding to protect quantum information. The overhead can be substantial, so a chip with more physical qubits may still produce fewer logical qubits—or none that meet a target error rate—than a smaller chip with better operating margins.
- More physical qubits can increase capacity: a larger array may provide room for more encoded qubits, more routing options, or larger error-correcting codes.
- More qubits also create more failure opportunities: every additional qubit, coupling element, measurement channel, and control path must remain within the architecture’s error budget.
- Connectivity changes the overhead: the physical layout determines how many operations are needed to move information or perform stabilizer checks.
- Calibration and control matter: a nominal qubit count says nothing about how uniformly the devices perform across the chip or how stable that performance remains.
For that reason, “Heron has 156 qubits, so it beats Willow” is not a valid conclusion. The two processors publish different kinds of evidence about different objectives.
The error numbers answer different questions
| Metric | Willow figure | Heron figure | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-qubit gate error | 0.035% ± 0.029% mean simultaneous error, from Google’s 2024 specification sheet | Not stated in the cited Heron material | How accurately one-qubit operations perform under the stated simultaneous-gate measurement |
| Two-qubit gate error | Not stated in the cited Willow material | 8 × 10−4 best value for the 156-qubit chip, measured by randomized benchmarking in IBM’s 2024 annual research letter | How accurately selected two-qubit operations perform under IBM’s benchmarking protocol |
| Logical error scaling | Google reports that increasing the surface-code size reduced the logical error rate | No equivalent below-threshold Heron result is stated in the cited material | Whether the error-correction architecture improves as its code grows |
| Random-circuit sampling | Reported by Google for Willow | Not stated in the cited material | Performance on a specific sampling benchmark, not a universal application score |
Because the tests use different units, protocols, and targets, there is no honest single ranking that combines 0.035%, 8 × 10−4, and a below-threshold trend. A reader comparing processors should first ask whether the goal is a physical gate, an encoded logical operation, a sampling benchmark, or access to a larger modular system.
Is Willow’s error correction different from IBM’s approach?
Willow: prove that scaling the code helps
Willow’s public result centers on a surface-code lattice. Google varied the code size and observed a falling logical error rate, which is the behavior required for a scalable error-correction path. The claim is architectural: the processor and its control stack operated well enough for the encoded system to move below threshold.
Heron: improve the physical processor and system around it
Heron’s cited public description emphasizes tunable couplers, signal delivery, physical gate performance, and modular integration. These are enabling technologies for fault-tolerant operation, but the cited Heron material does not report the same surface-code scaling experiment or a corresponding below-threshold logical-error curve.
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallAlso popular on Amazon
- 【Softer and More Comfortable】Vaydeer wrist rest has unique diamond pattern, which is the combination of softness and aesthetics. The materials of wrist rest are improved into higher quality memory foam and covered with silky smooth lycra. The computer wrist rest makes you as comfortable and cushiony as like rest your wrists on clouds.
- 【Ergonomic Wrist Saver】The wrist rests for keyboard and mouse comes with a 17.32×3.15×0.83 inch keyboard wrist pad and a 5.94×3.15×0.83 inch mouse wrist support. Based on ergonomic design, the unique concave shape is the perfect fit for your wrist joints. The wrist rest pad fits most computer keyboards and laptops, improve hand and wrist posture, release your wrist and arm stress.
- 【Non-Slip Rubber Bottom】Featuring an anti-skid silicone base on the bottom, this wrist keyboard support stays firmly in place on your desk, preventing the padding from sliding around, ensuring stable and consistent wrist support during extended computer sessions.
- 【Better Experience & Pain Relief】Our keyboard arm rest is beneficial to alleviate the soreness caused by direct contact and friction between your arm and a hard desk surface, reducing the risk of wrist fatigue or carpal tunnel. The soft texture of memory foam can evenly distribute the pressure around your wrists and provide good support with just enough give.
- 【Helpful in Multiple Scenarios】Whether you're working, studying, writing, typing, gaming, this keyboard and mouse rest combo is an essential accessory to add comfort and support to your hands and wrists. It’s also a great gift for men, women, family, friend, coworker, gamer, teacher, etc.
That does not establish that IBM has no error-correction work. It establishes only that the published Heron figures used here support a different comparison. Willow supplies direct evidence about one error-correction milestone; Heron supplies direct evidence about physical processor performance and the path to a modular system.
How the two scaling paths differ
Google’s code-first scaling path
- Arrange physical qubits in the surface-code layout.
- Run repeated checks that detect error syndromes without directly measuring the protected quantum information.
- Decode those check results to infer and correct likely errors.
- Increase the code size and verify that the logical error rate decreases.
The important output is not simply a larger chip. It is evidence that additional physical resources buy a more reliable encoded qubit. Google describes Willow’s below-threshold behavior as the strongest prototype in its program to date for a scalable logical qubit.
IBM’s processor-and-module scaling path
- Improve the physical processor’s two-qubit operations and signal delivery.
- Use tunable couplers to control interactions between fixed-frequency qubits.
- Integrate Heron processors into System Two’s modular architecture.
- Expose processors through IBM’s cloud-accessible fleet and software stack.
This path treats the processor as one module in a broader system. Its success depends on the quality of each chip and on the links, controls, scheduling, calibration, and software that let multiple modules work together. The Heron documentation positions the family as a foundation for that system approach.
Which processor is better for a particular goal?
| If your priority is… | The better-supported fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Studying whether a surface-code experiment is below threshold | Willow | Google reports the defining result: logical error rate decreased as code size increased. |
| Comparing the largest cited physical-qubit count | Heron r2 | The documented r2 generation has 156 physical qubits versus Willow’s 105. |
| Evaluating a published two-qubit gate benchmark | Heron | IBM reports a best 8 × 10−4 two-qubit error rate from randomized benchmarking. |
| Evaluating the cited simultaneous single-qubit specification | Willow | Google lists a 0.035% ± 0.029% mean simultaneous single-qubit gate error. |
| Following a modular hardware and cloud-access strategy | Heron | IBM positions Heron inside System Two and its cloud-accessible processor fleet. |
| Choosing a universal winner for an unspecified application | Neither can be declared | The published measurements target different layers and do not establish workload-specific application performance. |
If you are selecting a processor for a real algorithm, define the workload before comparing chips. A circuit dominated by two-qubit interactions may be more sensitive to Heron’s reported two-qubit benchmark. An investigation of logical protection may care more about Willow’s surface-code scaling. A cloud experiment may depend on which processor revision, queue, software interface, and system configuration is actually available at the time of use.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsHow to compare Willow and Heron without being misled
Check the generation and date
Use “Heron r2” when referring to the 156-qubit figure, and keep Willow’s December 9, 2024 announcement date attached to its 105-qubit specification. Processor families change; a family name without a revision can conceal a different qubit count or calibration result.
Also popular on Amazon
- 【No Drill Mounted】Cable management tray can be assembled in as little as 3 minutes or less-simply. Side clips easily clampe the edge of desk, pass through the holes on the sides, and secure excess cables with baskets. Desk cable management supports inward or outward installation to meet your needs in different scenarios, and provides you with great convenience when collecting and organizing wires.
- 【Rubber Pad Protects Desk】Wire organizer under desk built-in soft rubber pads on the clamp protect your desk from scratches, so you will not damage your furniture or office.
- 【Sturdy and Beautiful】Cord management under desk is made of high-quality carbon steel and holds about 15 lbs. The wire basket has 2 holes on each side of the tray to enable your cables to pass freely. Cable baskets are suitable for desk thickness use from 0.4" to 2.4".
- 【Space Saving & Keep Organized】Desk cable management tray holds all your power cords, outlet strips, USB hubs and computer transformers hidden from your feet, and the data cables will not enter the vacuum cleaner to keep your desk clean and tidy. Desk wire organizer is also suitable for use in the kitchen and outdoors.
- 【Reduce Safety Risks】Cable tray under desk keeps all plugs away from your kids, no more worry about tripping. Using 2 holes wire tray saves extra space, helps you easily cabling and wire protection. The mesh design is not easy to accumulate dust, but avoids safety accidents caused by messy wires.
Keep physical and logical metrics separate
Write down whether each number describes a physical gate, an encoded operation, a sampling task, or a system-level throughput measurement. Do not place values from those categories in one league table as though they were interchangeable.
Ask what was measured simultaneously
Google’s 0.035% ± 0.029% figure is a mean simultaneous single-qubit gate error. IBM’s 8 × 10−4 figure is a best two-qubit result from randomized benchmarking. “Mean” versus “best,” single-qubit versus two-qubit, and simultaneous operation versus benchmarking protocol each change the interpretation.
Look for a scaling curve, not only a peak specification
A peak gate number shows what the best-performing operation achieved under a stated test. A scaling curve shows whether the architecture continues to improve as more resources are added. Willow’s public distinction is the latter; Heron’s cited distinction is the former plus modular-system integration.
Recommended Free Tools
What neither result proves
- Willow is not presented as a general-purpose, fully fault-tolerant quantum computer.
- Heron’s larger physical-qubit count does not prove a lower logical error rate or better application performance.
- The Willow and Heron error percentages cannot be converted into one common score without equivalent test definitions.
- A below-threshold experiment does not remove the engineering work needed for larger codes, more logical qubits, fault-tolerant gates, decoding, and system control.
- A strong physical-gate benchmark does not by itself demonstrate that an entire logical architecture is below threshold.
Access and practical use
Heron processors are documented as part of IBM’s cloud-accessible platform, so users who want to run circuits should check the current IBM Quantum service documentation for which Heron revision and execution options are available to their account. Availability, queue behavior, calibration data, and software support can change independently of the chip’s headline specifications.
Willow’s published announcement is primarily a hardware and error-correction result. The material cited here does not establish a general public programming route to a Willow chip, so it would be incorrect to assume that the 105-qubit processor is available on demand in the same way as a cloud fleet.
Bottom line: different approaches, not a single winner
Willow and Heron represent two complementary priorities in superconducting quantum engineering. Willow’s strongest public evidence is that a surface-code experiment became more reliable as the code grew, a necessary condition for scalable logical qubits. Heron’s strongest public evidence is a 156-qubit r2 processor with a reported best two-qubit gate error of 8 × 10−4, tunable-coupler and signal-delivery improvements, and a role in IBM’s modular System Two strategy.
Choose Willow when the question is whether an error-correcting code is beginning to suppress logical errors. Choose Heron when the question concerns the documented physical-qubit count, the cited two-qubit gate benchmark, or IBM’s modular and cloud integration. For any specific algorithm, the responsible answer remains workload-dependent because the two platforms publish different measurements rather than a common application benchmark.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
