Qualcomm's GM remains unfazed by potential delay in Snapdragon X series until 2026, dismissing concerns over 'tick-tock' release strategy.
Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Delay Explained
Computex 2025 came to a close on May 23, leaving the tech world buzzing with all the latest product announcements. However, one notable exception was missing: Qualcomm's next generation of Snapdragon X chips. Instead, Qualcomm focused on AI capabilities and its available hardware. So, what gives?
Why the extended delay between the next generation of Snapdragon X chips? Let's dive into it.
Qualcomm's 'Tick-Tock' Release Strategy
You might've been wondering where the heck Qualcomm has been on the Snapdragon X front. Fear not, the folks at Qualcomm aren't slacking—they're just adhering to their own steady pace.
Qualcomm follows a "tick-tock" release cycle for its Snapdragon X platform, similar to how Apple used to do things with its iPhones. In plain English, this means significant upgrades are announced every two years, with minor updates in between.
Qualcomm introduced "the most powerful computing processor it has ever created for the PC," the Snapdragon X Elite, in late 2023, and it's been around for about a year and a half. Since then, we've seen a few new variations like the Snapdragon X Plus and some SKUs for budget systems on the first-gen platform.
Qualcomm's management isn't worried about keeping up with the Joneses. They believe this approach allows their chips to mature in the market and stay ahead of the competition in terms of performance-per-watt, strong retail and commercial relationships, and marketing efforts.
So, while we're waiting for the Snapdragon X2 to make its debut, feel free to grab one of the many Snapdragon X devices on the market that continue to hold their own against the competition in terms of efficiency, performance, and pricing.
What's Next?
Qualcomm is targeting an October 2025 presentation at the Snapdragon Summit for the Snapdragon X2 reveal, with a market launch expected in early 2026. Keep an eye on Intel, AMD, and even Apple—they're all working hard to stay relevant and could make some bold moves in the meantime.
Qualcomm needs to make a big impression when it finally rolls out the next generation of SoCs to recapture some of the hype that's dwindled since its initial ad campaign. We believe the company is up for the challenge and can’t wait to see what they bring to the table in the PC world.
[1] According to Laptop Mag, Qualcomm GM of mobile, compute, and XR, Alex Katouzian, explained the company's strategy during Computex 2025.
[2] Qualcomm's 'tick-tock' Snapdragon X release cycle aims to prevent frequent, insignificant updates and focus on substantial improvements or new features every other generation.
[3] The extended delay between generations is to allow the current chips to mature in the market and establish themselves before the next generation takes over.
[4] The tick-tock cycle also allows Qualcomm to strengthen partnerships with OEMs and developers during the gap between major releases, which is essential for the success of the platform.
[5] According to Qualcomm's official website, the Snapdragon X series provides exceptional efficiency, performance, and price compared to its competitors.
- Despite the delay in announcing the next generation of Qualcomm's Snapdragon X chips, the current lineup continues to stand strong against competitors in terms of efficiency, performance, and pricing.
- Qualcomm's strategy for the Snapdragon X platform, known as 'tick-tock', aims to avoid frequent, insignificant updates and instead focus on substantial improvements or new features every other generation.
- The extended delay between generations is intentional, allowing the current chips to mature in the market and establish themselves before the next generation takes over.
- In the meantime, Qualcomm uses the gap between major releases to strengthen partnerships with OEMs and developers, which is vital for the success of the platform.
- Qualcomm's Snapdragon X series, including the Snapdragon X Elite, is designed to provide exceptional efficiency, performance, and price compared to its competitors.
- Microsoft's Surface Laptop, Surface Pro, and other gadgets might benefit from the Snapdragon X series, given Qualcomm's focus on hardware and technology.
- With Microsoft's Windows operating system and Qualcomm's processors, gaming on laptops could become even more engaging.
- Data-and-cloud-computing and artificial-intelligence technologies could also see improvements with the enhanced processing power of the Snapdragon X series.
- As we move towards October 2025, expect Qualcomm to unveil the Snapdragon X2 at the Snapdragon Summit, with a market launch expected in early 2026, and stiff competition from Intel, AMD, and even Apple.
