Revolutionizing Laptops: Snapdragon X Series Brings AI to Your Fingertips

The first-ever Snapdragon X Series Southeast Asia Media Summit, held at the W Hotel in Sentosa, Singapore, the event served as a launchpad for the next generation of AI-powered personal computing devices powered by the latest Snapdragon X Series Chipset.

This event spotlighted Qualcomm’s latest offering designed to transform the PC landscape with its focus on on-device AI (NPU), performance, and efficiency.

The summit even brought together industry leaders of top PC brands like Dell, HP, Lenovo, ASUS, technology enthusiasts, and different media outlets in southeast asia to see the future of computing firsthand.

But, what made this event stand out was how the discussions were presented in a simple and understandable way, making even the most complex topics like AI approachable for non-techie audiences.

Opening Keynote: Qualcomm’s Vision for the AI PC Era

Kedar Kondap, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Compute and Gaming, Qualcomm Technologies Inc., kicked off the summit with a welcome address articulating Qualcomm’s vision for AI-driven computing.

Rather than diving into overly technical jargon, he used real-life analogies and scenarios to explain AI’s impact on computing.

He likened AI PCs to having a personal assistant who learns from your habits, making everyday tasks smoother and more intuitive.

Then, Sean Coup, the event’s host, shared his personal experience using the Snapdragon Copilot Plus PC as his daily driver.

He emphasized its ability to run power-intensive applications such as Blender and DaVinci Resolve without requiring a power outlet.

He even compared it to using a high-performance gaming laptop but with the battery efficiency of a tablet.

Additionally, Coup showcased the Moises live application, demonstrating how real-time AI capabilities streamline music production and editing, a feature that would traditionally require expensive software and hardware. more on later.

Joining him is Alicia Lim from Sr. Director, Compute Qualcomm Technologies, further elaborated on AI-driven noise cancellation, showing how it enables clear communication even in noisy environments like the beach.

She also explained it in simple terms—comparing it to how human ears can naturally focus on one conversation in a crowded room, but in this case, the AI does it for you digitally.

Premium Performance and Cutting-Edge AI Features

The Snapdragon X Series is engineered to provide a seamless and responsive user experience across various applications, from professional workloads to entertainment. The event featured live demonstrations that allowed attendees to see, touch, and experience AI-driven capabilities firsthand:

first is the Creative Zone, in this section of the show floor a Musician performed using Snapdragon-powered devices, demonstrating near-zero latency.

The explanation was straightforward and engaging: imagine you’re a musician playing a live performance.

When you strike a key on a piano or strum a guitar string, you expect to hear the sound immediately. If there’s even a tiny delay, it can throw off the rhythm and make the experience frustrating.

Snapdragon’s AI-driven processing eliminates this issue by ensuring that when you play an instrument on a digital interface, the sound is produced in real-time, with no lag.

This near-zero latency makes it feel as natural as playing on a traditional instrument, offering musicians and creators an intuitive, uninterrupted experience while producing high-quality sound effortlessly.

Next is the Performance Benchmarks section, Attendees witnessed high-performance computing, whether plugged in or on battery.

One of the representative from Snapdragon did is Instead of throwing technical benchmarks at the audience, the presenters made it relatable—comparing it to running multiple browser tabs, video editing software, and a game all at once without any lag.

Ultimate Productivity Setup: The display featured a 15K total resolution setup with AI-powered peripherals, likened to having multiple high-quality TVs combined into one immersive screen—ideal for multitasking professionals.

Beyond that, they also demonstrated running LLMs (Large Language Models) locally, rendering views in Blender, and performing color grading in DaVinci Resolve—all without utilizing the CPU.

Instead, all tasks were offloaded to the NPU (Neural Processing Unit), significantly easing the workload, enhancing efficiency, and maintaining peak performance without any slowdowns.

Now one of the things we love is the integration of AI in the Snapdragon X Series is it enhances fundamental tasks such as image restyling, Windows search, and live captions.

Likewise, In the Beach Zone, attendees observed AI-driven features like Auto-Cropping and Match Look, which delivered professional-grade image enhancements.

The explanation was made engaging by comparing it to an automatic Instagram filter that knows exactly how to make your picture look its best.

Competitive Pricing and Market Expansion

ASUS announced plans to launch a comprehensive Snapdragon-based PC lineup covering premium gaming, content creation, and everyday usage.

The pricing strategy aims to make AI-powered PCs more accessible, targeting a wide range of consumers from professionals to students.

The analogy used was simple: just like how smartphones have different price ranges from budget to premium, AI PCs will cater to different needs while still maintaining the core AI capabilities.

Kondap expressed confidence that the Snapdragon X Series would usher in a new possibilities of computing where AI-driven automation improves productivity and creativity for all users.

He compared it to having a personal secretary who anticipates what you need before you even ask.

Snapdragon X Series Platform: Unraveling the Technology

Nathan Kumar provided an in-depth look into the Snapdragon X platform’s technological advancements. Instead of bombarding the audience with technical specifications, he broke it down using easy-to-understand comparisons:

• 4-nanometer process technology: Think of it like a smaller, more efficient brain for your computer.
• Eight-core Qualcomm custom Orion CPU: More cores mean more hands working together to get things done faster.
• 45 TOPS of NPU (Neural Processing Unit): This is the “AI brain” that handles tasks intelligently without slowing down the system.
• LPDDR5 memory with 135 GB/s bandwidth: Think of this as a super-fast highway that lets data move smoothly without traffic jams.

Benchmark tests showed that the Snapdragon X Series offers up to 163% faster CPU performance compared to competing processors, meaning users will experience a noticeable speed boost in their everyday tasks.

The Dawn of the AI PC Era

The summit reinforced that AI is reshaping personal computing. Instead of treating AI as a distant futuristic concept, it was made tangible and relatable:

• AI is Transforming Computing: AI makes computers smarter, just like how a good assistant learns what you need.
• ARM-based PCs are Gaining Ground: ARM is like an electric car—more efficient and just as powerful as traditional options.
• Southeast Asia as a Key Market: The region is tech-savvy and quick to adopt innovations.
• Collaboration is Essential: Just like a well-functioning team, AI PCs need developers, software makers, and hardware manufacturers to work together.

Challenges in AI PC Adoption: Insights from the Panel Discussion

While AI PCs offer never seen before advancements, industry leaders and partners at the Snapdragon X Series Southeast Asia Media Summit acknowledged that there are still challenges to overcome before widespread adoption can be achieved.

During the  Fireside Chat panel discussion, experts from Dell, ASUS, Lenovo, and HP shared their perspectives on the hurdles that need to be addressed to make AI-powered PCs mainstream.

1. Educating Consumers: Bridging the Knowledge Gap

In the dawn of AI, one of the biggest challenges is that many consumers still don’t fully understand what AI PCs can do, especially for starters. As the panelists pointed out, introducing AI PCs today is similar to the early days of smartphones—people were initially unsure how they differed from traditional mobile phones and why they needed one.

Paul Carter from Dell even emphasized the importance of clear communication and real-world demonstrations to show users how AI PCs can simplify workflows, automate tasks, and enhance productivity.

He noted that while tech-savvy users may quickly grasp AI features, mainstream consumers require more accessible explanations, hands-on experiences, and educational campaigns to understand the full potential of AI-driven computing.

2. Affordability Concerns: Making AI PCs Accessible

The panel acknowledged that price remains a significant factor in AI PC adoption. High-end AI PCs, especially those with powerful NPUs (Neural Processing Units), currently come at a premium.

However, Tarun Relhan from HP highlighted that companies are already working on budget-friendly AI-powered models, similar to how smartphones are available at different price points—from flagship models to mid-range and budget-friendly devices.

The discussion also covered the cost-benefit ratio, with experts agreeing that as AI technology advances and production scales up, AI PCs will become more affordable.

More manufacturers are expected to integrate entry-level AI capabilities in consumer-friendly laptops, making AI-driven computing more accessible to students, remote workers, and casual users.

3. Software Optimization: Encouraging Developers to Embrace AI

For AI PCs to reach their full potential, software applications must be optimized to take advantage of AI capabilities. Jimmy Lin from ASUS explained that while Snapdragon X Series devices are hardware-ready, the software ecosystem is still evolving.

Many traditional applications aren’t fully optimized for ARM-based AI processing, limiting the potential benefits users can experience.

The panel emphasized that collaboration between hardware manufacturers, software developers, and cloud service providers is essential.

Dell AI Studio was mentioned as an initiative that encourages developers to create native AI applications that fully utilize on-device AI acceleration. As more developers optimize software for AI PCs, users will see significant performance improvements in productivity tools, creative software, and gaming applications.

4. Connectivity Barriers: The Advantage of On-Device AI

A major challenge in some parts of Southeast Asia is limited or unreliable internet connectivity. Many AI-powered services today rely heavily on cloud processing, which can be a problem in areas with slow or intermittent internet access.

However, the panel emphasized that on-device AI is the solution. Unlike cloud-dependent AI, Snapdragon X Series PCs can process AI tasks locally, reducing the need for constant online access. Sachin Bhatia from Lenovo explained that this capability is particularly valuable for professionals who travel frequently or work in remote locations, ensuring that AI-powered features like real-time transcription, noise cancellation, and image processing work seamlessly without requiring a high-speed internet connection.

Overcoming Challenges for a Smarter Future

Despite these challenges, the panelists agreed that the future of AI PCs is promising. As awareness grows, prices become more competitive, software catches up, and on-device AI eliminates connectivity concerns, AI-powered computing will become the new standard.

The key takeaway from the discussion was clear: AI PCs are not just about raw power—they are about efficiency, automation, and creating a seamless computing experience.

By addressing these challenges, manufacturers and developers can ensure that AI PCs become an essential tool for professionals, students, and everyday users alike.

AI PCs and the Future of Computing

The Snapdragon X Series Southeast Asia Media Summit underscored Qualcomm’s role in driving AI-powered computing.

What set this event apart was how it successfully conveyed complex concepts in an engaging, simple, and relatable manner.

Rather than overwhelming attendees with technical details, the presenters focused on real-world applications, making AI computing feel like an intuitive, accessible, and necessary upgrade.

As AI PCs become mainstream, users can look forward to a future where computers work smarter, not harder—anticipating needs, enhancing productivity, and revolutionizing the way we work, create, and connect.