Qualcomm Launches New ARM Processors for Budget Laptops

When Qualcomm first started making ARM processors for Windows laptops, the company promised it will deliver quick updates on a “smartphone pace”. The company is keeping up with that promise and is today launching two new processors to join the Snapdragon processor line for Always Connected PCs.

Qualcomm is launching the new Snapdragon 8c and 7c today, in an effort to target the low-end of the market. Both the new processors are less powerful than the Snapdragon 8cx platform, which still sits at the top of the line.

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As for the Snapdragon 7c, it’s the entry-level processor meant for low-end laptops. The chip includes an octa-core Kryo 468 CPU, an Adreno 618 GPU, the Snapdragon X15 LTE modem, and a dedicated AI engine capable of computing over 5 trillion operations per second. Qualcomm claims the new processor offers twice the battery life and 25% better system performance compared to traditional entry-level laptops. The company also claims that its new low-end processors will allow for thinner and lighter devices, too.

There’s also the new Snapdrarogn 8c, which comes with a Kryo 490 CPU, Adreno 675 GPU, the X24 LTE modem, and an AI engine capable of computing 6 trillion operations per seconds. The new processor is meant to replace the Snapdragon 850 and offers 30% better performance. Laptop makers will be able to pair the Snapdragon 8c with an X55 5G modem, though the Snapdragon 7c is limited to LTE only.

It will probably be a little while until we start seeing these new processors on actual laptops. Either way, with the Snapdragon 8c and 7c, we will probably start seeing way more Always Connected PCs, and that could motivate more developers to port their apps to work on ARM processors.

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Conversation 2 comments

  • euskalzabe

    05 December, 2019 - 4:26 pm

    <p>FYI – Qualcomm's CPUs are <em>kryo</em>, not <em>kyro</em>.</p>

  • Daishi

    Premium Member
    06 December, 2019 - 4:30 am

    <p>Now we just need Microsoft to get Windows on ARM to where it needs to be.</p>

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