During a recent Computex keynote presentation, Qualcomm announced the next edition of its Snapdragon Summit. This year's event will take place in Hawaii, starting on September 23 and concluding on the 25th. The company's 2024 new product showcase took place last October, so an earlier than expected scheduled follow-up has caused industry observers to raise a collective eyebrow. Insiders foresee an unveiling of Qualcomm's next-gen flagship notebook/slimline laptop processor; mid-April leaks produced a smattering of elevated (generational) performance numbers. Late last week, Roland Quandt weighed in with fresh pre-release theories: "SC8480XP aka SD X2 Elite in testing with 64 GB RAM... looking like (an) 18-core thing, more and more."

Not long ago, the tenured semiconductor industry watcher linked the alleged Snapdragon X2 Elite flagship chip to a SK Hynix 48 GB RAM and 1 TB SSD-equipped SiP (System-in-Package) test platform. Mid-March "import-export database records" pointed to early evaluations of 18-core processor designs. The very best current-gen Snapdragon X Elite SoC leverages a 12-core "Oryon" design. Additional murmurs have driven speculation about diversified Snapdragon X2 Elite chips; allegedly powering desktop applications. Q1'25 rumors suggested the existence of setups configured with 120 mm AIO cooling solutions.

At Computex 2025, Shuttle introduced a new range of compact PCs designed to meet the needs of professional, industrial, and edge-AI users. The company presented five distinct models. The star of the show is the XPC Slim DB860. Housed in a sleek, slimline chassis, it accepts Intel Core Ultra 200S series processors (Arrow Lake) with up to 65 watts of thermal design power. Users can install up to 96 gigabytes of DDR5-5600 memory across two slots. Storage options include one 2.5-inch drive bay and one M.2 NVMe or SATA slot. Video outputs consist of two HDMI 2.1 ports capable of 7680 × 4320 at 60 Hz, two DisplayPort outputs supporting 4096 × 2160 at 120 Hz, and a USB4 port for a fourth display. A total of eight USB 3.2 ports and dual Intel Ethernet ports (1 Gb and 2.5 Gb) round out the I/O panel, making the DB860 suitable for creative workstations or small servers.

Acer today announced the expansion of its Aspire AI series laptops with six new Copilot+ PCs, showcasing intuitive AI capabilities and versatile features. Available in sleek 14- and 16-inch models, these laptops offer varied configuration options, combining powerful computing with modern designs at pocket-friendly prices. The new Aspire AI laptops cater to a diverse range of users, including students, professionals and families seeking reliable performance and multi-day battery life for their daily computing needs. As Copilot+ PCs, these laptops serve to streamline workflow with exclusive AI experiences, including Recall (preview), Click to Do (preview), and Improved Windows Search, making it easier to resume tasks and quickly find what users need. Acer's proprietary AI applications - AcerSense, Acer LiveArt 2.0, Acer PurifiedView 2.0 and Acer PurifiedVoice 2.0 - make it easy to manage settings, sift through files, produce stunning content instantly, and improve videoconferencing quality.

Featuring a durable, thin-and-light aluminium chassis, the Aspire 16 AI and Aspire 14 AI are perfect for travel, going to school and mobile work. Their versatile 180° hinge designs allow them to lay flat or be positioned in various ways, adjusting viewing angles based on the task at hand. With plenty of battery life, these devices can power through more than an entire day without needing to plug in. The Aspire range comes with 14- or 16-inch up to 120 Hz displays featuring slim bezels, and 16:10 aspect ratios for expansive viewing. Touchscreen models are available for more interactive use cases. Each device is equipped with up to 32 GB LPDDR5X memory, 1 TB PCIe Gen 4 storage, and offers ultra-fast, stable connectivity with up to Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4. Plus, they are equipped with a generous number of I/O ports, including a pair of USB Type-C and USB Type-A ports, HDMI 2.1, and MicroSD card slots. Each model is also EPEAT Gold registered and is encased in 100% recyclable packaging.

Copilot+ PCs continue to define the next wave of personal computing—fast, long lasting, secure PCs that are purpose-built to unlock AI experiences that empower us to get more done. Today, Microsoft and Surface expand the Copilot+ PC family with the new Surface Laptop, 13-inch and Surface Pro, 12-inch, designed with performance and portability in mind. These new PCs reflect the next chapter of Surface innovation bringing ultra-thin, lightweight and powerful Copilot+ PCs to more people at even lower price points.

Last May, we introduced a new category of devices—Copilot+ PCs, the fastest, most intelligent Windows PCs ever, with our flagship Surface Laptop and Surface Pro representing the ultimate Copilot+ PCs from Microsoft. Copilot+ PCs are lightning fast, responsive devices with long battery life, built to be secure by design and by default, and unlock exclusive AI experiences, running locally thanks to the Neural Processing Unit in their advanced processors. Windows continues to invest in Copilot+ PCs, with a new agent in settings and new Copilot+ PC experiences announced today—rolling out first to Windows Insiders. Today, we are proud to introduce two new Surface Copilot+ PCs, powered by Snapdragon X Plus processors, that deliver great experiences for great value. You now have more options to choose the right Surface Copilot+ PC to fit your needs.

Qualcomm aims to boost the performance of its Windows‑on‑Arm PC chips by about 18-22% percent with the next‑generation Snapdragon X2 processors. That estimate comes from Focused Digital, a well‑known Chinese blogger often leaks supply‑chain details. He says these new Snapdragon X2 chips will hit boost clocks of around 4.40 GHz, which is up from the 4.0 to 4.30 GHz range we see on today's Snapdragon X Elite models. Currently, those Elite chips use Oryon cores built on the TSMC 4 nm‑class N4P process. They run between 3.0 and 3.80 GHz at base and can turbo up to 4.30 GHz. So, simply cranking the top speed up another 100 MHz could explain a chunk of that performance jump. Beyond clocks, Qualcomm is probably squeezing more efficiency out of its Oryon V3 microarchitecture too, though we don't have details yet.

We also don't know exactly which process node Qualcomm will pick. They could stick with a refined 4 nm variant or switch to 3 nm later on. Either way, a roughly 20 percent improvement aligns with what you'd expect from a new generation of chips due in 2025. Another rumor floating around is that the X2 Elite series will jump from 12 to 18 cores, giving the processors more parallel horsepower. Internal test rigs reportedly pair these chips with up to 48 GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 1 TB of NVMe storage. Qualcomm rolled out its first Snapdragon X Elite processors in mid‑2024 and began testing the SC8480XP prototype in September 2024. If these performance figures hold up, the new Snapdragon X2 lineup could close the gap on x86 competitors and set Qualcomm up nicely for competing in stronger with a push in the PC segment by 2026.

When Microsoft first introduced the Copilot+ program alongside its renewed push for Windows-on-Arm laptops, the AI-powered assistant features were mostly limited to Snapdragon X-powered devices. In addition to the inclusion of these features on Intel and AMD systems, Microsoft is also announcing Voice Access, a new accessibility feature that will first launch on Qualcomm Snapdragon systems and make their way to Intel- and AMD-powered systems. These new updates come by way of the March 27 Preview update titled KB505365. However, there is still no mention of an AMD and Intel launch for the much maligned Recall feature that Microsoft was testing late last year and recalled due to privacy concerns.

According to the latest Windows Experience Blog post, users of AMD- and Intel-powered PCs will now be able to access features, like Live Captions, Cocreator, Restyle Image, and Image Creator more broadly across the line-up of Copilot+ PCs with Intel Core Ultra 200V and AMD Ryzen AI 300 CPUs. Live Captions is officially pitched as an accessibility feature, meanwhile Restyle Image and Image Creator are AI-powered image editing and generation features, and Cocreator lies somewhere in between as a text-to-image tool that is meant to augment drawing in Paint. Cocreator will be rolling out as of the announcement, and Restyle Image and Image Creator will be available in the Photos app on Intel and AMD systems. As for Voice Access, Microsoft claims that it will allow users to be more flexible with their language when using speech to navigate their PCs, as opposed to "learning complex steps, commands and syntax that voice access previously required" for voice navigation on PC. Voice Access will initially be limited to Snapdragon X PCs, but it will roll out to AMD and Intel Copilot+ PCs later this year.

Qualcomm has filed confidential complaints with antitrust regulators in the US, Europe, and South Korea, accusing Arm Holdings of leveraging its dominance to suppress competition in chip design. The filings, submitted to the US FTC European Commission and Korea Fair Trade Commission, alleged that Arm is restricting access to critical technologies and altering licensing terms to favor its own chip ventures, Bloomberg reported. Arm swiftly denied the claims, claimining that this is a distraction from a broader commercial dispute. "Arm remains focused on enhancing innovation, promoting competition, and respecting contractual rights and obligations," a company spokesperson told Tom's Hardware. "Any allegation of anti-competitive conduct is nothing more than a desperate attempt by Qualcomm to detract from the merits and expand the parties' ongoing commercial dispute for its own competitive benefit. Arm is confident that it will ultimately prevail in this dispute."

Qualcomm's filings argue that Arm is abandoning its longstanding open licensing model, which enabled a global ecosystem of chipmakers and software developers. Instead, the company claims Arm is prioritizing its compute subsystems (CSS)—pre-packaged chip designs for client devices and data centers—by limiting rivals' ability to license core technologies. Qualcomm also alleges Arm is withholding IP and violating agreements, particularly for clients developing custom silicon based on CSS designs. The complaints follow a recent legal victory for Qualcomm in a Delaware court, where a judge ruled the company did not breach licensing deals by acquiring chip startup Nuvia and using its IP in Snapdragon X processors for PCs. Arm, which plans to appeal the decision, insists Qualcomm's regulatory push is an escalation of the same dispute. According to Bloomberg's sources, Qualcomm's EU complaint—filed before the December court ruling—warned that Arm's post-2024 licensing changes would force chipmakers to obtain direct architecture licenses to use CSS designs, which could marginalize competitors. Arm confirmed it is preparing a formal response to the EU filing, while Qualcomm has reportedly engaged regulators in Washington and Seoul on similar concerns.

Arm has officially unveiled its Accuracy Super Resolution (ASR) upscaling technology at Game Developer Conference 2025, delivering an open-source upscaling solution for mobile and low-power devices. Built upon AMD's FidelityFX Super Resolution 2 (FSR 2) framework, ASR promises up to 53% higher frame rates while reducing power consumption by 20% on devices utilizing the Immortalis-G720 GPU. This technology addresses a critical performance gap in the Android ecosystem, which has historically lagged behind Apple's MetalFX implementation. The temporal upscaling approach employed by ASR combines information from multiple frames to generate higher-quality images, offering superior visual fidelity compared to Qualcomm's Game Super Resolution (GSR), which relies on the older spatial-based FSR 1 technique. In benchmark testing with complex scenes, Arm demonstrated that ASR helps maintain stable device temperatures, preventing thermal throttling that can compromise user experience.

Collaboration with MediaTek confirmed significant power savings on Dimensity 9300 chipsets, directly addressing battery life concerns for mobile gamers. Arm plans to release pre-built plugins for Unity and Unreal Engine by year-end, streamlining integration for developers working with these widely-used game engines. During GDC demonstrations, Arm showcased the "Mori" demo running in Unreal Engine 5, where ASR delivered 30% performance improvements without visual compromises. Licensed under MIT open-source terms, ASR's accessibility extends across the entire Arm ecosystem, potentially benefiting smartphones running MediaTek Dimensity, Qualcomm Snapdragon, Samsung Exynos, and even Arm-powered laptops featuring Snapdragon X series SoCs.

Qualcomm's Snapdragon X platform is hitting more road obstacles as the platform matures. First, it was low sales in the third quarter of 2024, and now it is the latest flag from the world's largest online retailer—Amazon. According to Windows Central, Amazon has flagged Microsoft's Surface Laptop 7 AI PC with the "Frequently Returned Item" flag. Being pretty much self-explanatory, the flag marks items "with the highest return rates for their product category." Presumably, Amazon's algorithm has weighted out return rates of AI PCs, and it turns out that Qualcomm Snapdragon X-powered Surface Laptop 7 has not stuck with consumers for long. Amazon's return policy allows product returns 30 days after receiving an item, and it seems like customers aren't pleased with it.

However, the laptop currently maintains a 4.2/5-star rating based on 360 ratings. 12% of these are one-star and 71% are five-star ratings. A sudden spike in returns may be boosted by Microsoft updating the Surface Laptop 7 with an Intel Core Ultra series of processors, so customers are returning their Arm-based laptops for x86 variants. We need more data to make further conclusions. As a reminder, despite sequential growth of 180% in Q3 2024, Snapdragon X-powered devices represent less than 1.5% of the Windows market, according to research from Canalys. Qualcomm sold around 720,000 Snapdragon X devices, accounting for only 0.8% of all PCs sold in Q3 2024. We are waiting for new data to compare to the rest of the ecosystem.

At its annual Amplify Conference, HP Inc. today announced new products and services designed to shape the future of work, empowering people and businesses to create and manage their own way of working. The company unveiled more than 80 PCs, AI-powered print tools for SMBs, and Workforce Experience Platform enhancements all built to drive company growth and professional fulfillment.

"HP is translating AI into meaningful experiences that drive growth and fulfillment," said Enrique Lores, President and CEO at HP Inc. "We are shaping the future of work with game-changing AI innovations that seamlessly adapt to how people want to work."

In something of a surprise, Epic Games today announced that it is working with Qualcomm to integrate support for the Qualcomm Snapdragon X CPUs into Easy Anti-Cheat, officially adding Fortnite to the list of games that are available for Windows on Arm. According to the post announcing the upcoming change to EAC, support for Windows on Arm in Fortnite will arrive before the end of 2025. Until the EAC update arrives, EAC will block Windows on Arm players from playing games like Fortnite because Windows on Arm devices use Prism emulation and translation to run x86 apps on Arm hardware. At the time of writing, the unofficial Windows on Arm app compatibility tracker lists a total of 675 apps as compatible with the Arm SoCs, 121 of which are games. This is compared to 17,955 games that are verified or playable on the Steam Deck via Valve's Proton translation layer, according to ProtonDB.

Expanding support for EAC to Windows on Arm could also allow games like Apex Legends and Fall Guys to run on Arm devices. This news comes in spite of the slow adoption of Windows on Arm devices, which Epic Games CEO, Tim Sweeney infamously quoted as the reason for not supporting the Steam Deck or Linux as a platform. "If we only had a few more programmers. It's the Linux problem. I love the Steam Deck hardware. Valve has done an amazing job there; I wish they would get to tens of millions of users, at which point it would actually make sense to support it." However, market share for Windows on Arm still appears to fall short of the market share Linux commands in the desktop OS space.

Today marks the launch of ASUS Vivobook S14/S16 (S3407QA/S3607QA), a pair of Copilot+ PCs engineered to be the ideal companions for everyday life.

Featuring the latest high-performance Snapdragon X processor with up to 45 TOPS NPU, these ultra-slim, lightweight laptops deliver powerful AI capabilities, extended battery life, and next-level connectivity. For work, study, or play, Vivobook S14/S16 provide an immersive entertainment experience with stunning 16:10 FHD OLED or 2.5K 144 Hz IPS displays, along with Snapdragon Sound and Dolby Atmos audio. Designed for style and durability, these devices ensure effortless AI computing with premium metallic chassis, military-grade resilience, and advanced security features for total peace of mind.

According to import-export database records obtained by WinFuture, we are informed that Qualcomm is testing an 18-core Snapdragon X2 Elite processor designated SC8480XP, representing a 50% increase in core count over the current 12-core Snapdragon X Elite. The silicon, developed under the "Project Glymur" codename, incorporates Oryon V3 architecture in what documentation describes as a "high-TDP" implementation exceeding the current generation's 80 W thermal envelope. Test platforms pair the processor with 48 GB of SK Hynix RAM and 1 TB NVMe storage. Reference documentation suggests integration as a system-in-package (SiP), potentially offering CPU and memory in a unified package, much like Intel's Lunar Lake and Apple M-series processors. Thermal management testing includes configurations with 120 mm AIO cooling solutions typical in desktop applications, though form factor targets remain unspecified.

Whether homogeneous high-performance cores or heterogeneous clusters, core architecture details remain undisclosed. Market positioning appears focused on high-TDP environments, suggesting that this new wave of Arm-based Windows processors plans to fight more aggressively in the AI PC space, which will see even NVIDIA join it in the coming months. Internal documentation potentially references "Snapdragon X2 Ultra Premium" branding, though the final nomenclature remains unconfirmed. Volume availability is not expected until 2026, allowing time for platform optimization and validation. Qualcomm has gathered feedback from its Snapdragon X Elite initial launch and working to improve performance and app compatibility for Windows-on-Arm platforms.

A recent leak from the reliable analyst Evan Blass has revealed a bunch of new ThinkPad, ThinkBook, and Yoga devices set to see the light of day at MWC 2025. Although the tweet has been deleted by Evan, Notebookcheck was able to summarize the information provided in the nick of time. First up, we have the refreshed ThinkPads, including the T14, T14s, T16, and X13. All the devices are equipped with the beloved TrackPoint, unlike the recently launched ThinkPad X9 Aura. The T14 G6 and T16 G4 are expected to be marketed as a CoPilot+ PC, indicating Lunar Lake prowess. However, the processor powering the X13 is not known at this point.

The Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i Aura will also reportedly see the light of day at MWC 2025, packing a 16-inch display with an unconfirmed Intel processor. As for the ThinkBooks, the lineup will likely welcome two new entrants, including the ThinkBook 14 2-in-1 -- a 14-inch convertible with a touchscreen and stylus support -- and the ThinkBook 16P G6 - a 16-inch device that is rumored to boast a dedicated GPU, a numeric keypad, and a spacious trackpad. Finally, we have the IdeaPad Slim 3x, which will boast the entry-level Snapdragon X processor and position itself as a budget device with a 16-inch display, fingerprint scanner, SD card reader, USB-A and USB-C ports, as well as a privacy cover for the webcam. The image order has been detailed below.

Cristiano Amon, Qualcomm's Chief Executive Officer, made a major announcement during a recent company earnings call. Since late last year, technology news outlets have kept a collective eye trained on legal wranglings involving the mobile processor specialist and Arm Holdings. Qualcomm won a partial victory in December—a Delaware jury unanimously found that the: "use of Oryon cores in its Snapdragon X processors for client PCs did not violate its licensing agreements with Arm." However, said jury did not deliver a unanimous verdict on the trial's other lines of query—soon after concluding, Arm filed a motion for a new session.

According to a relatively new Reuters follow-up report, Arm has terminated one of its pursuits. During Wednesday's (February 5) meeting with industry analysts, the Qualcomm boss declared: "Arm recently notified us that it was withdrawing its October 22, 2024 notice of breach, and indicated that it has no current plan to terminate the Qualcomm architecture license agreement." Amon and his colleagues are likely celebrating this development, as well as claimed "positive growth" for Snapdragon X Elite-powered devices. Industry watchdogs believe that Arm could file for a retrial in the near future. According to The Register, the two companies are due to face-off again—albeit under different circumstances: "Qualcomm continues to pursue another case against Arm, alleging the UK outfit didn't honor some of its contractual obligations. Arm reckons that matter will reach the courts in the first half of 2026."

Ever since Apple graced the industry with its M-series chips, Windows enthusiasts have been holding out for a similar Arm-powered revolution for Windows laptops. Qualcomm attempted to do just that with its Snapdragon X Elite chip, advertising performance and efficiency that trades blows with Apple Silicon, while outpacing x86-based laptops in battery life. In reality, the X Elite SoC did bring impressive efficiency to the table, although its CPU performance and efficiency were soon bested by AMD's offerings, while the Adreno iGPU struggled to keep up with even last-gen counterparts since day-one.

Moreover, software compatibility was a major hurdle, making the X Elite systems borderline unusable for professionals with specific requirements that do not have Arm-native alternatives. As a result, the X Elite laptops had a sub 1% market share last fall - a daunting figure considering that Qualcomm had initially targeted 30 - 50% market share by 2029. That said, the story appears to be taking somewhat of a positive turn, with CEO Christiano Amon asserting that Snapdragon X-powered laptops accounted for over 10% of all $800+ laptops sold in December, in the US. Of course, the statement clearly addresses a very specific segment of the market, which makes the 10%+ number more modest that it may appear on paper.

Microsoft will roll out "NPU-optimized versions of DeepSeek-R1" directly to Copilot+ PCs—yesterday's announcement revealed that Qualcomm Snapdragon X-equipped systems will be first in line to receive support. Owners of devices—that harbor Intel Core Ultra 200V "Lunar Lake" processors—will have to wait a little longer, and reports suggest that AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX-based Copilot+ PCs will be third in Microsoft's queue. Interestingly, Team Red has published DeepSeek R1 model-related guides for Radeon RX graphics cards and Ryzen AI processors. Starting off, Microsoft's first release will be based on DeepSeek-R1-Distill-Qwen-1.5B—made available in AI Toolkit. Teased future updates will be 7B and 14B variants. These are expected to "arrive soon."

Microsoft reckons that the optimized models will: "let developers build and deploy AI-powered applications that run efficiently on-device, taking full advantage of the powerful Neural Processing Unit (NPUs) in Copilot+ PCs. The on-board AI-crunching solution is advertised as a tool for empowerment—allowing: "developers to tap into powerful reasoning engines to build proactive and sustained experiences. With our work on Phi Silica, we were able to harness highly efficient inferencing—delivering very competitive time to first token and throughput rates, while minimally impacting battery life and consumption of PC resources." Western companies appear to be participating in a race to swiftly adopt DeepSeek's open source model, due to apparent cost benefits. Certain North American organizations have disclosed their own views and reservations, but others will happily pay less for a potent alternative to locally-developed systems. In a separate bulletin (also posted on January 29), Microsoft's AI platform team revealed that a cloud-hosted DeepSeek R1 model is available on Azure AI Foundry and GitHub.

Qualcomm's Snapdragon X2 processor family was outed last autumn—online sources revealed an Iceland-themed "Project Glymur" moniker, as well as the "SC8480XP" SKU codename. At the time, leakers suggested that Qualcomm engineers had started testing early samples around July/August—further speculation pointed to "Snapdragon X Elite Gen 2" chipsets being evaluated on desktop platforms.

Yesterday, Everest (aka Olrak29_) discovered another SKU—their social media post included an intriguing screenshot, extracted from a shipping manifest. The image's contents reveals the existence of an "Ultra Premium" model, with part number: X2-000-096. Qualcomm has publicly acknowledged that it is working on successors, for launch in 2025—its third generation of "Oryon" CPU cores are lined up for inclusion in the next-gen AI PC project. Second-gen "Oryon" cores are reserved for smartphone platforms. The leaked "Ultra Premium" chip could sit in a new product tier—possibly positioned above the already established high-end "Elite" range.

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) kicked off in Las Vegas, bringing together a myriad of innovative technologies from around the globe. Among the highlights of this year's event was the debut of Play For Dream MR, an Android-based spatial computer, which garnered praise from media, exhibitors, and attendees alike.

Since its global launch in Singapore, Play For Dream MR technology has made a significant impression with its state-of-the-art hardware, proprietary algorithm architecture, and sleek integrated design. With the capability to seamlessly blend virtual and real-world experiences, the Play For Dream MR is poised to redefine spatial entertainment.

ASUS today announced a significant expansion of its innovative Copilot+ PC lineup, the fastest, most intelligent Windows PCs, bringing artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities to users in every segment—empowering more people than ever to embrace the exciting and burgeoning era of AI.

As AI reshapes both how people interact with technology and their expectations of what a computer should be, our all-new Copilot+ PC lineup is designed to meet the growing demand for more affordable, more efficient, more secure and faster laptops that elevate both personal and professional workflows. Powered by the latest AI-enabled processors from Qualcomm, AMD and Intel, and available in a diverse range of styles and form factors, ASUS is leading the charge in making AI technology universally accessible.

ASUS today announced the groundbreaking Zenbook A14 (UX3407) - the lightest 14-inch Copilot+ PC on the market, and also the first all-Ceraluminum ASUS laptop. Zenbook A14 is also the first Zenbook model powered by the latest Snapdragon X Series AI-enabled processors. Zenbook A14 redefines lightweight laptops, addressing traditional challenges like durability, performance, cooling, battery life, limited ports, and cost. Its all-Ceraluminum chassis is ultra-light at under 980 g, durable, and low-maintenance, designed for everyday use. Snapdragon X Series processors deliver outstanding power efficiency and performance with multi-working-day battery life, and the dual-fan thermal system ensures optimal cooling and boosts CPU TDP up to 45 W with minimal noise. As a Copilot+ PC, it enhances productivity and creativity with advanced AI capabilities.

The intuitive design includes an enlarged touchpad supporting Smart Gestures and a versatile range of I/O ports. Seamless integration with Windows Phone Link and Snapdragon Seamless lets users answer calls, manage notifications, and transfer files directly from the laptop. Users can even turn their phone into a webcam. Entertainment shines with the FHD ASUS Lumina OLED display and a powerful super-linear speaker system, offering a cinematic experience. Security is robust with the Microsoft Pluton processor and Windows passkeys for secure authentication storage. AI-driven features like the AI IR Camera system provide facial recognition for automatic login and logout, Adaptive Lock, and Adaptive Dimming, ensuring enhanced privacy and usability. With its lightweight design, robust performance, and advanced features, Zenbook A14 is a true game-changer in portable computing.

At CES 2025, Lenovo unveiled a bold lineup of AI-powered business solutions designed to redefine the modern workplace. Highlights include the boldly redesigned Lenovo ThinkPad X9 Aura Editions, the innovative and unique ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 with rollable display, and the latest commercial desktops, including the high performance ThinkCentre M90a Pro Gen 6, and the groundbreaking ThinkCentre neo 50q QC powered by Snapdragon. Lenovo also introduces its next-generation ThinkVision P Series monitors and a comprehensive ecosystem of smart accessories, all engineered to elevate productivity and connectivity. Rounding out the announcements, Lenovo showcases cutting-edge proof-of-concept innovations that push the boundaries of technology, offering a glimpse into the future of intelligent, adaptable business solutions.

Lenovo Unveils ThinkPad X9 Series: Revolutionary Design Meets Pro-Level Performance
Lenovo introduces the ThinkPad X9 14 and X9 15 Aura Editions, its latest premium business laptops designed for innovative thinkers from prosumers to small and medium businesses to large corporations. These Copilot+ PCs powered by Intel Core Ultra processors are cutting-edge, AI-enhanced devices for creative professionals that combine powerful and efficient Intel and Windows 11 platforms, personalized AI-enabled experiences, in an all-new progressive design. ThinkPad X9 offers the ideal toolkit for today's hybrid users who demand high performance, proven reliability, and seamless productivity.

Expanding its AI PC leadership, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. announced the Snapdragon X Platform, the 4th platform to join the Snapdragon X Series compute portfolio, designed to deliver performance, multi-day battery life, and Copilot+ PC experiences for even more users globally.

Redefining the PC Category for Mainstream Devices at $600
Utilizing the power of an 8-core Qualcomm Oryon CPU, Snapdragon X is delivering essential performance to the next-generation of PCs. This platform delivers up to 163% faster performance at ISO-power than our competitors who also require 168% more power at ISO-performance, the Snapdragon X processor balances performance and built-in intelligence with a 45 TOPS NPU that runs Copilot+ PC experiences more efficiently. With an integrated power efficient GPU, Snapdragon X supports dynamic graphics ideal for creating presentations, web browsing, or streaming content. Snapdragon X is an ideal solution for students, freelance workers, and budget-conscious consumers who need a reliable and powerful laptop that can keep up with their busy lives. Devices powered by Snapdragon X are expected to be available from leading OEMs including Acer, ASUS, Dell Technologies, HP and Lenovo in early 2025 enabling Copilot+ PCs in the $600 range.

Frore Systems has demonstrated the massive increase in performance possible with AirJet solid-state active cooling chips in the new Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge 14", the thinnest Notebook on the market at just 10.9 mm. The proof-of-concept Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge 14", upgraded with AirJet, achieves an incredible 50% increase in sustained CPU & AI performance, showing that now, consumers really can demand it all. Frore Systems will be showcasing the upgraded Samsung Notebook in January at CES 2025.

Frore Systems achieved the 50% performance boost in the Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge 14", from 12 Watts to 18 Watts, by replacing the two large fans currently used in the Notebook with four AirJet chips. This innovative solution reduces the cooling solution footprint by 45% - the fans consuming 8,800 mm² of space vs the AirJet footprint of just 4,800 mm². Therefore, the extremely compact AirJet solution creates additional space inside the Galaxy Book4 Edge 14", potentially allowing for increasing the battery size from the current 55.9 Wh to 64.8 Wh - a 16% increase - improving video runtime from 20 hours to 23.2 hours.

A Delaware jury has delivered a mixed verdict in the high-stakes licensing dispute between Qualcomm and Arm, with Qualcomm securing a significant but incomplete victory. The jury unanimously found that Qualcomm's use of Oryon cores in its Snapdragon X processors for client PCs did not violate its licensing agreements with Arm. The case centered on Qualcomm's $1.4 billion acquisition of Nuvia in 2021 and subsequent use of Nuvia's processor designs. Arm had alleged that Nuvia's licensing terms couldn't transfer automatically to Qualcomm and demanded renegotiation of the agreements. When Qualcomm proceeded with development, Arm insisted the designs be destroyed. During the trial, Gerard Williams III, the lead developer of Oryon cores and former Apple engineer, testified that the final design contained less than 1% of Arm technology.

This testimony supported Qualcomm's position that its existing architecture license covered products designed by its subsidiaries. While Qualcomm celebrated the verdict allowing continued development of its Snapdragon X processors, the jury deadlocked whether Nuvia violated its original agreement with Arm, specifically about permitting server processor development. This impasse has prompted Arm to announce its intention to seek a retrial on this unresolved count. "We are disappointed that the jury was unable to reach consensus across the claims," Arm stated, wanting to protect its intellectual property and ecosystem. Meanwhile, Qualcomm expressed satisfaction with the decision, stating the verdict "vindicated Qualcomm's right to innovate." The stakes remain high for both companies. Qualcomm relies on its Oryon cores to compete in the PC market, where it currently holds a 0.8% share of Q3 2024 shipments, while Arm derives approximately $300 million annually from Qualcomm, representing 10% of its revenue.