Qualcomm Snapdragon X Chips: A Game Changer for Mid-Range Windows Laptops and Desktops
Qualcomm has unveiled its latest Snapdragon X series chip, designed to power mid-range Windows laptops and desktops. Unveiled at the 2025 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, this chip, built on a 4nm fabrication process, promises multi-day battery life and robust performance at an affordable price point.
The move signals Qualcomm’s attempt to capture a share of the mid-range PC market, going head-to-head with rivals like AMD and Intel. While there are still some software compatibility issues to iron out with Windows on Qualcomm’s architecture, the company has pressed ahead with launching these new processors.
Key Features of the Snapdragon X Chip
The Snapdragon X chip is designed to support AI-powered tools and applications, and it packs an Oryon CPU with 8 cores clocked up to 3GHz. It also includes a Neural Processing Unit (NPU), which is optimized for accelerating AI workloads.
Some of the other highlights of the Snapdragon X chip include:
- Bluetooth 5.4 compatibility
- Wi-Fi 7 support
- Ability to drive up to three external UHD (4K) monitors running at 60Hz
These features make Snapdragon X a powerful option for mid-range Windows PCs, including Copilot+ PCs, which are set to launch with Windows 11 and AI-driven applications at an estimated price of $600.
Qualcomm’s Push Into the Mid-Range PC Market
Snapdragon X will power Copilot+ PCs, Microsoft’s upcoming line of AI-driven Windows 11 laptops. These systems are set to be priced around $600, offering a powerful, yet affordable solution for users seeking an optimized AI experience. The chip’s NPU also enables efficient handling of machine learning tasks and complex AI operations, making it a strong contender in the mid-range market.
In addition to the NPU, the chip also comes equipped with Qualcomm’s proprietary image processing technology, which enhances video and image quality, providing a superior multimedia experience for users.
Major PC Brands to Adopt Snapdragon X
Snapdragon X will soon find its way into laptops from major PC brands, including Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, and Lenovo. These companies will adopt Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Platform, which includes Qualcomm’s A/V suite and enhanced image processing technologies.
Peter Burns, Senior Director of Product Marketing at Qualcomm, shared in a blog post that there are already over 60 Copilot+ PC designs in development or available, all powered by Snapdragon X. This shows the wide adoption of Qualcomm’s new chip, which could soon become a popular choice in mid-range PCs.
Snapdragon X and Desktop PCs: What’s Next?
Qualcomm has announced that in 2025, it will bring Snapdragon X series processors to desktops, marking a significant step in the company’s PC journey. While Qualcomm canceled its Windows-based mini PC last year, the move to desktop PCs with Snapdragon X will enable developers to leverage new design options and improved power efficiency.
These desktop PCs, powered by Snapdragon X, will offer NPU-accelerated features, allowing developers to create more efficient, powerful applications. This is a big step forward in terms of performance and energy efficiency for PCs running Windows on Qualcomm’s architecture.
Snapdragon X’s Market Challenges
Despite the promising features of the Snapdragon X chip, Qualcomm is facing significant challenges in the PC market. According to industry reports, Qualcomm captured just 0.8% of the PC market in Q3 2024. This highlights the tough competition it faces from Intel and AMD, which dominate the PC processor market.
However, Qualcomm has acknowledged these challenges and is working on improving software compatibility. As the company continues to optimize its platform and increase the availability of Windows apps on Snapdragon devices, the outlook for Snapdragon X may improve in the future.
Conclusion: Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X – Power and Potential
The Qualcomm Snapdragon X series represents a bold move into the mid-range PC market, offering a powerful combination of performance, multi-day battery life, and AI tools. If Qualcomm can improve its software compatibility and grow its market share, Snapdragon X could become a serious competitor to Intel and AMD in the coming years.
Further Resources
- For insights into Qualcomm’s financial outlook, check out Qualcomm Rekons Flogging $4 Billion.
- Learn more about Snapdragon X’s impact on the market with Snapdragon X Misses Out On AI PC Sales.
- Image Credits:Qualcomm
For more information on the cancellation of Qualcomm’s mini PCs, read Qualcomm Cancels Snapdragon X Elite Dev Kit.
