Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite and Snapdragon X Plus chipsets, designed to challenge Apple Silicon in the ARM-powered laptop market, have had a slow start. According to TechRadar Pro, citing Canalys data, only 720,000 units have shipped since launch, accounting for a mere 0.8% market share.
Challenges and Future Outlook
While the overall AI PC market is projected to grow significantly (up to 533.5% in 2025), the slow adoption of Snapdragon X-powered laptops presents a challenge for Qualcomm. The initial high pricing of Snapdragon X-based laptops compared to Apple's offerings was a significant barrier.
Qualcomm aims to address this by releasing more affordable Windows laptops priced as low as $700 and plans for a new unnamed Snapdragon X chipset to power $600 laptops in 2025. This strategy targets the budget-conscious student market and aims for a larger market share.
Increased Competition
The competition in the ARM-powered laptop space is intensifying. Intel and AMD are also developing their own AI PCs, and NVIDIA's collaboration with MediaTek on a similar chipset poses additional challenges. This chipset is expected to power laptops from major brands like Lenovo, Dell, and ASUS.
While the initial numbers are discouraging, Qualcomm's commitment to more affordable products suggests a longer-term strategy aiming to gain a significant market share in the growing AI PC segment. The coming quarters will be crucial in determining the success of Qualcomm's approach.
