Qualcomm's Snapdragon C wants to be the Arm chip for $300 laptops

Qualcomm has unveiled additional information about its Snapdragon C chip, an Arm-based processor designed for budget-friendly laptops. The company anticipates this processor can compete in a market primarily filled with entry-level Intel systems priced around $300. Snapdragon C features eight Kryo CPU cores, capable of reaching a single-core clock speed of 3 GHz and a multi-core clock speed of 2 GHz, supplemented by 2 MB of cache.

Notably, four cores can operate at 2.0 GHz while three can achieve 2.6 GHz. However, the performance of all eight cores simultaneously remains undisclosed. The chip also integrates an Adreno GPU capable of up to 900 MHz and a Qualcomm Hexagon NPU, though the latter's performance in TOPS is yet to be disclosed. Qualcomm's claims of performance advantages are based on a reference laptop equipped with 8GB of memory, pitted against an Acer TravelMate powered by Intel's N250 processor and also featuring 8GB of RAM.

According to Qualcomm, Snapdragon C outperforms Intel's processor in single-core Geekbench performance by 44% and multi-core performance by 24% while running on battery power. It claims a 50% improvement in single-threaded testing and a 67% boost in multi-threaded testing in Cinebench, which the company views as a more relevant benchmark than Cinebench for typical low-cost laptop usage, such as web browsing and basic productivity tasks.

The chip also boasts 106% higher power efficiency than Intel's N250 during Netflix streaming, 68% better efficiency in web browsing, and 74% improved performance during Teams video calls. However, these figures are contingent on a reference system with a 16-inch display, while actual power efficiency in finished products may vary due to differences in display size, resolution, panel technology, and battery capacity.

The performance of Snapdragon C in laptops with an active power connection has not been disclosed, and Qualcomm has not published independent testing results for retail systems. The chip is expected to be integrated into laptops by Acer, HP, Asus, and Lenovo, with Acer's first model, the Aspire Go 15, already revealed. This laptop will come with 8GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, and a variety of ports, though a price and release date have not been announced.

The launch of these systems may coincide with IFA in Berlin or CES. Given the $300 target price, the challenge for Qualcomm lies in maintaining affordability should memory and other component costs continue to rise. If successful, Snapdragon C could offer PC manufacturers a more affordable Arm-based option to compete with Intel's Wildcat Lake systems and Apple's upcoming MacBook Neo.

The chip's success will hinge on final pricing, software support, and independent testing once retail laptops become available.