Wednesday, November 27th 2024
Snapdragon X Failed: Qualcomm Sold 720,000 PCs in Q3, Around 0.8% Market Share
The latest market data from Canalys reveals a complex landscape for AI-capable PCs, with Qualcomm's Snapdragon X platform showing modest growth in the age of AI PC. Despite sequential growth of 180% in Q3 2024, Snapdragon X-powered devices represent less than 1.5% of the Windows market, according to research. Qualcomm managed to sell around 720,000 Snapdragon X devices, which accounts for only 0.8% of all PCs sold in Q3 2024. Microsoft leads the adoption of the Snapdragon X, having integrated the platform across much of its Surface lineup. The broader AI-capable PC market, however, tells a different story. Shipments reached 13.3 million units in Q3 2024, claiming 20% of total PC shipments. Windows devices dominated this category for the first time, securing a 53% market share, driven by the Windows 11 refresh cycle and advances in processor technology.
Canalys also noted some significant challenges ahead. A recent survey indicates hesitancy among channel partners, with 31% planning to avoid Microsoft's Copilot+ PCs in 2025 and 34% expecting these devices to constitute less than 10% of their sales. These premium offerings, which require a minimum of 40 NPU TOPS, are constantly being evaluated over their value proposition. Major manufacturers are pursuing diverse strategies to differentiate themselves. HP focuses on ISV partnerships to enhance AI capabilities, while Lenovo develops proprietary tools like Creator Zone and Lenovo AI Now. Dell and Lenovo are integrating on-device AI within their broader service ecosystems. With Windows 10's end-of-support approaching, manufacturers face pressure to drive upgrades among users with aging devices. The industry's sequential growth of 49% in AI-capable PCs suggests increasing market appetite, though customer adoption of premium AI features remains selective.
Sources:
Canalys for TechRadar Pro, XDA Developers (Image)
Canalys also noted some significant challenges ahead. A recent survey indicates hesitancy among channel partners, with 31% planning to avoid Microsoft's Copilot+ PCs in 2025 and 34% expecting these devices to constitute less than 10% of their sales. These premium offerings, which require a minimum of 40 NPU TOPS, are constantly being evaluated over their value proposition. Major manufacturers are pursuing diverse strategies to differentiate themselves. HP focuses on ISV partnerships to enhance AI capabilities, while Lenovo develops proprietary tools like Creator Zone and Lenovo AI Now. Dell and Lenovo are integrating on-device AI within their broader service ecosystems. With Windows 10's end-of-support approaching, manufacturers face pressure to drive upgrades among users with aging devices. The industry's sequential growth of 49% in AI-capable PCs suggests increasing market appetite, though customer adoption of premium AI features remains selective.
19 Comments on Snapdragon X Failed: Qualcomm Sold 720,000 PCs in Q3, Around 0.8% Market Share
Also, which video card can I insert in my Snapdragon powered PC?
www.bestbuy.ca/en-ca/category/windows-laptops/36711?path=category%253AComputers%2B%2526%2BTablets%253Bcategory%253ALaptops%2B%2526%2BMacBooks%253Bcategory%253AWindows%2BLaptops%253Bprocessortype0enrchstring%253AQualcomm&sort=priceLowToHigh
On the 1st webpage there are 24 laptops for sale with Snapdragon X processor.
Statistics is as follows:
12 out of 24 are Refurbished - 50% ( !!! )
10 out of 24 are Open Box - 42% ( !!! )
2 out of 24 are New - 8%
Qualcom has to do much better. I have a very negative impression of my previous qualcom snapdragon android devices. Why should someone buy a product with basically no aftersale support or any specifications? Just because intel and amd is worse, qualcom and mediatek should not be the worst.
Give us the specifications and proper support and proper documentation for existing qualcom products. I talk about 15 years guaranteed after sale support for anyone with a qualcom product.I bought for 110€ a refurbished lenovo laptop which included a windows 10 pro license with shipping and 12 months warranty. That device basically can do the same. One device is old with a proven architecture - the other device is new with barely any documentation and issues.
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Apple is another topic. They have their own software and hardware combination which is limited. You pay for the apple ecosystem and quality. You can not compare that with the "windows" ecosystem + arm qualcom processor.
I have never opened or serviced any as they are not sold here... I wonder what is going on with the RMA rates there... so many refurbs...
Intel should've slashed their GPU prices by 20% across the board for the exact same reason. Although I can imagine they don't have the money to do so...
Neither had any intention on putting it out cheap. Somewhat understandable, that may result in the "brand" looking like a value non-premium product making it hard to move significant high-margin stock, but surely they know damn well that this is going to happen.
I can assure you that Intel and Qualcomm would've been able to find a way to get these products out there affordable through means that would be legal.
I'm not asking them to sell the products going for 1000 euros for 500 euros no, I'm asking for them to make a less premium model (e.g. more plastic, smaller batteries, lower quality non-core components or just chips with slower or less cores) and sell them at a small loss. Let's not forget that these products most definitely have all the research and engineering calculated in the prices which inflate it to the current levels.
Doing all these things makes it easy to "technically" not sell them at a loss (we're just conveniently leaving out some less tangible costs here) just to get a much larger market share.
Qualcomm and Microsoft aren't stupid, this is a calculated gamble. I do think the amount of products is significantly less than expected, but I'm hard pressed to believe they didn't see it coming. They know and especially knew.
I also have some gripes with the title of this topic for the same reason.
It failed if you want to look at it strictly from a market adoption perspective, but I'd say it just did slightly poorer than expected looking at the effort Microsoft and Qualcomm put in. If they really tried they would've been able to make waves. Unless you're apple not addressing the sub 1k market is just suicide if you want to move significant stock.