The arrival of Copilot+ PCs based on Qualcomm processors shook up the PC market in 2024. But until now, this offer was limited to high-end PCs. It’s time for Qualcomm to accelerate with a “Snapdragon X” processor for PCs under 600 euros!
The “Copilot+ PC” are one of the big stars of this new edition of CES in Las Vegas. We will come back to this at length at the end of the week with a summary of the machines presented. But many of these PCs will not be equipped with either Intel or AMD processors but rather ARM-based Qualcomm processors! According to the mobile chip creator, more than 60 Copilot+ compatible PC models (equipped with AI tools under Windows 11) based on its processors are already on the market or in development.
But until now, the penetration of “Copilot+ PC” with Qualcomm processors was restricted by the prices displayed. Machines equipped with “Snapdragon X Plus” and “Snapdragon
Today is the time for Qualcomm to extend its aura in the PC universe by taking on Intel and AMD on the entry-level PC market for less than 700 euros!
And without any real surprise Qualcomm took advantage of CES 2025 in Las Vegas to present its brand new “ Snapdragon X ”, with no “plus” or “elite” attached, an ARM processor aimed at entry- and mid-range laptops and desktops. Engraved in 4 nm, this SoC integrates eight Oryon cores clocked up to 3 GHz, a graphics chip announced at 1.7 teraflops and an NPU engine delivering 45 TOPS to accelerate the uses of artificial intelligence.
The autonomy advantage
Qualcomm promises significant performance gains: the Snapdragon The stated objective is to offer autonomy “of several days”, a differentiating advantage compared to classic x86 offers. In reality, the autonomy would be more like a real day. The real difference is that the “Snapdragon batteries (to approach 10 hours of autonomy).
Even if some software compatibility problems still remain, the progress of Windows on ARM is such that users are no longer really hampered by the switch to ARM architecture. Qualcomm emphasizes that the number of native Windows applications for Snapdragon has tripled in 2024. And the compatibility problems are now mainly linked to the support of video games, a sector which is absolutely not the one targeted by the new Snapdragon , it is at the GPU level that the Snapdragon
In addition to support for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4, the Snapdragon proprietary audio/video suites, as well as Qualcomm’s in-house imaging technology.
Availability and price
According to Qualcomm, the first devices equipped with Snapdragon At the same time, the company is also preparing “mini” and “tiny” desktop PCs, designed to take advantage of the low power consumption of its processors and the NPU engine.
Despite a market share estimated at only 0.8% in the third quarter of 2024, Qualcomm is stepping up initiatives to win against Intel and AMD. With Snapdragon The coming months will tell whether this strategy will actually allow it to gain ground on x86 machines.
