• The 45 TOPS NPU allows mainstream users to enjoy the latest Copilot+at an affordable price.
• Best-in-class power efficiency and outstanding battery life are key to attracting mainstream laptop users.
• Qualcomm continues to pave the way for Arm-based laptop vendors to enter the PC market.

Following the launch of laptops featuring its Snapdragon X Elite platform in June 2024, Qualcomm has introduced another laptop solution – Snapdragon X Plus 8-Core – at the ongoing IFA Berlin event. Representing Qualcomm’s continued innovation and efforts in the laptop market, the Snapdragon X Plus 8-Core emphasizes high performance and multitasking capabilities and is designed specifically for users with mobile working patterns. It is expected that this processor will further enhance laptop performance and optimize power consumption, providing users with a smoother experience.

45 TOPS NPU allows mainstream users to enjoy latest Copilot+ at affordable price

The Snapdragon X Plus 8-Core Oryon CPU-based solution offers uncompromised performance with a 45 TOPS Qualcomm Hexagon NPU to support Copilot+ and various AI applications. It also supports up to three external UHD 60Hz displays via the Qualcomm Adreno GPU, which features 1.7 TFLOPS of computing power. With LPDDR5x memory support and long battery life like other Snapdragon X platforms, this TSMC 4nm-based chip will enable more users to embrace Windows on Arm.

Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite Platforms Comparison

Sources: Qualcomm, Counterpoint Research

Although Qualcomm has not explicitly mentioned the price, we believe that this chip solution, based on its specifications, is aimed at the mainstream market ($500-$999). Taking into account the already released Snapdragon X laptop chips, we believe the X Elite will target high-end and flagship laptop models, while the X Plus will cater to both the high-end and mainstream laptop markets. This aligns with Qualcomm CEO Christiano Amon’s earlier statement that Qualcomm will provide comprehensive solutions for the PC market.

Best-in-class power efficiency, outstanding battery life key to mainstream users

The Snapdragon X Plus 8-Core offers best-in-class power efficiency and exceptional battery life, making it an ideal option for mainstream ($500-$999) laptop users who prioritize portability and long-lasting performance. The increasing demand for devices that can handle everyday tasks without frequent recharging is met by the Snapdragon X Plus 8-Core by delivering a seamless computing experience with minimal energy consumption. This makes it particularly appealing to some x86 laptop users without sacrificing performance or productivity.

Snapdragon X Plus will help Qualcomm gain exposure in mainstream AI advanced laptop marketAlthough Qualcomm’s newly launched X Plus 8-Core solution offers slightly low performance compared to the X Elite, we believe the X Plus is better suited to meet the needs of mainstream laptop users. According to Counterpoint, AI laptops will predominantly remain in the mainstream ($500-$999) and high-end ($1,000-$1,499) price ranges. Therefore, releasing different products tailored for various price segments not only makes Qualcomm's laptop chips more appealing to the mainstream market but also helps boost the penetration rate of Windows-on-Arm laptops.

Source: Counterpoint Research

Qualcomm continues to pave the way for Arm-based laptop vendors to enter PC market

Qualcomm continues to pave the way for Arm-based laptops to make significant inroads into the PC market. By consistently delivering cutting-edge processors to cover different laptop categories, Qualcomm is enabling manufacturers to develop highly efficient, lightweight and powerful laptops. These devices not only offer impressive performance but also longer battery life, making them more competitive against traditional x86-based devices. As more vendors adopt Qualcomm's Arm-based solutions, the PC industry will shift towards greater energy efficiency and computing performance in the AI PC era.

The first wave of PC vendors launching laptops equipped with the Snapdragon X Plus featuring eight performance cores includes Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo and Samsung. Some of these products are already available in the market, and we can expect more models to be released soon.

We reiterate our view that the second half of 2024 will witness the beginning of an AI PC boom and Windows on Arm gaining momentum. The X Plus launch could further solidify the AI PC ecosystem.