Snapdragon X: Qualcomm’s latest laptop processor shows a lot of promise

Recently, we got to see the new Snapdragon X-powered laptops at a media event hosted by Qualcomm in Singapore. To be exact, the event was the Snapdragon X Series SEA Media Summit – the first of its kind in the region.

While the Summit didn’t feature new product announcements, it did serve as a highlight of Qualcomm’s line of Windows PC processors, along with hints about what’s in store for AI PCs in the region in the near future.

The event ran through an array of topics, but if you ask us, the new Snapdragon X processors are what got our attention the most. In mid-2024, we saw the launch of laptops powered by Snapdragon X Elite and X Plus processors. These processors were made for laptops in the mid to upper tiers, price-wise. Then, in CES 2025 last January, Qualcomm unveiled the Snapdragon X, the base model in the family.

When it comes to its NPU, the X promises to deliver a similar level of performance as the X Elite and X Plus – notable given that the base X is made for entry-level laptops.

During the first part of the event, Qualcomm VP of Product Management Nitin Kumar presented the Snapdragon X on stage. There, he mentioned the capabilities of this processor, including some benchmark and battery tests in comparison with an Intel Core i5 120U.

Then, in a roundtable interview with PH media representatives, Kumar shared more about their objectives for the X:

“In August of last year, we launched an 8-core product in the Snapdragon X family. This product brought the price point down to USD 800 laptops while still delivering the same 45 TOPS NPU performance. At CES last year in the U.S., and now here for the Southeast Asia market, we introduced the Snapdragon X platform.

This platform continues to feature the 45 TOPS NPU and brings that capability to devices in the USD 600 price range. With promotions and varying specifications—such as display and RAM configurations—the price may vary slightly, but we are focused on delivering top-level AI capability and a premium AI experience in laptops at this price point. Promotions may even bring the cost a bit lower.”

Finally, we also got to see some of the new laptops powered by the Snapdragon X, including ASUS notebooks like the Zenbook A14 and Vivobook 14. We didn’t get to test them out though.

After the event, testing these out was one thing we hoped to do in the near future. That’s because of the proposition that the Snapdragon X makes, at least based on what we learned from the event. AI is a part of its appeal sure, but for us, the battery life and the cooler temperatures are major factors. After all, battery life is a big deal for laptops, while cooler temps means the battery won’t degrade as fast.

We have reviewed a Snapdragon X Elite-powered laptop before, and while there were aspects of it we liked, compatibility is still a bit limited, which is a major consideration given the premium price tag.

But with the Snapdragon X, getting a laptop with an ARM processor makes more sense for us, especially for specific use cases. For instance, I have a slim laptop I bring with me everywhere for work, and because I mostly use Office apps and Chrome while on the go (I prefer to be at home for more hardware intensive tasks), I won’t have any problems with using a Snapdragon-powered processor.

For users who need only these apps such as writers, virtual assistants, or freelancers in general, a Snapdragon X-powered laptop that’s in the USD 600 (hopefully around PHP 40k or so) promises to be a good match, especially given the promised battery life and lack of heating issues with such a laptop. As such, we’re definitely keen to try them out.

There are reviews up now of the new Zenbook A14 that’s powered by the Snapdragon X. These did mention points of consideration like performance, especially given the still fairly premium price. Despite this, we’re still very much interested in testing them out for ourselves.

More than the Zenbook, though, we want to try out the even more affordable variants like the Vivobook 14. That’s because if the laptop is priced affordably and delivers on Qualcomm’s promise of battery life and temperatures, this should make for a great option for users who want a straightforward work partner.

For now, we’ll have to wait and see when these Snapdragon X laptops are launched in the PH. Hopefully soon so we can find out if they actually deliver on their promise.