Qualcomm’s new chips will bring AI to US$600 personal computers

QUALCOMM introduced new chips designed to power personal computers (PCs) capable of running the latest artificial intelligence (AI) software yet cost as little as US$600.

The Snapdragon X Platform, which consists of an 8-core Oryon central processor, a graphics component and dedicated AI chip, will run Microsoft’s Copilot+ software, Qualcomm announced at the CES show in Las Vegas. PC makers including Dell Technologies and Lenovo Group will offer laptops based on the new product in “early 2025”, the chipmaker said.

Chief executive officer Cristiano Amon has been pushing Qualcomm into the PC market as a pillar of his plan to lessen the company’s reliance on chips for smartphones, where it has long held a dominant share among high-end handsets.

The San Diego-based company has won widespread support from PC makers and Microsoft, as well as garnering positive reviews for devices that entered the market last year. But as of yet, Qualcomm has not made a major dent in the market share of PC chip incumbents Intel and Advanced Micro Devices.

In addition to new laptops, Qualcomm’s customers will also offer new small desktop machines based on Snapdragon X. The new chip joins a range of more powerful and pricey components offered by Qualcomm – the Snapdragon X Elite and X Plus.

A key element of Qualcomm’s pitch is the extended battery life offered by the machines based on its chips. The company said its chips have always been designed for small, battery-powered devices, making them more efficient than the scaled-down desktop parts offered by its more established rivals.

Earlier Monday (Jan 6), Intel announced new chips that it claims seize back battery life. Qualcomm disputes that, saying its chips are able to keep working at full power even when the laptops are unplugged, while machines running rival processors have to be throttled back. BLOOMBERG