Qualcomm’s announcement of the Snapdragon X Plus has stirred excitement in the tech community. This new chip, available in both 8-core and 10-core variants, promises to bring enhanced AI capabilities to a broader range of PCs. But what does this mean for performance, and how does it stack up against competitors?
Initial benchmark results from Qualcomm’s reference designs reveal intriguing insights. The difference between the 8-core and 10-core versions in multi-threaded workloads is relatively modest, ranging from 3-4%. However, the real star of the show is the single-threaded performance. Thanks to a boost clock of up to 4 GHz, the Snapdragon X Plus delivers a substantial 15% increase in single-threaded tasks.
This performance boost positions the Snapdragon X Plus as a more formidable competitor against Intel’s Lunar Lake and Apple’s M4 chip. It’s worth noting that the GPU performance also sees a significant uptick, with the higher-end SKU boasting a 23-25% increase. Despite this improvement, it still trails behind the more powerful Snapdragon X Elite.
Qualcomm CEO Cristiano R. Amon emphasized the transformative potential of the Snapdragon X Plus, stating that it will bring “AI-driven experiences to more people around the world” with devices starting at around $700. This price point represents a significant step towards making AI-capable PCs more accessible to a wider audience.
While the Snapdragon X Plus is undoubtedly a step in the right direction, there’s still room for Qualcomm to push the envelope further. To truly compete with devices like the MacBook Air and iPad Air, Qualcomm needs to target the $500-$700 segment. Additionally, adapting this architecture for devices like the Surface Go could open up even more possibilities in the budget-friendly PC market.
Snapdragon X Plus represents a significant milestone. It’s clear that Qualcomm is serious about powering the next generation of AI PCs. However, the true test will be how well these chips perform in real-world scenarios and whether they can truly challenge the established players in the market.
The race to bring AI to mainstream PCs is heating up, and with the Snapdragon X Plus, Qualcomm is certainly making waves.
