Snapdragon on PC Copilot+ is not competitive enough with x86 CPUs

Microsoft's PC Copilot+ reveals performance limitations

Since its launch in May, Microsoft has touted the Copilot+ PC as the "fastest, smartest Windows PC ever," according to TechSpot . However, that claim was quickly called into question, especially when the user community compared the Snapdragon's performance to x86 CPUs.

Snapdragon, a platform developed by Qualcomm, stands out for its power efficiency. Microsoft promises “day-to-day” battery life on Copilot+ devices. However, in practice, Snapdragon’s raw performance is not enough to compete with Intel and AMD chips in demanding applications or gaming. Furthermore, software compatibility issues with the Arm architecture continue to degrade the user experience.

Copilot+ PC is Microsoft's AI computer line using Snapdragon chips, but performance and software compatibility are still quite limited.

One of the biggest challenges for Snapdragon is its reliance on an emulation layer to run apps that aren't optimized for Arm. This not only slows down the speed, but also leads to higher-than-expected power consumption. Meanwhile, x86 CPUs like the Intel Core Ultra and AMD Ryzen AI offer full compatibility with Windows software, a major advantage that Snapdragon hasn't been able to match.

Reality versus expectation

While Qualcomm has set a goal of capturing 50% of the Windows PC market within the next five years, data from Mercury Research suggests that current results are modest. In Q3 2024, Copilot+ sales accounted for only a small portion of total laptop sales, and even when combined with other AI laptops, they still accounted for less than 10%.

The biggest driver behind Microsoft and Qualcomm bringing Snapdragon to the PC market is Apple’s success with its M-series of Arm-based chips. But while Apple has created a software ecosystem that’s perfectly optimized for its chips, Microsoft is still struggling with the limitations of the Windows on Arm platform.

Additionally, in the time Snapdragon has been trying to establish itself, x86 chip makers have significantly narrowed the gap in battery performance, with the latest chips from Intel and AMD now able to achieve comparable battery life without sacrificing performance or software compatibility.

Currently, x86 CPUs still hold the upper hand in the market and Snapdragon will need more time to close this gap.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/snapdragon-tren-pc-copilot-chua-du-suc-canh-tranh-voi-cpu-x86-185241202211115586.htm