Notebookcheck Logo

Update | Snapdragon X Elite laptops have high return rates, claims Intel co-CEO

The Snapdragon X Elite-powered notebooks sport great efficiency and performance, but are held back by software support. (Image source: Qualcomm)
The Snapdragon X Elite-powered notebooks sport great efficiency and performance, but are held back by software support. (Image source: Qualcomm)
Intel co-CEO Michelle Johnston has asserted that Snapdragon-powered laptops are affected by high return rates. Although there is an absence of hard data on the matter, it is hard to deny that ARM-based Windows PCs have a long way to go before being considered a match for the market dominance by x86. Update: Qualcomm has responded

Intel has been going through a tumultuous time lately, but that hasn't stopped the chip giant from throwing shade at competitors. Speaking at the Barclays Global Technology Conference, Intel's co-CEO Michelle Johnston boldly stated that Snapdragon-powered laptops suffer from high return rates, making them a challenge for retailers.

As Digital Trends notes, there is a lack of hard data regarding the actual percentage of product returns by customers, which makes her claims rather challenging to verify. However, it is somewhat unlikely that the top brass of a major company would make unfounded statements, so there might be some truth behind her critique after all.

It should be noted that the Snapdragon X Elite platform is still very much in its infancy, and it is not unfathomable that only the tech-savvy are aware of the many improvements that ARM-based computers bring. The majority of people, who simply want to get their work done, will presumably look elsewhere after learning that there is a plethora of software that is not yet optimized for Windows on ARM. However, ARM compatibility on Windows is undoubtedly in a better place now than ever, and the upward trajectory is likely to continue. 

Once the software support reaches a point where it is no longer a hindrance to the system's viability for prospective buyers, the Snapdragon X Elite platform's adoption will conceivably increase. As of right now, Qualcomm on PC has a sub-1% market share, but that is likely to change in the future. With plans for launching lower-priced variants next year, Qualcomm clearly isn't sitting idle either. Provided that Qualcomm can overcome the pricing and adoption hurdles, it is safe to say that Snapdragon-powered laptops will pose a serious threat to Intel's x86 dominance.

Update: Qualcomm has dismissed Johnston's statement

It appears that Qualcomm has already taken notice of co-CEO Johnston's comments and has issued a response. According to Qualcomm, the return rates for Snapdragon-powered laptops remain within industry levels, effectively refuting Johnston's claim. We will continue to provide updates as the story develops.

Buy the Lunar Lake-equipped Acer Swift 14 on Amazon.

Read all 11 comments / answer
static version load dynamic
Loading Comments
Comment on this article
Please share our article, every link counts!
Mail Logo
> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > News > News Archive > Newsarchive 2024 12 > Snapdragon X Elite laptops have high return rates, claims Intel co-CEO
Sambit Saha, 2024-12-14 (Update: 2024-12-15)