At CES 2025 in Las Vegas, Qualcomm made waves by unveiling its Snapdragon X series chips, aimed at revolutionizing the mid-range PC market.
Designed to power upcoming Windows 11 Copilot+ devices, these chips promise long-lasting battery life, impressive performance, and AI-driven capabilities, offering a strong challenge to industry giants like Intel and AMD.
Snapdragon X
Built on a 4nm process, the Snapdragon X chip incorporates Qualcomm’s Oryon CPU with eight cores clocked at up to 3GHz, balancing performance and energy efficiency.
Central to the chip’s design is the AI-powered NPU, which significantly enhances AI workloads, promising a smoother experience in both daily tasks and more demanding applications.
One of the most noteworthy aspects of the Snapdragon X is its multi-day battery life, a crucial feature for users who require portable, uninterrupted computing.
While Qualcomm faces challenges with Windows on ARM compatibility, particularly in expanding its market share, the company remains optimistic about overcoming these obstacles with its new products.
From Laptops to Desktops
Qualcomm is extending the Snapdragon X chip’s influence beyond laptops into desktop PCs, with a launch expected in 2025.
This expansion aims to offer energy-efficient ARM-based desktops, with potential benefits in terms of design flexibility and performance gains.
Major PC manufacturers like Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, and Lenovo are expected to incorporate Snapdragon X chips into their upcoming laptops, with the company also introducing a reference hardware program for easy integration.
AI-Powered Features
The Snapdragon X is more than just a chip; it’s a gateway to advanced AI capabilities. The NPU powers next-gen features like generative fill, camera effects, and AI-driven Windows tools.
With AI’s growing role in computing, Snapdragon X is poised to offer users faster, more efficient data processing.
The chip also supports Bluetooth 5.4, Wi-Fi 7, and multiple external display options, including three 4K monitors at 60Hz, catering to users who require top-tier connectivity and display options.
Moreover, Snapdragon X introduces Qualcomm’s Shared Widgets feature, enabling users to share widgets with friends and family, creating a more interactive and connected computing experience.
Snapdragon X vs. X Plus and X Elite
The Snapdragon X is positioned as the entry-level option in Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X series, below the X Plus and X Elite models.
With an 8-core Oryon CPU and 30MB of cache, the Snapdragon X sacrifices some performance compared to its higher-end counterparts, which offer more cores and larger cache sizes.
The Snapdragon X still supports impressive features like 45 TOPS AI processing, Wi-Fi 7, and USB 4.0 connectivity, making it a solid choice for budget-conscious users who need reliable performance for everyday tasks like web browsing, office work, and light video editing.
Priced to cater to the $600 range, the Snapdragon X aims to appeal to students, freelancers, and budget-conscious consumers.
This price point, combined with robust performance features, makes it an attractive alternative to more expensive options like Apple’s M4 chip, which offers fewer external display connections.
AI Capabilities and Software Support
With 45 TOPS of NPU processing power, the Snapdragon X offers advanced AI capabilities, including real-time translation, camera effects, and AI-powered features in the Photos app.
Qualcomm’s increasing focus on ARM-native app support will make Snapdragon X-powered devices even more efficient and seamless for everyday users.
Qualcomm in the Desktop Market
For the first time, the Snapdragon X will also power mini desktop PCs, marking a significant milestone in Qualcomm’s push into the desktop market.
By bringing its efficient ARM architecture to desktops, Qualcomm challenges traditional x86-based systems and offers a more energy-efficient alternative for developers, businesses, and home users.
A Catalyst for ARM-Powered Windows PCs
Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X chips are setting the stage for a shift in how mid-range Windows PCs are built.
With a focus on power efficiency, AI capabilities, and multi-device connectivity, the Snapdragon X represents a promising future for ARM-based PCs.
Qualcomm’s move into both the laptop and desktop markets signals a larger ambition to reshape the landscape of budget-friendly computing while encouraging further innovation in energy-efficient devices.
Growing ARM Ecosystem
Looking to the future, Qualcomm plans to expand its portfolio with the introduction of Copilot+ PCs—mid-range Windows 11 machines equipped with AI-powered tools and priced around $600.
While challenges remain in terms of software compatibility, Qualcomm’s growing ecosystem and commitment to AI-powered solutions indicate that Snapdragon X chips will play a crucial role in shaping the future of computing.
