Snapdragon C Specs Revealed: 8-Core Chip Targets $300 Laptops

Budget laptop buyers get a new option as Qualcomm officially details the Snapdragon C processor for entry-level machines. This chip aims to replace older Intel chips in affordable notebooks by offering better speed and battery life for everyday tasks. We expect this to shift the market for sub-$300 devices significantly.

Qualcomm details ARM processor specs and benchmark claims for budget notebooks

The Snapdragon C features an 8-core Qualcomm Kryo CPU with a single-core frequency up to 3.0GHz and a multi-core frequency up to 2.0GHz. It includes an integrated Adreno GPU running at 900MHz and a Hexagon NPU without disclosed TOPS. Memory support reaches 16GB of LPDDR5/5x or LPDDR4x, while storage options include PCIe 3.0 NVMe and UFS 2.2/3.1.

Snapdragon C Specifications

• CPU: 8-core Qualcomm Kryo, single-core up to 3.0GHz, multi-core up to 2.0GHz, 2MB total cache
• GPU: Integrated Adreno, max frequency 900MHz
• NPU: Qualcomm Hexagon NPU (TOPS not disclosed)
• Memory: Up to 16GB LPDDR5/5x or LPDDR4x
• Storage: PCIe 3.0 NVMe and UFS 2.2/3.1

Qualcomm claims the Snapdragon C with 8GB RAM outperforms the Intel N250 in several benchmarks. The chip is 67% faster in multi-thread Cinebench, 50% faster in single-thread Cinebench, 44% faster in single-thread Geekbench, and 24% faster in multi-core Geekbench. It also leads Speedometer 3.1 by 39%.

Battery efficiency is a key focus, with Qualcomm stating the chip offers up to 2x overall efficiency compared to the Intel N250. Netflix playback in Microsoft Edge is 106% more efficient, web browsing is 68% more efficient, and Teams video calls are 74% more efficient. Major OEMs like HP, Acer, Asus, and Lenovo are planning to release laptops with this chip.

The target price for Snapdragon C laptops is approximately $300 (around $300). Memory costs are rising, so whether retail prices stay near this target remains uncertain. Actual battery life will depend on OEM partners and screen panels, with no specific release date confirmed yet. We looked at Snapdragon C earlier while tracking NVIDIA launches.