What you need to know
- Qualcomm is working on a cheaper dedicated PC chip to complement its powerful Snapdragon 8cx.
- Currently dubbed the Snapdragon 7cx (though that branding could change), the chip was mentioned in a recent episode of the Mobile Tech Podcast by Qualcomm Vice President Don McGuire.
- The 7cx will offer lower performance than the 8cx, but is expected to appear in PCs costing as low as $300.
Qualcomm last year unveiled the Snapdragon 8cx, a dedicated PC chip aimed at offering performance comparable to Intel's Core i5 processors. While the Snapdragon 8cx is expected to appear on high-end always-connected PCs with a price tag to match, it looks like Qualcomm is also cooking up a cheaper dedicated PC chip that will offer lower performance, but could make an appearance in budget laptops.
In a recent episode of the Mobile Tech Podcast (via Thurrott), Qualcomm Vice Presiden Don McGuire revealed that the company is working on a Snapdragon 7cx, though that name isn't set in stone. The 7cx will be a dedicated PC chip like the 8cx, but will be available at a lower cost for PC makers. The result is that the chip could appear in always-connected PCs between $300 and $800.
Always-connected PCs built on the Snapdragon 8cx platform are expected to start hitting the market later this year. At Computex 2019, Lenovo and Qualcomm also showed off the first 5G laptop, which is expected to launch in 2020 and is also built on the Snapdragon 8cx, along with Qualcomm's X55 5G modem. It's unclear when we could expect Qualcomm's cheaper 7cx chip to make its debut in shipping PCs, but it would likely be after the launch of the 8cx.
Cheap PC accessories we love
Take a gander at these awesome PC accessories, all of which will enhance your Windows experience.
Anker 4 port USB 3.0 hub ($10 at Amazon)
Whether on a desktop or laptop PC, you always need more ports to connect things to. This hub gives you an additional four USB 3.0 Type A ports.
Ikea Fixa Cable Management System ($11 at Amazon)
This IKEA cable management kit is your ticket to a clean setup. It's simple and functional.
NZXT Puck ($20 at Amazon)
This clever little accessory has powerful magnets on the rear to make it stick to any of the metal panels on your PC case or anything else. It's great for hanging accessories like headsets.
