Qualcomm said it has a new name for its next-generation ARM PC platform: SnapdragonX. The platform is based on Oryon CPU technology obtained in the 2021 acquisition of Nuvia, a company founded by former Apple engineers who participated in Apple's A-series processor development work. Arm has filed lawsuits against both companies over the deal, which is set to go to trial in September 2024.
SnapdragonX is a direct response to Apple's M-series chips, which Apple first introduced in the 2020 MacBook Air. If Qualcomm's platform offers anywhere near the performance and battery life of these chips, it could mean a major shift for Windows platforms, especially in the lightweight laptop space. Performance and battery life are a delicate balance for thin and light laptops, and ARM architecture is the most likely way to achieve that balance.
Another thing SnapdragonX chips have in common with M1 and above SOCs is a neural processing unit (Apple calls its own version the Neural Engine), which is designed for on-device AI processing in small devices. Senior Vice President Don McGuire called it a "huge leap in performance and energy efficiency" that will bring on-device experiences to a "new era of generative artificial intelligence."
Like the Snapdragon 8cx platform before it, the new platform will continue to offer 5G connectivity - something Apple has yet to implement on any M-series devices outside of iPads using its laptop- and desktop-grade chips, and is reportedly already working on developing its own modem technology.