Home Computing Qualcomm Unleashes Snapdragon X Elite: The AI Super-Charged Platform to Revolutionize the PC

Qualcomm Unleashes Snapdragon X Elite: The AI Super-Charged Platform to Revolutionize the PC

by Bong Pico

In October 2023, Qualcomm officially unveiled its next-generation Snapdragon X Elite platform, marking a significant leap in the evolution of mobile computing. This new platform is designed to deliver unprecedented performance and efficiency, setting a new standard for Windows on Arm devices. The Snapdragon X Elite is poised to revolutionize the PC industry with its advanced AI capabilities, superior performance, and energy efficiency.

Snapdragon X Elite
Photo from Qualcomm

Key Features of Snapdragon X Elite

The Snapdragon X Elite platform is built on a 4-nanometer system-on-a-chip (SoC) architecture, featuring the powerful 12-core Qualcomm Oryon CPU. This architecture is designed to provide radically improved performance and efficiency, enabling multiday battery life on a single charge. Here are the key features that set the Snapdragon X Elite apart from the competition:

  1. Superior Performance: The Snapdragon X Elite boasts a 12-core Qualcomm Oryon CPU with a dual-core boost, delivering up to 4.3 GHz clock speed. This results in significantly improved performance, making it one of the most powerful mobile SoCs available.
  2. Integrated AI Capabilities: The platform includes a Qualcomm Hexagon Neural Processing Unit (NPU) capable of 45 TOPS (trillions of operations per second) for local AI acceleration. This is a significant improvement over the AI capabilities of current Intel and AMD processors.
  3. Enhanced Graphics: The Qualcomm Adreno GPU supports up to 4.6 TFLOPS, making it well-suited for gaming and other graphics-intensive applications. It supports DirectX12, ensuring compatibility with the latest Windows games.
  4. Advanced Connectivity: The Snapdragon X Elite supports 5G connectivity, Wi-Fi 7, and Bluetooth LE 5.4, ensuring fast and reliable wireless connections.
  5. Energy Efficiency: Built on a 4nm process, the Snapdragon X Elite is designed to be highly energy-efficient, enabling longer battery life even under heavy usage.
Snapdragon X Elite
Image from Qualcomm press release

Snapdragon X Elite Variants

Qualcomm has introduced several variants of the Snapdragon X Elite, each offering slightly different performance levels to cater to various market segments. The flagship model, the X1E-84-100, features a 12-core CPU with a clock speed of up to 4.3 GHz in dual-core boost mode. Other variants, such as the X1E-80-100 and X1E-78-100, offer similar core counts but with lower maximum clock speeds and GPU capabilities.

Competitive Edge

Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite is designed to compete directly with Apple's M3 and Intel's latest processors. According to Qualcomm, the X Elite outperforms Apple's M2 Max in single-threaded performance while consuming 30% less power. It also claims to be 70% more efficient than Intel's Core i9-13980HX. These performance metrics position the Snapdragon X Elite as a formidable competitor in the high-performance laptop market.

AI and Machine Learning Capabilities

One of the standout features of the Snapdragon X Elite is its advanced AI and machine learning capabilities. The integrated Hexagon NPU provides 45 TOPS, significantly outperforming the AI capabilities of current Intel and AMD processors. This allows for real-time AI processing on the device, enabling features such as voice recognition, image processing, and natural language understanding without relying on cloud-based services.

Snapdragon X Elite
Image from Qualcomm

Connectivity and Multimedia

The Snapdragon X Elite supports the latest connectivity standards, including 5G, Wi-Fi 7, and Bluetooth LE 5.4. This ensures fast and reliable wireless connections, making it ideal for remote work and online collaboration. The platform also supports AV1 encoding and decoding for 4K HDR video, providing high-quality video streaming and conferencing capabilities.

Battery Life and Efficiency

Thanks to its 4nm process and efficient architecture, the Snapdragon X Elite offers exceptional battery life. Qualcomm claims that devices powered by the X Elite can achieve multiday battery life on a single charge, even under heavy usage. This makes it an ideal choice for users who need reliable performance on the go.

Adoption and Ecosystem

Qualcomm has already secured partnerships with major PC manufacturers, including Dell, HP, Lenovo, and Microsoft. Over 20 new laptop models featuring the Snapdragon X Elite are set to launch in 2024, including premium devices like the Dell XPS 13. These laptops are expected to offer a mix of high performance, advanced AI capabilities, and long battery life, making them attractive options for both consumers and professionals.

Snapdragon X Elite and Linux

In addition to its strong presence in the Windows ecosystem, the Snapdragon X Elite is also making inroads into the Linux community. Tuxedo Computers, a German OEM specializing in Linux-based systems, showcased a prototype Snapdragon X Elite laptop running Linux at Computex 2024. This laptop, codenamed "Drako," is expected to ship by the end of the year, bringing high-power Arm processing to Linux enthusiasts.

Snapdragon X Elite vs. Intel's Latest Processors

When compared to Intel's latest processors, the Snapdragon X Elite shows impressive performance and efficiency gains. Qualcomm claims that the Snapdragon X Elite is 54% faster than the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H in Geekbench 6 single-core tests and 52% faster in multi-core tests. Additionally, the Snapdragon X Elite consumes 65% less power than the Core Ultra 7 155H at the same performance level.In multi-threaded benchmarks, the Snapdragon X Elite outperforms the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H by 41% while consuming 58% less power. These performance and efficiency gains make the Snapdragon X Elite a compelling choice for high-performance laptops, especially for users who prioritize battery life and energy efficiency.

Snapdragon X Elite
Image from Qualcomm

Snapdragon X Elite vs. Apple M3

The Snapdragon X Elite also competes favorably with Apple's M3 chip. In Geekbench 6 multi-core tests, the Snapdragon X Elite scores 15,300, compared to the M3's 12,154. However, in single-core performance, the M3 still holds an edge with a score of 3,119 compared to the Snapdragon X Elite's 2,944.Despite the M3's single-core advantage, the Snapdragon X Elite's superior multi-core performance and energy efficiency make it a strong contender in the high-performance laptop market. Qualcomm's focus on AI capabilities and local processing also gives the Snapdragon X Elite an edge in applications that rely heavily on AI and machine learning.

Future Prospects

The Snapdragon X Elite represents a significant step forward for Qualcomm in the PC market. With its advanced AI capabilities, superior performance, and energy efficiency, it is well-positioned to challenge the dominance of Intel and AMD in the high-performance laptop segment. As more devices featuring the Snapdragon X Elite hit the market, it will be interesting to see how it shapes the future of mobile computing.

Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite is a game-changer in the world of mobile computing. With its powerful 12-core CPU, advanced AI capabilities, and exceptional energy efficiency, it sets a new standard for Windows on Arm devices. As the first wave of Snapdragon X Elite-powered laptops hits the market, consumers can look forward to a new era of high-performance, AI-driven computing.

The Snapdragon X Elite is not just a technological marvel; it represents Qualcomm's vision for the future of computing. By combining cutting-edge performance with advanced AI capabilities and energy efficiency, Qualcomm is paving the way for a new generation of smart, connected devices. Whether you're a professional looking for a powerful laptop for work or a consumer seeking a high-performance device for entertainment, the Snapdragon X Elite promises to deliver an unparalleled computing experience.

You may also like