Qualcomm Announces Snapdragon X Plus: Enhancing AI Capabilities in ARM-Powered Laptops
Qualcomm’s latest addition to its mobile chip lineup is the Snapdragon X Plus, designed to bring advanced AI capabilities to a broader range of ARM-based laptops. Positioned as a step below the flagship Snapdragon X Elite, the X Plus nevertheless offers impressive performance improvements over its predecessors.
Performance Benchmarks
In terms of raw performance, the Snapdragon X Plus showcases notable gains. Qualcomm claims a 10% advantage over Apple’s M3 chip in multi-threaded CPU performance, as evidenced by Geekbench 6 multi-core scores of 13,350 compared to the M3’s 12,154. Additionally, the X Plus surpasses Intel’s Core Ultra 7 155H chip by 37% in Geekbench multi-threaded performance while consuming 54% less power.
Cinebench R24 scores further highlight the X Plus’s prowess, with multi-core test results indicating a 29% performance boost over the M3 tested in a 13-inch MacBook Air.
GPU and AI Capabilities
The Snapdragon X Plus also shines in GPU performance, delivering a 36% increase over the Core Ultra 7 155H while consuming 50% less power. This enhanced GPU capability is crucial for demanding tasks such as gaming and video editing.
Furthermore, the X Plus boasts a 45 TOPS NPU, matching the flagship X Elite. This NPU enables advanced AI functionalities such as code generation, music creation, and live captioning in real-time.
Comparison with Snapdragon X Elite
While the Snapdragon X Plus shares similarities with the X Elite, there are some key differences. The X Plus has 10 high-performance cores running at 3.4 GHz, compared to the X Elite’s 12 cores with dual-core boost up to 4.2 GHz. Additionally, the X Plus’s GPU delivers 3.8 teraflops of power, slightly lower than the X Elite’s 4.6 teraflops.
Availability and Pricing
Laptops featuring the Snapdragon X Plus are expected to hit the market in mid-2024, alongside models equipped with the Snapdragon X Elite. Pricing will vary depending on factors such as screen size, battery life, and other components incorporated by the laptop manufacturer.
Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Plus chip is a significant step forward in bringing AI capabilities to the forefront of ARM-powered laptops. Its impressive performance benchmarks and AI-centric features promise to enhance the user experience and open up new possibilities for productivity and creativity on the go.
