Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx GEN 2 with 5G support will launch with Acer Spin 7

Qualcomm has launched the Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 5G ARM-based chipset for the Windows 10 on ARM laptops. The new chip seems to be a very mild revision over the original Snapdragon 8cx chipset, which is a PC-optimized variant of the Snapdragon 855 chipset. So mild, that Qualcomm hasn’t revealed much about the specifics of any optimizations other than the addition of much faster 5G connectivity.

Instead of detailing the improvements of the Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 5G, Qualcomm has instead chosen to focus on how the ARM-based design stacks up against Intel’s 10th gen Core i5 processor that PC makers might otherwise choose for similar devices. In this instance, the Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 5G is 18 percent faster and delivers 39 percent better performance per Watt. (Qualcomm doesn’t differentiate between whether this is a 14 nm Comet Lake chip or 10 nm Ice Lake part). 

Qualcomm has partnered with Acer for the launch of the Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 5G which it has fitted to its new Acer Spin 7. Acer has said that the device will sport multi-day battery life, which is unsurprising as the Galaxy Book S powered by the original Snapdragon 8cx delivered over 20 hours battery life in our testing. The Spin 7 centers on a Full HD IPS panel with support for a Wacom pen and 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity. Full pricing and specifications are yet to be revealed.