At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2025 in Las Vegas, Qualcomm unveiled its latest addition to the Snapdragon X Series family—the Snapdragon X chip. Designed for students, freelance professionals, and those mindful of their budget, the new processor is geared towards making laptops accessible starting at about $600.
The Snapdragon X (X1-26-100) is a modified version of its sibling, the Snapdragon X Plus, featuring the same 8-core count but with a maximum clock speed of 3.0 GHz and a GPU performance of 1.7 TFLOPs. In comparison, the X Plus series offers speeds between 3.2 to 3.4 GHz, with some models capable of boosting up to 4.0 GHz and their GPUs reaching between 1.7 to 3.8 TFLOPs.
Despite being a scaled-down iteration, the new Snapdragon X maintains the robust 45 TOPS neural processing unit (NPU), establishing it as a fully capable Copilot+ and AI PC with advanced AI features.
Since the launch of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite, it’s been noted that this lineup isn’t tied to a single processor. Qualcomm can tweak the platform by adjusting core counts and clock speeds. This flexibility is on display at CES 2025, where Qualcomm is smartly targeting an underserved market—Windows laptops priced under $800, traditionally plagued by subpar performance due to Intel and AMD offerings.
The Snapdragon X’s 8-core set-up at 3.0 GHz stands out, offering optional 5G capabilities, Wi-Fi 7, rapid 8448 MT/s LPDDR5x RAM, a "Sensing Hub" for presence detection, USB4 (40Gbps), and Bluetooth 5.4, features usually reserved for more premium laptops.
How Does Snapdragon X Compare to Other Snapdragon X Chips?
The Snapdragon X Plus series consists of four variants, ranging from 8 to 10 cores with speeds that include short boosts. The new Snapdragon X sticks to 8 cores without a boost, matching the GPU power of the lowest-tier X Plus (XIP-42-100).
In my brief experience with the Snapdragon X running Windows 11, system responsiveness was noticeably improved over older budget Intel chips, offering a much-needed boost in performance.
Considering how Qualcomm positions its chips, the Snapdragon X (X1-26-100) chip was directly pitted against Intel’s early 2024 Core 5 120U in terms of performance. Qualcomm used a custom reference-design laptop for comparison, alongside a $750 Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1 to represent Intel, both fitted with 8GB RAM.
From Qualcomm’s testing, the Snapdragon X is reportedly twice as powerful as the comparable Intel Core 5, while consuming half the power.
Why is the Snapdragon X a Big Deal?
Windows laptops within the $600 to $700 price range typically fall short, primarily from a lack of aggressive innovation from Intel in this segment. Battery life hasn’t been thrilling either.
Yet, the majority of laptops sold each year are in the $600 to $800 range. According to Grand View Research, this sector held a robust 35.8% market share in 2022 and is projected to grow even more by 2030. This trend points to consumers eyeing devices suitable for both personal and work tasks, in light of Windows 10’s looming support cutoff and improved budget processors enabling more for less.
The market expansion of Copilot+ PCs to include budget-friendly models ensures that AI advancements reach all users. The benefits of AI-enhanced PCs aren’t restricted to high-end models but available to the masses.
Switching to an Arm-architecture laptop powered by Snapdragon X could offer users an enjoyable experience compared to current budget options by Intel or AMD. Additionally, these laptops are expected to have improved battery life, possibly with minimal noise due to less reliance on fans for cooling.
Which PC Makers are Adopting Snapdragon X?
Several leading PC manufacturers, including Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, and Lenovo, are opting for the Snapdragon X Series in their laptops. Some are expected to unveil Snapdragon X integrations at CES 2025.
Who is Snapdragon X For?
Snapdragon X is aimed at meeting the needs of students, freelance workers, and budget-conscious users.
When Will Snapdragon X Windows Laptops Be Available?
The wait won’t be long, with Snapdragon X laptops scheduled to hit the market starting January 2025.
Could Microsoft Use Snapdragon X in its Surface Go Line?
Although unconfirmed, Microsoft could integrate the Snapdragon X in its more affordable Surface Go 4 and Surface Laptop Go 4 models in 2025, assuming those devices are developed. Such an update would significantly enhance their performance compared to prior Intel-based models.
What Comes Next?
Expect more details about the Snapdragon X throughout CES 2025 as Qualcomm provides further insights and hands-on experiences with its latest laptops.
