There are Windows-based laptops with Snapdragon processors, but these devices have never been powerful enough in practice. In addition, Microsoft Windows’ optimization for the x86 processor architecture left users with no choice but to choose AMD or Intel processors. However, it looks like this will change with the introduction of the Snapdragon X Elite processor.
Microsoft to offer advanced translation tier with powerful ARM chipset
According to a recent article published by The Verge, Microsoft has quite ambitious plans for the performance of the Snapdragon X Elite. Despite the fact that computers with ARM processors are no longer produced, x64 software has not yet disappeared. For example, Apple, despite the release of the ARM M-series processors, used a translation layer called Rosetta for x64 applications running on ARM processors.
Microsoft claims that their translation layer works even better than Apple’s Rosetta 2. The efficient operation of this translation layer is very important, because if there are too many problems with running x64 applications on the ARM platform, end users will not have any reason to invest in an ARM-based computer. In fact, the x64 to ARM translation layer was introduced in Windows more than 2 years ago, and it seems that Microsoft is now achieving the desired success with it.
Another piece of information obtained by The Verge is that the Surface 10 Pro and Surface Laptop 6 devices will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite processor. Although it was previously announced that these devices will be equipped with Intel Core Ultra series processors, it has now been revealed that there will also be variants with Snapdragon X Elite.
Not only will Snapdragon X Elite provide performance and energy efficiency benefits, but it will also equip Windows with AI-related features thanks to its NPU. This will allow Copilot to access any context on your computer and provide you with better answers. In addition, the device will be able to create images using its own image models. Microsoft calls its new computers “next-generation Copilot computers with artificial intelligence.”
Although the Snapdragon X Elite device hasn’t been unveiled to the public yet, Qualcomm has already published some benchmarks that show it’s better than the Apple M2. Although it is claimed that Windows games will not run as well, they will at least run. Microsoft’s Snapdragon X Elite devices will be unveiled on May 20.
