Microsoft’s partnership with Qualcomm is progressing well in transitioning Windows users to Arm architecture. Leaked documents from Dell indicate that laptops using Qualcomm’s upcoming Snapdragon X Elite chips may experience significant improvements in battery life.
These documents, showcasing Dell’s internal testing, suggest that the new laptops, expected later this year, might set new battery efficiency standards. According to the leak on VideoCardz.com, a laptop with Qualcomm’s SC8380XP chip, an HD screen, and a 55-watt hour battery achieved 20.4 hours of Netflix streaming, compared to just 12.63 hours for a similar Intel-based laptop.
Further tests confirmed Qualcomm’s dominance, with Snapdragon laptops outperforming Intel counterparts by 68% to 98%. This aligns with the superior battery life seen in other Arm-based laptops, like Apple’s M processors and Chromebooks with MediaTek and Qualcomm chips.
While the impressive battery efficiency of Arm chips isn’t surprising given their focus on smartphones and tablets, these findings, though leaked, add credibility due to their consistency with previous information.
Battery life, although crucial, isn’t the only factor. Arm architecture can create compatibility issues for some software. Qualcomm aims to ensure that the Snapdragon X Elite matches or surpasses Intel and AMD chips in raw performance. Despite video playback metrics not directly translating to everyday tasks like web browsing, this development is promising for those seeking long-lasting laptops.
The first Snapdragon X Elite laptops are expected to hit the market in the coming months, potentially ushering in a new era of mobile computing.