Editor’s word: Qualcomm offered journey, lodging and different accomodations related to Snapdragon Summit.
At Snapdragon Summit, Qualcomm debuted Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for handsets and the Snapdragon X2 Elite and X2 Elite Excessive for PCs
MAUI–As is custom, Qualcomm introduced its newest compute and cellular platforms throughout the Snapdragon Summit. We’ll dig into the small print however the takeaway right here is that the corporate is shifting quick with its Oryon CPUs, now within the third era, and exhibiting very materials efficiency and energy effectivity enhancements. That is coupled with spectacular progress on the Hexagon NPU which, in sum, makes for a really compelling AI narrative.
Qualcomm’s Alex Katouzian, group normal supervisor for cellular, compute and XR, advised the viewers on Maui (and tuning in just about from around the globe) that the most recent Oryon CPU is 39% sooner than its first-generation predecessor and attracts 43% much less energy. “Efficiency per watt continues to be a bonus for Snapdragon. And we delivered precisely that with Oryon gen three.” The Oryon CPU is predicated on Qualcomm’s $1.4 billion acquisition of Nuvia which closed in Could 2021. It first hit compute platforms in 2023, adopted by cellular platforms in 2024.
The third-gen Oryon options two prime cores with clock speeds as much as 4.6 GHz and 6 efficiency cores working at 3.6 GHz. “That is the primary time you’re seeing this type of pace on smartphones,” Katouzian stated. These two clusters have 12 MB of cache every. By way of what which means for customers, anticipate 20% single core enhancements, 32% internet looking enhancements and 17% multi-core enchancment; these figures are primarily based off of industry-standard benchmarking scores. “It’s designed to maintain up with the way you truly use your telephones.”
Again to benchmarking: Katouzian stated, “We don’t run benchmarks in freezer environments to inflate numbers…Every little thing is examined on our reference designs at room temperature, real-world circumstances. After we say it’s quick, it’s quick the best way you’ll expertise it.” That is an if-you-know, you-know-type reference, and it performed properly within the room as a result of the room was full of people that know.
The newest Hexagon NPU comes with a lot of efficiency enhancements. However, Katouzian stated, “What actually reveals the worth of our NPU is not only uncooked energy; it’s the experiences it unlocks. It’s how that energy interprets into seamless AI-driven options that really feel pure, intuitive and genuinely helpful. That’s the actual magic that occurs.”
Referencing Oryon, Hexagon, the Adreno GPU, Spectra ISP, and different sub-systems, Katouzian stated, “What makes Snapdragon so highly effective is greater than only one part. It’s the mixture of every thing we construct…It’s this full stack working collectively that unlocks what’s attainable in smartphones immediately.”
Qualcomm SVP and GM Chris Patrick was on the companion occasion in China. He stated in an announcement, “With Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, you might be on the heart of your cellular expertise. It allows customized AI brokers to see what you see, hear what you hear and assume with you in actual time.” The brand new SoC “pushes the boundaries of non-public AI, permitting you to expertise the way forward for cellular expertise immediately.”
Katouzian additionally teased the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5. “We developed this chipset to provide you extra selections and adaptability whereas nonetheless delivering flagship options. We could have extra to share about this platform later this yr, so please keep tuned.”
“PC reborn…It’s not only a chip. It’s a revolution”
Share-taking within the PC market is a precedence for Qualcomm because it continues to execute on its diversification technique. And Kedar Kondap, SVP and GM of compute and gaming, began his portion of the keynote by reflecting on the trajectory of this enterprise line. “I used to be pondering final night time, it has solely been 15 months since we launched the primary era of Snapdragon X Elite. So much has occurred within the final yr. And as I pause and mirror on this, I can inform you one factor: I really feel so grateful.”
To place some figures to that, in June 2024, 22 PCs characteristic the Snapdragon X Elite launched. “That’s the most gadgets ever introduced in a single day within the historical past of Home windows.” Quick ahead to current and that portfolio has grown to round 150 gadgets throughout a variety of kind elements and market segments. “I’m a agency believer that revolutionary expertise all the time wins,” Kondap stated.
With that Kondap went by way of the small print of the 2 new compute platforms. The ultra-premium Snapdragon X2 Elite Excessive for Home windows 11 PCs. This SoC contains the third-gen Oryon CPU which Kondap stated is 75% sooner than aggressive merchandise at ISO energy. The newest GPU brings a 2.3-times efficiency/watt enhance, in addition to energy effectivity features as in comparison with the Snapdragon X Elite. The NPU pushes 80 TOPs for AI processing.
“The X2 Elite Excessive options the world’s quickest NPU for laptops,” Kondap stated. “It’s greater than 5 occasions sooner than the competitors.” Applause break. “After we launched X Elite, we introduced efficiency management again to the Home windows ecosystem. Right this moment I can proudly say we proceed to keep up our management place out there.”
Snapdragon X2 Elite is the premium-tier providing. Qualcomm described it as ultimate for “highly effective and environment friendly multitasking throughout resource-intensive workloads for productiveness, creativity and leisure…The platform boasts as much as 31% sooner efficiency at ISO energy and requires as much as 43% much less energy than the earlier era…Customers can harness these options in skinny and light-weight designs, even with out a charger.”
Throughout his portion of the presentation, Kondap threw to movies from OEM companions ASUS and Razer, and introduced out Microsoft’s Steven Bathiche, expertise fellow and company vp for Home windows and gadgets. Bathiche gave an interesting presentation that I’ll cowl individually. He talked about compute cycles, scaling legal guidelines, AI progress and turned a lot of actually nice phrases my favourite of which was, “Absorbing the slope and form of the curve and taking into consideration what was simply introduced, one can actually get a way of how briskly issues are evolving.” So sit up for that.
Last ideas from Katouzian: “We’ve got seen some unimaginable launches immediately between smartphones and PCs. And it’s clear the subsequent era fo Snapdragon expertise continues to be a driving pressure…Snapdragon is redefining what smartphones and PCs can do, making interactions extra seamless and extra private and extra useful. The long run is brilliant.”
Taken collectively, the day’s bulletins reinforce Qualcomm’s place on the intersection of cellular and compute innovation. As Oryon CPUs and AI-driven experiences proliferate, Snapdragon is poised to play a defining position within the subsequent period of non-public gadgets.
