Qualcomm’s Snapdragon This hype persists even after the chip lineup was announced in June. That’s because Qualcomm has actually delivered an incredibly powerful Windows on Arm experience that rivals Apple’s MacBook.
One of the best examples of how great Snapdragon X Elite is is the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7. In our review of the Surface Laptop 7, the laptop received a perfect score, primarily thanks to both its outstanding performance and nearly 16 hours of battery life. This is a direct result of the Snapdragon X Elite chip.
While Windows on Arm still has some compatibility issues to resolve, there’s no denying that the Snapdragon X Elite chip has finally pushed Windows laptops into competitive territory with MacBooks. This is something that x86-based chips from Intel and AMD have failed to do. For years. But what about in the world of desktop PCs? Is it possible that Qualcomm’s desktop CPUs will outperform AMD and Intel’s CPUs in 2025? Let’s talk about it.
Qualcomm’s current Arm-based chips are impressive in many ways
The currently available Snapdragon X Elite chips (and even Snapdragon X Plus variants) blow away the competition in terms of performance power. Our sister site Tom’s Hardware compared the Snapdragon X Elite chip’s Geekbench 6 performance scores to chips from Intel and AMD and found that the X Elite outperformed the competition by 18-25%.
That said, we’re specifically talking about laptop performance here. What’s most impressive about Qualcomm’s X Elite chips is that they deliver exceptional performance while boasting top-tier battery life. This is only important on laptops. That’s not to say that desktop PCs don’t need to be efficient, but because laptops are mobile, efficiency is more important.
Qualcomm had planned to launch a Snapdragon-powered mini PC in June, but the company canceled the mini PC project in October because it didn’t meet Qualcomm’s “usual standards of excellence.” One redditor said this little device “could revolutionize the mini PC market,” and many seem to agree. It’s a shame we didn’t have much of a chance to compare it to other mini PCs in terms of performance, but it’s clear that Qualcomm has plans for future desktop PCs.
According to PCWorld, Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon said: We are on this journey. Like I said, we’re here to stay. ”
While we know that Qualcomm is actively working on desktop CPU options, little information exists at this point regarding the desktop CPU’s core count, clock speed, or other details about its architecture.
If Qualcomm succeeds in developing and selling a desktop CPU that can run in both full-tower and mini-PC formats, it would be a great choice for anyone looking for the most affordable desktop option that promises decent performance, especially if you’re looking for something inexpensive. I think it’s just the first option for companies that are. Computer. When it comes to more powerful, gaming-ready desktop PCs and DIY PCs, I think AMD and Intel will still be the popular brands in 2025.
Qualcomm may not be able to enter this space as AMD and Intel are very established
If you’re building a PC today, you’ll likely choose an Intel or AMD CPU. Although the two companies have traded back and forth over the years when it comes to who’s better in terms of price and performance, these two brands have established themselves as the world’s best processor brands. I doubt Qualcomm will change that in 2025.
Right now, AMD is the best choice if you’re building a gaming PC, and Intel is the best choice if you’re looking for the best productivity performance. The only way I see Qualcomm trying to compete with AMD and Intel is by selling their desktop chips as “most affordable.”
Before its cancellation, one of the Snapdragon X Elite-powered mini PC’s most appealing attributes was its $899 price tag. If Qualcomm can replicate that price point with an off-the-shelf desktop PC or standalone CPU for DIY users, that would be the choice.
Additionally, for gamers, the Windows-on-Arm incompatibility issue will probably still be too severe even in 2025. Indeed, TechRadar saw a Snapdragon X Elite laptop run Baldur’s Gate 3 smoothly at 4K, 30-35fps, but we can only speculate: How much performance can be improved when combined with a discrete GPU in a desktop build.
There’s a good chance Qualcomm can develop a desktop CPU that can deliver at least 60fps for most games, but people will need to see this in action through reviews and real-world experience before committing to a purchase. Sho. Still, it would need to be more affordable than the best AMD processors to be of value to most people.
New competitors could overshadow Qualcomm
In addition to the struggles Qualcomm already faces in competition with Intel and AMD, a new competitor in Windows on Arm could also deal a major blow to the company’s plans.
Nvidia, an established powerhouse in the PC space, reportedly plans to produce Arm chips for Windows in 2025. Considering Nvidia is already trusted by many PC manufacturers as a reliable go-to choice for the best graphics cards, the company seems to have legs. It’s better than Qualcomm in marketing its Arm chips as a smarter choice than AMD or Intel’s x86 chips.
Most rumors suggest that Nvidia is developing a mobile SoC that combines a CPU, GPU, and possibly an NPU to compete with Qualcomm in the laptop space. But given Nvidia’s existing relationships with PC manufacturers, it seems logical that the company would also develop Arm chips for desktop PCs.
Qualcomm currently has the unique advantage of being the only chipmaker with demand for Windows on Arm laptops. Qualcomm will have a lot more to prove, as Nvidia is also on board, and AMD may also be on board if a recent Reuters report is true.
Ultimately, the success of Qualcomm and Nvidia’s future Arm-based desktop CPUs will depend on the software they come with. Both companies may be able to make powerful chips, but if Windows doesn’t mesh well with them, they won’t be the best choice over AMD or Intel’s x86-based chips.
At the moment, future desktop CPUs from Qualcomm and Nvidia have a lot of potential. But will that potential be fully realized enough to displace AMD and Intel chips in 2025? Personally, I don’t think so.
