HardwareProcessorsArm laptops are almost ready for prime time, and some new benchmarks with a Snapdragon X processor will have Intel, AMD and even Apple worriedWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
HardwareProcessorsArm laptops are almost ready for prime time, and some new benchmarks with a Snapdragon X processor will have Intel, AMD and even Apple worriedWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: WalkingCat/Twitter)
2024 is shaping up to be the year that Windows laptops with Arm processors mount a serious challenge to the dominance of the Intel and AMD x86 duopoly. We’ve been hearing about Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X for sometime, and now the first devices are being unveiled, with more to follow at what’s shaping up to be a very interesting Computex in a few weeks time.
WalkingCatover at Twitter (viaVideocardz) revealed some pictures of a Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 packing a Snapdragon X processor. But, to what extent will such devices disrupt the laptop market?
Though there’s not much to glean from the handful of pictures, the Yoga Slim in question looks to be a premium ultra-thin option. I would expect the first wave of Snapdragon X models to be similarly premium options, and not some budget alternative to x86 options from Intel or AMD. It’s not like MacBooks are regarded as cheap options.
And Qualcomm has not just Intel and AMD, but also Apple in its sights.NotebookCheckposted a series of Qualcomm-provided benchmark data from a recent event in London that shows the Snapdragon X Elite competing well against Apple M3, Intel Meteor Lake and AMD Hawk Point CPUs.
Though the controlled benchmark results needs to be taken with a pinch of salt, a Cinebench R24 result shows the Snapdragon X Elite convincingly beating out all the competition in the multi threaded tests, scoring 1140 versus the next bestAMD Ryzen9 8945HS with 934. The Apple M3 and M3 Pro are still ahead in the single threaded test, but the Snapdragon X is ahead of the tested AMD and Intel competition in its TDP class.
Your next machine(Image credit: Future)Best gaming PC: The top pre-built machines.Best gaming laptop: Great devices for mobile gaming.
Your next machine
(Image credit: Future)Best gaming PC: The top pre-built machines.Best gaming laptop: Great devices for mobile gaming.
(Image credit: Future)
Best gaming PC: The top pre-built machines.Best gaming laptop: Great devices for mobile gaming.
Perhaps Qualcomm’s real claim to fame is not just the Snapdragon X’s competitive performance, but the achieving of it without sacrificing power efficiency. Qualcomm’s tests show the Snapdragon X achieving between 40% to over 100% longer battery life than an Intel equivalent. Notably, it left AMD off of the battery life slide as those results would have been more competitive.
Although independent testing will be required, I believe the Snapdragon X’s power efficiency will be its ‘killer app’. A performance competitive premium laptop with all the goodies including WiFi 7, 5G and AI functionality that runs all Windows apps with significantly longer battery life would probably entice me to make the switch—price depending. We’ll have to wait for devices to come to market before that part of the equation comes.
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(Image credit: Qualcomm)
I’ve been looking forward to Arm laptops for years, and the pictured Lenovo looks good on the surface. Now, imagine what a 95W class Snapdragon could mean for the desktop in the years ahead?
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If you’re a content creator and gamer looking for a CPU upgrade, this Ryzen 9 9900X deal will get you $90 off
If you’re a content creator and gamer looking for a CPU upgrade, this Ryzen 9 9900X deal will get you $90 off
AMD accuses Intel’s Arrow Lake of being a ‘horrible’ product and implies a lack of options for consumers has caused the Ryzen 7 9800X3D shortage
AMD accuses Intel’s Arrow Lake of being a ‘horrible’ product and implies a lack of options for consumers has caused the Ryzen 7 9800X3D shortage
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Today’s Wordle answer for Sunday, January 12
Today’s Wordle answer for Sunday, January 12
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Today’s Wordle answer for Saturday, January 11
The Last of Us season 2 trailer is a brief look at a story you should probably just play yourself in April
Lords of the Fallen publisher embraces fear of the DEI boogeyman, says it will not include ‘any social or political agendas’ in its games
Epic CEO Tim Sweeney says tech leaders are ‘pretending to be Republicans’ to gain favor with Trump, skirt antitrust laws, and ultimately ‘rip off consumers and crush competitors’
If you’re trying to convince me your ‘companionship’ robot is ‘lifelike’, maybe don’t rip her face off in the demo video
Square Enix launches new anti-harassment policy to protect its employees and partners from abusive fans
The Sims begins its 25th anniversary celebration next week with a Behind The Sims episode of news and announcements
Path of Exile 2 numberlord spends 16 straight days killing rare monsters to prove that a stat that makes loot better makes better loot
Palestinian developer raises more than $200,000 to make Dreams on a Pillow, a game about the horrors of the 1948 Nakba
Piranha Games will lay off employees after Mechwarrior 5: Clans ‘performed below projections’
Marvel Rivals’ latest update quietly killed the game’s burgeoning mod scene
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