Qualcomm is stepping up the competition against Intel and AMD in the PC processor space with its new Snapdragon X chips, which it says enable faster performance, better on-device AI processing and longer battery life in several high-end laptops from HP, Dell and Lenovo.

Microsoft is signaling the dawn of a new era for personal computing, calling the upcoming laptops under its new Copilot+ PC banner “the fastest, most intelligent Windows PCs ever.”

Revealed at Microsoft Build 2024 on Monday, these laptops include new and refreshed models from HP Inc., Dell Technologies and Lenovo, among a handful of other vendors.

[Related: Microsoft Build 2024: 5 Things To Know About Copilot+ PCs]

They all rely on Qualcomm’s brand-new Snapdragon X processors to enable advanced AI capabilities, including Microsoft’s Windows Recall feature. The Snapdragon X chips feature a CPU, GPU and neural processing unit (NPU), the latter of which is a low-power engine for AI workloads.

While the Snapdragon X series isn’t Qualcomm’s first crack at the PC market, the new processors represent its biggest move in the space to date, creating a new wave of competition not only for Intel and AMD but also Apple, whose custom, Arm-based M-series chips power the company’s Mac computers.

According to Microsoft, the Qualcomm-based laptops satisfy the Windows giant’s Copilot+ PC requirements, which includes having an NPU capable of at least 40 tera operations per second, “all-day battery life and access to the most advanced AI models.”

Microsoft is hoping that Qualcomm’s new chips, along with new processors to come from Intel and AMD, will help it better compete against Apple and its growing portfolio of Macs that have been revitalized by the iPhone giant’s M-series system-on-chips such as the M3.

The new Copilot+ laptops promoted by Microsoft represent a new generation of AI PCs after vendors like HP, Dell and Lenovo pushed out an initial wave of computers in the past year to promote the emerging category. This first generation of AI PCs rely on less-powerful processors from Intel and AMD, both of which plan to release more capable successors later this year.

In touting its capabilities, Qualcomm said its Snapdragon X chips can deliver 2.6 times greater NPU performance than Apple’s M3 and 5.4 times greater NPU performance than Intel’s Core Ultra 7 processor. The company also said its Snapdragon X Elite series, which represent the highest performance chips in the lineup, “leads in performance per watt,” matching the peak CPU performance of the Core Ultra 7 while using 60 percent less power.

Mark Linton, Microsoft’s vice president of device partner sales, told CRN in an interview at Build that the upcoming Copilot+ PCs, which will debut on June 18, will create a massive refresh opportunity for channel partners because of the demand for AI solutions in tandem with the company’s plan to end support for Windows 10 next year.

What follows are the main features and specifications of seven upcoming Snapdragon X-based laptops from HP, Dell and Lenovo that fall under Microsoft’s Copilot+ PC banner.

Additional reporting by Wade Tyler Millward.

HP EliteBook Ultra AI PC

HP said the business-focused EliteBook Ultra AI PC is part of its new category of AI Helix devices, and it takes advantage of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite processor to enable on-device processing for generative AI capabilities, including Microsoft’s new Copilot+ features like Recall.

The company said the EliteBook Ultra AI PC is capable of a “record-breaking” 26 hours of battery life, thanks to the Snapdragon X Elite processor combined with the laptop’s 59-watt-hour battery.

The device comes with a 14-inch 2.2K touchscreen with 300 nits of brightness, and it fits within an ultrathin form factor, weighing just shy of 3 pounds and measuring a third of an inch thick in the front and 0.44 inches thick in the rear.

The EliteBook Ultra AI PC will come equipped with HP software, such as Poly Camera Pro, which aims to enhance virtual interactions across multiple cameras in streaming and collaboration apps, and Wolf Pro Security Next Gen Antivirus.

Other features include 16 GB of LPDDRx5 memory, Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity, a 5MP IR camera, an integrated dual-array digital microphone system, a dual-speaker system enhanced by Poly Studio as well as ports for USB-A and USB-C.

The HP EliteBook Ultra AI PC will be available on June 18 at a starting price of $1,699.99.

Dell Inspiron 14 Plus

Dell’s consumer-focused Inspiron 14 Plus uses Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Plus processor to offer “groundbreaking on device AI, powerful performance and smartphone like ease of use for today’s fast paced lifestyle,” according to the company.

The processor, combined with the laptop’s 54-watt-hour battery, enables battery life of up to 15 hours, and this all happens within an ultrathin form factor, weighing as little as 3.17 pounds and measuring a little as 0.58 inches thick.

The 14-inch screen uses a QHD+ anti-glare touch screen with support for 400 nits of brightness, a 16:10 aspect ratio, Dolby Vision and Dell’s ComfortView Plus low blue light solution.

Other features include 16 GB of LPDDR5x memory, an integrated widescreen FHD IR webcam with a dual-microphone array, a quad-speaker system, Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity, ports for USB 4 Type-C and USB 3.2 Type-A, and a Micro SD card reader.

The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus starts at $1,099 and will ship later this year.

Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x 14 Gen 9

Lenovo’s consumer-focused Yoga Slim 7x 14 Gen 9 laptop packs Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite processor in an ultra-thin-and-light form factor with a 14.5-inch screen, weighing just over 2.8 pounds and measuring, at minimum, half an inch thick.

The device is capable of delivering multi-day battery life, thanks to the Snapdragon X processor in combination with its 70-watt-hour battery

The laptop’s 14.5-inch screen uses a 16:10 3K PureSight OLED touch panel that supports up to 1,000 nits of peak brightness, a 90Hz refresh rate as well as 100 percent sRGB and P3 colors.

The Yoga Slim 7x takes advantage of the chip’s Hexagon NPU to enable on-device processing for AI-powered features like text-to-image generation, advanced photo and editing capabilities, text creation and editing feedback.

It also includes the Lenovo AI Core chip, which works with the Snapdragon X processor to dynamically adjust the device’s power and efficiency based on what the user is doing.

Other features include an FHD MIPI IR webcam, four Voice ID microphones, a four-speaker sound system, a Premium Suite keyboard and a trackpad that gets as big as 135 by 80 millimeters.

The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x 14 Gen 9 will be available in June at a starting price of $1,199.

Dell Latitude 7455

Dell’s Latitude 7455 is a premium business laptop powered by up to a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite processor to tackle “complex workloads with game changing performance and groundbreaking battery life,” according to the company.

Constructed from three pieces of durable aluminum, the device is Dell’s “thinnest Latitude laptop ever,” measuring two-thirds of an inch thick and weighing as well as 3.17 pounds.

The laptop’s 14-inch screen uses a QHD+ touch display with support for 400 nits of brightness, anti-glare and Dell’s ComfortView Plus low blue light solution.

On the security side, the device comes equipped with a hardware-based Trusted Platform Module 2.0, Microsoft’s Pluton security processor, a chassis intrusion switch and a fingerprint reader embedded within the power button.

The Latitude 7455 comes with an FHD IR camera with support for low light settings and Windows Hello authentication as well as two noise-canceling microphones and a quad-speaker system consisting of two top-firing premium speakers and two bottom-firing premium speakers.

Other features include up to 32GB of LPDDR5x memory, Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity, optional 5G connectivity with eSIM support, and ports for USB Type-C and USB 3.2 Gen 1.

Dell said it will share pricing for the Latitude 7455 closer to when it launches later this year.

HP OmniBook X AI PC

HP’s consumer-focused OmniBook X AI PC is part of the company’s new category of AI Helix devices, and it takes advantage of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite processor to enable on-device processing for generative AI capabilities, including Microsoft’s new Copilot+ features like Recall.

The company said the OmniBook X AI PC is capable of a “record-breaking” 26 hours of battery life, thanks to the Snapdragon X Elite processor combined with the laptop’s 59-watt-hour battery.

The device comes with an Eyesafe-certified, 14-inch 2.2K touchscreen with edge-to-edge glass, low blue light technology and 300 nits of brightness, and it fits within an ultrathin form factor, weighing just shy of 3 pounds and measuring a little over a half inch thick.

The OmniBook X AI PC has the option for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity.

Other features include up to 32 GB of LPDDRx5 memory, a 5MP IR camera with temporal noise reduction and integrated dual-array digital microphones, dual speakers with support for HP Audio Boost and Poly Studio, and ports for USB-A and USB-C.

The HP OmniBook X AI PC will be available on June 18 at a starting price of $1,199.99.

Dell XPS 13 9345

Dell’s flagship consumer laptop, the XPS 13, is taking advantage of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite processor to tackle “complex workloads with game-changing performance and groundbreaking [all-day] battery life,” according to the company.

The XPS 13 9345 provides these capabilities within an ultrathin form factor, weighing as little as 2.6 pounds and measuring at a thickness of nearly 0.6 inches.

Continuing Dell’s XPS design refresh that started with last year’s XPS 13 Plus, the new Qualcomm-based model features the lineup’s now-standard touch function row, a seamless glass touchpad and a backlit edge-to-edge keyboard.

The device’s 13.4-inch can be upgraded to an OLED 3K InfinityEdge touch display with support for 400 nits of brightness, Eyesafe technology and HDR True Black 500 colors.

Other features include up to 64 GB of LPDDR5x memory, an FHD webcam, a dual-microphone array, a quad-speaker system with support for Dolby Atmos and USB 4 Type-C ports.

The Dell XPS 13 has a starting price of $1,299 and will ship later this year.

Lenovo ThinkPad 14S Gen 6

Lenovo’s business-focused ThinkPad 14S Gen 6 laptop features Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite processor and up to 64 GB of LPDDR5x memory, setting a “new benchmark in both performance and efficiency for Windows business laptops,” according to the company.

With Snapdragon’s Hexagon NPU hitting 45 tera operations per second (TOPS), the laptop is capable of delivering “supreme on-device AI capabilities focused on enhancing productivity and facilitating seamless content creation processes,” Lenovo said.

Lenovo is offering these advanced capabilities within an ultrathin form factor, weighing, at minimum, just over 2.7 pounds and measuring 0.67 inches thick.

Thanks to the Snapdragon X processor in combination with a 58-watt-hour battery and low-power display panel, the laptop is capable of staying on for multiple days with no charging.

The 14-inch screen supports up to a 2.8K OLED display with support for Dolby Vision, 400 nits of brightness, EyeSafe and HDR True Black 500 colors.

Other features include an FHD+IR MIPI camera with a privacy shutter; Wi-Fi 7 and optional 5G connectivity; a dual-speaker Dolby Audio system; and ports for USB-A, USB-C and HDMI 2.1

The Lenovo ThinkPad T14S Gen 6 will be available in June at a starting price of $1,699.