Despite IFA 2020 being held as an in-person event, the vast majority will have watched Qualcomm announce its latest compute platform virtually.
The Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 5G is aiming to power the next generation of Windows laptops, claiming to offer a performance boost of up to 18% compared to Intel’s 10th-gen Core i5 processors.
Previous Snapdragon processors, which can be found on the likes of the Samsung Galaxy Book S and HP Envy x2, provide superb battery life but often struggle to compete from a performance standpoint.
It was those devices’ biggest drawback, so Qualcomm’s renewed focus in this area makes a lot of sense. While a single-tier means it can’t rival top-of-the-line Intel or AMD chipsets, Qualcomm is hoping its “Always on, Always connected” vision for the future of PCs will resonate.
5G will undoubtedly help matters, with the 8cx Gen 2 continuing to support both mmWave and sub-6 frequencies, as well as Wi-Fi 6. AMD’s Ryzen 4000 series has closed the gap in terms of battery life, but Qualcomm claims the new 8cx can get you multiple days on a single charge. While this will vary hugely depending on individual usage, it’s a bold claim to make.
Read: Should I buy a 5G laptop?
The 8cx Gen 2 is also expected to deliver enhancements to AI, security and the audio & camera experience, with the ability to record in up to 4K HDR from a 32Mp sensor.
The Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 5G will make its debut on the convertible Acer Spin 7, which is expected before the end of 2020. The device sports the ultra-thin, ultra-light design we’ve come to associate with Snapdragon PCs, as well as a fanless cooling system and built-in stylus.
HP has also confirmed it will release a device “later this year”, but detailed specs for both PCs are yet to be revealed. Snapdragon-powered laptops have often cost in excess of £1000 so far, so it will be interesting to see how many affordable devices powered by the 8cx Gen 2 there will be.
Snapdragon remains the industry leader when it comes to smartphone processors, and also announced that it will extend 5G support down to its budget-friendly 4-series. This will open up the new technology to many more people, with Xiaomi confirming it will be among the first manufacturers to release a 5G phone powered by the 4-series.
Qualcomm will be hoping that the 8cx Gen 2 helps it to replicate this level of success on laptops and 2-in-1s.
Elsewhere at IFA, the company also revealed Adaptive ANC, its new active noise cancelling technology for true wireless earbuds. Read all about it here.
Qualcomm is also expected to release a new budget-focused ARM chip, known as the Snapdragon 7cx Gen 2, in the near future.
Author: Anyron Copeman, Senior Staff Writer
As the resident expert on Windows, Senior Staff Writer Anyron’s main focus is PCs and laptops. Much of the rest of his time is split between smartphones, tablets and audio, with a particular focus on Android devices.