Qualcomm teases new Snapdragon X chip designed for affordable Windows laptops

In hopes to further disrupt the PC market, Qualcomm at its investor day summit on Tuesday revealed a new lineup of Snapdragon X processors specifically designed for sub- USD 600 (~Php35K) Windows PCs.

While the company hasn’t officially confirmed the core count, rumors suggest a six-core configuration with a peak clock speed of 3.2GHz.

Despite the lower core count, the new chips will feature the same 45 TOPS NPU capability as their higher-end counterparts. This ensures that these affordable laptops will be eligible for the Copilot+ PC badge, enabling a range of AI-powered features within Windows 11.

While Intel and AMD focus on premium segments with their upcoming Lunar Lake and AI Ryzen 300 series processors, Qualcomm’s strategy is to capture a significant market share in the budget and mid-range market.

However, the company’s recent foray into the premium segment with its Snapdragon X Elite has faced challenges. Poor software and game compatibility, along with underwhelming GPU performance, have hindered adoption.

It will be interesting to see if its new Snapdragon X chips can overcome these hurdles and successfully establish its name in the sub- USD 600 segment.