Qualcomm launches the cheapest Snapdragon X chip, promising 600$ range AI PCs

Qualcomm started the year by launching their most affordable Snapdragon X chip at CES 2025. According to the recent press release, Qualcomm’s strategy is to aim for the 600$ range AI PCs with the new processor, including laptops and mini PCs.

The new Snapdragon X will feature an 8-core Qualcomm Oryon CPU and integrated graphics that will provide dramatically faster performance:

This platform delivers up to 163% faster performance at ISO-power than our competitors who also require 168% more power at ISO-performance, the Snapdragon X processor balances performance and built-in intelligence with a 45 TOPS NPU that runs Copilot+ PC experiences more efficiently.

Of course, the new chip is intended for budget savvy devices aimed at students, freelance workers and other consumers who still want to enjoy the Copilot+ experience and Windows 11 on a low spending of around 600$. Qualcomm already announced deals with leading OEMs such as Acer, Asus, Dell Technologies, HP and Lenovo who will release the new devices really soon.

So, if you were wondering how the dropping market share of Windows 11 will turn around this year, the new Snapdragon X flavored laptops might be the answer.

Now, the biggest hurdle that Snapdragon powered ARM PC was that even though X86 apps could run on the devices, everyone witnessed problems using them. The chip manufacturer plans to improve the situation this year:

Windows 11 on Snapdragon momentum continues to grow with more than 50 NPU powered AI experiences native on Snapdragon. Native apps now include 20 of the most popular VPNs, 50 of the most popular security apps and cloud storage apps, and new music Digital Audio Workstations (DAW) and Virtual Studio Technology (VST) Instruments. Native app development has increased 3x over the past year with companies like Music AI launching the Moises Live app exclusively for Snapdragon and its NPU. Source: Qualcomm press release

Qualcomm improved their platform and worked with many developers to optimize their apps and now, things have turned around. Of course, this is still a process in development, Qualcomm published a page with all the Windows aps that run natively on the ARM platform. The manufacturer will probably speed up this process to include more and more core apps because this was one of the most important turn offs that drove customers and businesses away from the ARM platform devices.

We don’t know the exact dates when the new Snapdragon X powered affordable devices will land on the shelves, but Qualcomm says it will happen really soon.

Are you planning to buy a new Snapdragon X powered laptop? Let us know in the comments below.