The Snapdragon C is Qualcomm’s new entry-level chip for Windows 11 laptops, which are expected to be available for around $300. The manufacturer has now provided additional technical details, as the platform had previously been known only in broad terms. Unlike the more expensive Snapdragon X series, the chip does not meet Copilot+ certification requirements, but it still includes an NPU for basic AI tasks.
Key features at a glance:
- 8 Kryo cores built on a 6-nm process, clocked up to 3.0 GHz
- Adreno A643 graphics unit at 900 MHz, up to 16 GB RAM
- Onboard NPU, but no Copilot+ certification
- Market launch planned for the second half of 2026; initial partners include Acer, HP, and Lenovo
Qualcomm has released the following technical specifications
Qualcomm has now published the specifications for the Snapdragon C on its own product page.
| Component | Specification |
|---|---|
| CPU | 8× Kryo cores (6 nm): 1× 3.0 GHz, 3× 2.6 GHz, 4× 2.0 GHz |
| GPU | Adreno A643, 900 MHz, DirectX 12 |
| NPU | Hexagon C1-10-100, no Copilot+ certification |
| RAM | Up to 16 GB LPDDR5/X or LPDDR4X, 32-bit interface (up to 25.6 GB/s) |
| Storage | NVMe via PCIe 3.0 x2 or UFS |
| Display | Internal FHD+ at 120 Hz (eDP 1.4), external 4K60 via DisplayPort 1.4 |
| Connectivity | FastConnect C6700 (Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 6.0), 2× USB-C, 2× USB-A |
| Video | Encoder: H.264/H.265 up to 4K30; Decoder: H.264/H.265/VP9 up to 4K60 |
No Copilot+, but it still includes an NPU
Windows Copilot+ devices typically require an NPU with at least 40 TOPS of computing power. The Snapdragon C falls short of that: According to Tom’s Hardware, the built-in Hexagon NPU delivers about 12 TOPS. That should be enough for simple AI functions like background blur in video calls or noise reduction, but not for Copilot+-exclusive features like Recall.
Qualcomm Compares Itself to Intel’s Most Affordable Laptop Chip
In its own marketing materials, Qualcomm pits the Snapdragon C directly against Intel’s N250 (codenamed Twin Lake), a pure E-core chip from the current entry-level class. According to official figures, the Snapdragon C is said to be 67 percent faster in the Cinebench multi-threaded test and 50 percent faster in the single-threaded test. For everyday tasks like video streaming, Qualcomm claims it will achieve more than double the energy efficiency.
These figures come from Qualcomm’s own tests and have not yet been independently verified. Given such a significant lead, it’s worth taking a skeptical look once the first devices hit the market and can be independently tested.
Acer, HP, and Lenovo as First Partners
Acer has already unveiled the Aspire Go 15, the first announced laptop featuring the Snapdragon C. According to Qualcomm, HP and Lenovo are also set to release devices with the chip, though specific models or prices for Germany have not yet been announced.
The timing of the announcement is no coincidence: Rising RAM prices are currently making it more difficult to price affordable laptops anyway. With its own budget platform, Qualcomm is giving manufacturers some breathing room—at least on the chip side. Other manufacturers are also increasingly focusing on affordable laptops with ARM chips, such as the leaked Lenovo IdeaPad Vibe, which is expected to be available with either a Snapdragon or AMD processor.
Conclusion
Until its actual market launch, the Snapdragon C remains one thing above all else: a promise. The specifications mentioned sound decent for a $300 laptop, and the idea of no longer equipping affordable Windows devices solely with sluggish Intel Atom successors has its appeal. Whether the chip actually delivers what Qualcomm’s own benchmarks promise will only become clear once the first devices from Acer, HP, and Lenovo actually hit the shelves.
