Qualcomm unveils next-gen 5G laptop platform ahead of Apple Silicon MacBook arrival

[Chris Smith]

• Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 5G is the next-gen computer platform that will power slim Windows 10 laptop designs that support always-on, always-connected experiences.
• Qualcomm announced the Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 platform at IFA 2020, revealing that Acer will be one of the first notebook vendors to make use of it this year.
• The Snapdragon 8cx platform will go head to head against Apple’s upcoming MacBooks powered by the Apple Silicon chips, which are variations of the powerful A-series processors inside iPhones and iPads.

We’ve had ARM laptops for a few years now, as Qualcomm’s flagship Snapdragon chips that powered high-end Android handsets were repurposed for laptop use. Then Qualcomm last year released the Snapdragon 8cx platform, which is further optimized for laptop use. Several handset makers have already launched Windows-on-ARM devices, including Microsoft, which released its first Surface with an ARM chip inside last fall. There’s no question that the most anticipated processor switch to ARM concerns Apple’s Mac line. After years of reports based on sources familiar with Apple’s plans that said the ARM MacBook was in the works, Apple confirmed in mid-June that it would move its laptops and desktops to Apple Silicon. That’s a fancy name for chips based on the same processors that power the iPhone and iPad. It’s also exciting news. It’s not just because Apple would cut its reliance on Intel and could drop the prices of future Macs. It’s also because Apple’s A-series chips have no rival, and laptop versions could be equally impressive.

The first ARM MacBook willl arrive later this year, according to the latest unconfirmed chatter. But before we even get to that, you should know that Qualcomm just announced its brand new platform for Windows-on-ARM laptops, which should be exciting news to anyone looking for new notebooks that don’t have to run macOS.

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Qualcomm unveils next-gen 5G laptop platform ahead of Apple Silicon MacBook arrival originally appeared on BGR.com on Thu, 3 Sep 2020 at 06:50:53 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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