Quantinuum Unveils 98-Qubit Helios With All-to-All Links and Low Error Rates
Updated
Updated · Scientific American · Jul 1
Quantinuum Unveils 98-Qubit Helios With All-to-All Links and Low Error Rates
3 articles · Updated · Scientific American · Jul 1
Summary
Helios combines 98 trapped-ion qubits with average single-qubit gate errors of about 2.5 in 100,000 and two-qubit errors of about 7.9 in 10,000, according to a Nature paper.
Those figures matter because useful quantum algorithms accumulate errors over thousands or millions of operations, making accuracy as important as raw qubit count; Quantinuum's previous largest system had 56 qubits.
Any qubit in Helios can interact with any other, avoiding the extra routing steps that nearest-neighbor machines need and reducing time and error for more complex algorithms.
The system uses a QCCD architecture with barium ions moved between storage and operation zones, plus software that dynamically routes ions and gates while a program is running.
Quantinuum said Helios can run random quantum circuits that are extremely hard to simulate classically, a benchmark that signals progress toward more capable quantum systems rather than broad commercial utility.
Helios boasts quality over quantity, but can this strategy win the quantum race against rivals with far more qubits?
What is the first real-world problem Helios will solve that today's best supercomputers and AI never could?
As quantum power grows, what is the plan to protect our digital world from being completely broken?
Quantinuum Helios Debuts: 98-Qubit Trapped-Ion Quantum Computer Sets New Accuracy Benchmark and Raises Security Stakes
Overview
On July 1, 2026, Quantinuum launched Helios, marking a pivotal advance in quantum computing. Helios stands out as the industry's most accurate general-purpose commercial quantum computer, thanks to its robust error correction capabilities. This breakthrough moves quantum computing beyond the limitations of noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) devices, enabling more reliable and complex computations. The launch of Helios signals a crucial shift from laboratory research to practical commercial applications, highlighting its commercial readiness and setting a new standard for real-world quantum technology.