Intel has rarely been weaker than it has been in recent months, and its competitors are beginning to close in. Laptops, once a stronghold of x86 chip manufacturers like Intel and AMD, are now being targeted by Qualcomm as fertile ground for their new, cutting-edge Snapdragon X family of CPUs. The semiconductor company showcased the next wave of Snapdragon-equipped laptops and productivity devices at the inaugural Snapdragon X Series Southeast Asia Media Summit held in Sentosa, Singapore, an event that could reshape PC computing for everyone.

Snapdragon X-equipped laptops aren’t entirely new; we were impressed by ASUS’ Vivobook S15 roughly six months ago. However, as with any first-generation product, we encountered some issues, primarily concerning the ARM-based architecture’s interaction with Microsoft Windows and the suboptimal performance of emulated apps lacking native ARM versions.

But in the past six months, both Qualcomm and Microsoft have evidently been addressing these issues. Representatives from both companies claim that approximately 92% of commonly used Windows apps now function flawlessly on Qualcomm-equipped laptops, with ongoing efforts to achieve full compatibility for the remaining applications.

This progress is significant, as Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X series processors for laptops excel in general productivity, particularly when compared to traditional x86 processors. Notably, their superior power efficiency allows OEMs like ASUS, MSI, Lenovo, and ACER to achieve remarkable performance without resorting to noisy fans for thermal management. The appeal of a three-day business trip without a bulky charger is undeniable, especially for frequent travelers like myself, who often carry a two-kilogram laptop in their carry-on.

However, Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon X series processors aren’t solely focused on efficiency; they’re also designed for creative workflows. The company demonstrated several use cases where the top-tier Snapdragon X Elite processor can process inputs from multiple sources and generate creative outputs. For instance, music recording and processing can be accomplished on a standard Snapdragon X Elite laptop without specialized hardware.

Even traditionally compute-intensive tasks like photo and video editing are now viable on ARM-equipped laptops. Moreover, with the integration of generative AI features in these applications, Qualcomm’s laptops offer compelling alternatives to larger, bulkier devices.

While x86-based laptops from Intel and AMD will remain in the market, ARM-based laptops powered by companies like Qualcomm pose a significant threat to their market share, especially with the rapid advancements in technology and app compatibility with Windows. Canalys predicts that 25% of the laptop market will be powered by ARM processors, meaning one in four laptops sold within two years will utilize either Qualcomm’s X Series or Apple’s M-series chips.