Windows laptops have been under the hammer for some time now. Ever since Apple switched to its own hardware in 2020, turning its back on Intel’s x86 architecture in favour of ARM, the performance of Windows laptops has struggled by comparison. The ARM architecture of Apple’s M chips offered advantages that Intel – and Windows – found hard to match. After a 4-year run, however, that dominance may be about to come to an end.
The problem that Windows PCs face is the number of parties involved. There are multiple hardware suppliers powering devices from multiple brands, all wanting to offer something unique in what is, ultimately, Microsoft’s software. It’s a double-edge sword: there’s loads of choice, so much choice that it will make your eyes water, but coordination of all these moving parts is a challenge.
When the Surface Pro 11 was announced, I talked about the dawn of a new era for Windows laptops. The Surface Pro 11 delivered on the expectations – it’s by far the best Surface Pro so far, despite being much the same hardware as before.
But at its heart, it’s different – and that’s why it would be a huge mistake to buy a laptop on older hardware now.
Choose your fighter: Intel, Snapdragon or AMD
While Qualcomm stole an early march on Copilot+ PCs (powering the new Surface is something of a coup) it also set new parameters for Windows laptops. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon hardware is more of a direct competitor for Apple M than Intel or AMD, which both stick to the x86 architecture that typified Windows of old.
The dominance of Snapdragon in this new generation of Windows laptops has sent a clear message to developers that they need to adapt apps to run on ARM, rather than rely on emulation. That has been happening with pace, but with Intel entering the fray with its Core Ultra Series 2 and AMD with Ryzen AI hardware, Qualcomm faces a new challenge.
Those x86 platforms will support all those games and apps from day 1 and that will have immediate appeal for some. While big apps like Microsoft Office, Spotify and Google Chrome all have native ARM apps, there’s going to be those who want support for legacy apps.
IFA 2024 saw the official launch of Intel Core Ultra Series 2, but revealed a lot more about the new landscape for Windows laptops.
IMAGE CREDIT: THE DISCONNEKT
There are now more Snapdragon options
Qualcomm wowed when it announced its Snapdragon X Elite hardware in October 2023, saying that it bettered the Apple M3 found in the 2024 MacBook Air. It subsequently said that it bettered the Apple M4 too – found in the latest iPad Pro – before launching the Snapdragon X Plus.
At IFA 2024, Qualcomm announced the X Plus 8-core (the previous hardware was 10-core), allowing a route to even cheaper Windows devices running on its hardware. This was swiftly followed by announcements – the Asus Vivobook S 15 was shown on stage running on Qualcomm’s new hardware and Lenovo followed up with the IdeaPad Slim 5x, which will cost £849.
IMAGE CREDIT: THE DISCONNEKT
Is there confusion in too much choice?
There’s no avoiding that we’re entering an exciting new era of Windows computing, but we’re facing a familiar problem: confusion. When Apple launches a new device, the options stack alongside each other with little overlap and a clear differentiation. That’s not so in Windows of the past, or the Windows of the future.
While Qualcomm, AMD and Intel were extoling the virtues of the new hardware, many brands were lining up new laptops powered by it. I cast my eyes over Lenovo’s range – including the Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition (pictured above), Yoga Pro 7, IdeaPad Slim 5, IdeaPad 5x 2-in-1 and a whole range of ThinkPad devices – but Asus and Acer also put out new laptops powered by Snapdragon, Intel and AMD.
Choice is very welcomed, but deliniating between the options adds new complexity to buying a Windows laptop. Want battery life? Go for Snapdragon. Want support for legacy applications? Intel could be your best bet. Want onboard graphics power? Then AMD might be your friend.
IMAGE CREDIT: THE DISCONNEKT
What does this new generation of Windows PCs offer?
While more power, greater efficiency and an NPU designed for AI tasks are the highlights, the important thing to me is battery life that moves Windows laptops into contention with Apple – and that’s why buying a laptop on older hardware makes little sense. It might be cheaper, but you could be looking at half the battery life.
Battery life remains the big draw of this new generation of Windows devices for a couple of reasons. I’m interested in portability and working on the move, but more power is always a good thing too.
Then there’s the whole AI thing, or Copilot+ PC. I’m still to be convinced about what AI is going to offer in real terms: I’m not interested in many of the applications being shown so far and I await some real-world advantage that AI will bring.
But while I wait, I’m happy to take the battery life – and that’s why you should think really carefully about buying any new laptop. Because opting for something on older hardware, could leave you with an experience that falls far behind.
