In context: Recent leaks have started to support Qualcomm's bold claims about the capabilities of its upcoming Snapdragon X Elite processors. The most significant leak yet comes from Dell, one of the manufacturers expected to release a line of Snapdragon laptops soon. The upcoming XPS laptops, among others, are expected to launch a new phase of Arm Windows PCs leveraging generative AI.
A leaked internal document from Dell has revealed a lengthy outline of the company's plans for XPS laptops over the next few years, including a set of Snapdragon-powered models launching soon. Another leak provides a closer look at the laptops' chassis and other hardware features.
Potentially the most significant takeaway from the 311-page Dell document is the dramatic advantage the Snapdragon X Elite holds over Intel processors in terms of battery life and cost. Snapdragon maker Qualcomm claims its new Arm-powered chips can outperform some of the best mobile CPUs from Intel and AMD, and leaks have begun to bear that out.
Dell estimates that the Snapdragon powering its upcoming XPS 13 laptop achieves a 68 percent to 98 percent battery life improvement when playing videos compared to an Intel Alder Lake-P CPU. When playing local video files, the Qualcomm chip managed 16.8 hours on an OLED screen, 21.9 hours on a non-HDR QHD display, and 29.9 hours on an FHD+ panel.
Furthermore, the Snapdragon processors might cost Dell half as much as Raptor Lake Intel chips, potentially lowering prices for consumers or giving the company elbow room in other areas. Estimates from last March indicate that the laptop vendor might pay $145 for each 10-core Qualcomm CPU, compared to $293 for a Core i7-1360P. Dell aims to launch the XPS 13 Plus for $1,199, set to match MacBook Air models.
Meanwhile, sources recently provided Windows Report with more information on the XPS 13 Plus and an upcoming Snapdragon-powered Inspiron laptop. The XPS 13 retains the current edition's overall design but adds the Copilot key that Microsoft mandates for new "AI PCs" and features two USB ports. The Inspiron 14 7441 Plus ships with 16 GB of RAM and a preview build of Windows 11 24H2, which is expected to introduce more extensive AI integration leveraging NPUs for onboard applications.
The Snapdragon X Elite aims to bring efficiency gains to Windows similar to what Apple Silicon has achieved on macOS, but Qualcomm thinks its SoC can outperform Apple's M3. However, the Cupertino giant recently introduced M4 in its newest iPads and is expected to reveal M4-powered Macs later this year, intensifying 2024's Arm AI PC race.
Looking further ahead, Arm recently suggested that Qualcomm isn't the only chipmaker developing Arm-based processors for Windows PCs. Arm itself plans to introduce AI processors next year.
Moreover, the leaked Dell roadmap suggests that second and third-generation Snapdragon X chips could emerge between 2025 and 2027. The first AMD-powered XPS product since 2009 could also appear around that time.