The rise of Snapdragon X chipsets in laptops is ushering in a new era of powerful and efficient Windows machines. From Microsoft’s Surface Pro 11 to the HP OmniBook X, these laptops offer impressive performance, long battery life, and sleek designs, challenging the MacBook Air M3 in the process.
The Asus ProArt PZ13 emerges as a strong contender in the detachable tablet 2-in-1 market, offering a compelling alternative to the Microsoft Surface Pro 11. With a competitive price, excellent OLED display, and impressive battery life, the ProArt PZ13 proves itself a worthy addition to the Windows on Arm ecosystem.
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441 is the first laptop we’ve reviewed using the Snapdragon X Plus chipset, which offers lower performance compared to its Snapdragon X Elite counterparts. While it offers a decent display and battery life, its underwhelming performance and lack of design flair make it a tough sell compared to its competitors.
While Microsoft’s push for Windows on Arm has been successful, a major hurdle remains: the lack of Adobe Premiere Pro support on Snapdragon X chips. While other Adobe apps like Photoshop and Lightroom have been ported, Premiere Pro, After Effects, and Media Encoder are still unavailable. Despite Adobe’s commitment to supporting Arm, the expected July release has been missed, leaving video editors on Arm PCs in the lurch. However, progress is being made with beta versions of Illustrator and InDesign now available on Arm, indicating Adobe’s dedication to completing its full app lineup for Snapdragon X chips.
The Dell XPS 13 9345, powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite chipset, delivers impressive performance and battery life. While its design remains largely unchanged, the XPS 13 boasts a sleek and sturdy build. However, the keyboard and touchpad present some usability challenges. The XPS 13 9345 is a worthy contender for users seeking a compact, powerful laptop, but its high price and potential compatibility issues with Windows on Arm may warrant consideration.
The Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge boasts a thin design and a vibrant OLED display, but its lackluster keyboard, touchpad, webcam, and speakers make for a clunky user experience. While its performance is impressive, especially for a Windows on Arm laptop, battery life falls short of expectations. It may be a good option for those deeply invested in the Samsung ecosystem, but for most users, there are better alternatives.
The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x, powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite chipset, delivers impressive performance and efficiency, showcasing the potential of Windows on Arm. It boasts a stunning OLED display, making it a superior choice compared to its predecessor, the HP OmniBook X, which features a lower-resolution IPS panel. While its battery life doesn’t quite match the MacBook Air M3, the Yoga Slim 7x still outperforms most current Windows laptops in terms of endurance and speed.
The HP OmniBook X is HP’s first Copilot+ laptop, featuring the new Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite chipset and Windows on Arm. This review delves into its design, performance, battery life, and display, comparing it to the MacBook Air M3 and other Windows laptops. While it doesn’t quite surpass the MacBook Air in efficiency, the OmniBook X stands out as a compelling alternative, offering a solid build, attractive price, and excellent productivity performance.
In a surprise move, Justin Long, the former ‘I’m a Mac’ guy, has appeared in a video ad for Qualcomm, where he is seen searching for a Snapdragon-powered PC to replace his MacBook. This unexpected appearance marks a shift in Long’s allegiances and reignites the rivalry between Mac and PC. The ad implies that Qualcomm’s Snapdragon-powered Windows on Arm PCs may challenge the dominance of Macs in terms of app compatibility, battery life, and overall performance. With the release of new Copilot+ PCs on June 18th, including the new Surface laptop, the competition between Mac and PC is expected to intensify.
