Latest Snapdragon 8cx chipset should power some blazing fast laptops next year

Snapdragon 8cx gen 3 and snapdragon 7c+ gen 3

(Paradigm credit: Qualcomm)

High-end laptops with cellular connectivity stand to go a large boost next year, when the first models featuring Qualcomm's latest PC processors start to go far.

The Snapdragon 8cx Gen iii, unveiled today (Dec. 1), is the first 5-nanometer chip for Windows PCs. Previous Snapdragon 8cx chips had been 7nm, then Qualcomm's including more transistors on this version, which should lead to a big boost in both speed and power efficiency.

Qualcomm isn't merely rolling out new processors for premium always-connected notebooks. The Snapdragon 7c+ Gen 3 made its debut, too, introducing 5G connectivity to entry-level laptops and Chromebooks.

Laptops featuring either new chipset aren't expected until the first half of 2022, according to Qualcomm. But here's what you can expect from both the Snapdragon 8cx Gen iii and Snapdragon 7cx+ Gen 3 one time the new silicon finds its way into assorted laptops.

Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3: What you need to know

Power and functioning appear to be the name of the game for the Snapdragon 8cx. Qualcomm says new prime cores integrated into the chipset'south Kryo CPU can boost 85% over a comparable x86 processor; performance per watt is 60% greater, co-ordinate to Qualcomm'southward math.

The Adreno GPU is also getting a boost on the Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3, where graphic performance jumps by sixty% over the previous generation. Playing games at full HD resolution, users should be able to savor 50% longer sessions on a Snapdragon 8cx-powered laptop compared versus competing platforms.

All told, Qualcomm says the Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 can keep a laptop powered up for 25-plus hours — twice every bit long as the current PC for most users.

As with past Snapdragon 8cx chips, this new generation includes 5G connectivity, though there will be a pick in modems. The fastest option, the Snapdragon x65, can support upwards to 10Gbps speeds over 5G, but there volition also exist chipsets featuring the X55 (7.5Gbps download speeds) and X62 (4.4Gbps) modems. In addition, the Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 supports Wi-Fi 6E and its 3.6Gbps wireless speeds.

The Snapdragon 8cx Gen iii includes Qualcomm'south AI engine and Hexagon processor, and Qualcomm says the chipset is capable of 29-plus trillion operations per second (TOPS). That'southward 3x more than than the competition, enabling Snapdragon 8cx-powered laptops to offer more than sophisticated AI-driven feel such as facial recognition and blurred backgrounds on video calls.

Speaking of video, the Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 chipset includes Qualcomm's Spectra image bespeak processor (Internet service provider), which can back up 4K HDR video and upwardly to four cameras. Improved startup times should let users leap onto video calls fifteen% faster than they would with Gen 2-powered machines, and there'south also support for racket and repeat cancellation technology.

Snapdragon 7c+ Gen 3: What you need to know

The Snapdragon 7c+ Gen 3 is aimed at more pocket-sized laptops than the Snapdragon 8cx platform. Just yous're till going to see a 60% boost in CPU functioning and a 70% jump in GPU speed. AI performance can reach half dozen.5 TOPS, beating the 5 TOPS of previous Snapdragon 7c chipsets.

The bigger story here is that the Snapdragon 7c+ Gen 3 is adding 5G connectivity in the class of a Snapdragon X53 modem. The modem, which works with both sub-6GHz and mmWave-based 5G, tin can achieve download speeds of upwardly to 3.7Gbps. On the Wi-Fi front, back up for Wi-Fi 6 and 6E in Qualcomm'south FastConnect 6700 engineering science ways wireless download speeds of upwards to ii.9Gbps.

Philip Michaels is a senior editor at Tom's Guide. He has strong opinions about Apple, the Oakland Athletics and erstwhile movies. Follow him at @PhilipMichaels.