2024 was a banner yr for Qualcomm at Computex, with the large launch of its Snapdragon X Elite laptop computer processors placing it on the forefront of the occasion. In truth, Qualcomm’s keynote presentation final yr was so spectacular that I declared them the winners of the occasion, with visitor stars from makes of lots of the finest laptops together with Microsoft, HP, Dell, and Asus showing alongside Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon.
Throughout right this moment’s keynote at Computex 2025, issues had been a little bit extra subdued. No thrilling chip bulletins right here; as an alternative, Amon received up on stage and mentioned the (admittedly fairly good) progress Qualcomm has made with the Snapdragon platform over the previous yr. A key issue he pointed to was the fast development in apps supported on the Snapdragon X Elite platform, together with the now 1,400+ video games which might be playable on Snapdragon laptops.
Very like final yr, Amon showcased Qualcomm’s spectacular pull within the Home windows computing market regardless of solely coming into the CPU struggle with Intel and AMD final yr. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella made a short look within the presentation, together with executives from Asus and HP.
There have been additionally some cheeky jabs at Intel and Apple (the latter relating to the truth that Fortnite is absolutely playable on Snapdragon {hardware}), plus the same old slew of company drivel about how AI is revolutionizing… one thing. Actually, I type of tuned out for a bit there, till Amon fired up a laptop computer reside on stage which proceeded to ask him (presumably human-curated) questions on Qualcomm’s AI {hardware} in a synthy robotic voice. Fairly cool, I suppose, however what actually caught my consideration was a teaser on the very finish of the keynote presentation.
What’s subsequent for Snapdragon
So, whereas we received no new chips from Qualcomm at Computex, it appears like we now have a tacitly introduced date for the following era of Snapdragon X systems-on-a-chip (SoCs). It’s September 23: the date of Qualcomm’s personal occasion, Snapdragon Summit, which is able to happen in Hawaii.
What precisely are we getting in September? Amon wouldn’t say, solely that “the revolution continues” and “I promise you that you will be impressed”. Nonetheless, there are some fairly cheap assumptions that I’m prepared to make right here.
Whereas naming conventions are nonetheless a bit up within the air (since we’re solely a single era into Qualcomm’s Home windows laptop computer chips), the present well-liked assumption is that the next-gen SoCs will use the ‘Snapdragon X2’ moniker, so I’ll simply go together with that right here. I count on the preliminary launch to characteristic each X2 Elite and X2 Plus chips for the premium and midrange laptop computer markets, with broad integration throughout nearly all of productiveness laptop computer producers; Dell’s XPS sequence, Asus’s Zenbooks, Lenovo’s Yoga line, the works.
A ‘basic’ Snapdragon X2 chip will probably comply with a bit additional down the road (just like how the Snapdragon X chip was introduced at CES in January this yr), offering a extra budget-conscious different. However I’m most concerned about the rumored 2nd-gen Snapdragon X Elite chip for desktops…
A desktop revolution?
Will we get a non-integrated Snapdragon X2 Elite? I wouldn’t fairly wager on that; to this point, we’ve solely seen Snapdragon chips in compact PCs from the likes of Lenovo. So don’t count on to see a 3rd possibility past Intel and AMD relating to motherboards for DIY PCs – however do count on extra mini PCs and programs just like the finest all-in-one computer systems.
Whereas ‘Team Q’ (nonetheless workshopping that title, I’m open to ideas!) may be a relative newcomer to this explicit trade enviornment, it’s made a severe influence. Cristiano Amon’s keynote included a considerably stunning statistic: as of final quarter, Qualcomm now holds about 9% of the built-in processor marketplace for the US and the highest 5 European markets. Contemplating the fierce competitors, it’s a significantly spectacular exhibiting.
Given how a lot Qualcomm modified the sport with the arrival of its first X Elite chips final yr, I feel using the phrase ‘revolution’ may truly be considerably justified right here. I don’t say that flippantly; it’s a phrase that I’m regularly irritated to see used to explain extraordinarily marginal modifications. However with Qualcomm lastly making Home windows on Arm work with the Snapdragon X sequence, I’ve received excessive hopes for no matter Workforce Q does subsequent.
