Chrome on Snapdragon with Windows is faster than the version for Intel PCs

O Google recently announced the launch of a new version of its browser Chrome, optimized specifically for laptops Windows equipped with processors Snapdragon, Qualcomm. This update with Chrome No. Snapdragon is a significant milestone for user experience, promising a “drastic performance improvement” that will make web browsing faster and more efficient on devices with this configuration.

The launch is part of preparation for future devices that will use the processor Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite. According to the manufacturer, the Snapdragon X Elite will deliver top-of-the-line performance Snapdragon 8cx Gen3, raising the bar for processing excellence for laptops Windows.

What is a Snapdragon Windows PC?

A Qualcomm demonstrates its determination to increase its share of the PC market, which has historically been dominated by Intel. The first PCs equipped with Snapdragon X Elite are scheduled to be launched later this year, promising a faster and more fluid user experience for consumers.

This initiative by Qualcomm marks an important step in the evolution of laptops Windows, offering cutting-edge performance and a more satisfying experience for users, with high energy efficiency. The promising future of these devices, driven by the partnership between Google, Qualcomm and other manufacturers, will certainly bring significant benefits to consumers around the world.

Our close collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies will help ensure Chrome users get the best possible experience while browsing the web on current ARM-compatible PCs.

Hiroshi Lockheimer, senior vice president at Google.

Equipped with 12 Oryon cores, the chip offers performance superior to that of the CPU Core i7-1360P e i7-1355U 13th generation from Intel, while consuming 68% less power. Manufactured using 4nm technology by TSMC, the Snapdragon X Elite features clock speeds ranging from 3,8 GHz to a dual-core boost of up to 4,3 GHz. Additionally, Qualcomm ensures that most games on the Windows it will run at almost maximum speed, without the need for further adjustments.

The bet of Qualcomm on Snapdragon X Elite, launched in October 2023, as its flagship processor for devices Windows represents a response to the growing desire for portable computers that offer exceptional performance without compromising energy efficiency. 

This change in market dynamics also reflects the intensification of competition between Qualcomm and Intel. Traditionally, Intel has been a leader in providing processors for PCs, but the rise of Qualcomm in the mobile device market began a battle for dominance in the personal computing sector. As Snapdragon X Eliteit's at Qualcomm is positioning itself as a strong competitor, challenging the consolidated position of Intel and offering consumers an attractive and innovative alternative.

Consumers are the main beneficiaries of this fierce competition between Qualcomm e Intel. With more options available on the market, users now have the opportunity to choose from a variety of devices that meet their specific performance, mobility and functionality needs. Furthermore, the rivalry between these two technology giants has the potential to drive innovation, leading to even more significant advancements in the field of personal computing.

The competition between Qualcomm and Intel could also lead to a reduction in device prices, making laptops Windows with processors Snapdragon a more accessible option for a wider audience. This could lead to an increase in adoption of these devices and potentially force Intel to reduce its prices or increase its innovation to compete effectively.

Performance Google Chrome

Until then, owners of PCs with Snapdragon often need to emulate x86 and x64 applications on Windows to access various services, but this will change with the launch of the new version of Chrome optimized for laptops Windows with processors Snapdragon. Qualcomm, known for its dominant presence in the mobile device market, is now directing its efforts to gain a prominent position in the personal computer market as well.

O Snapdragon X Elite delivers impressive results in browser benchmarks, such as Speedometer 2 and the Jetstream 2. Compared to the emulated version of Google Chrome, the native version of the browser in Snapdragon X Elite demonstrated a performance increase of over 130%. Furthermore, regarding the latest processor Intel Core Ultra 7 155H, Snapdragon X Elite it outperforms by up to 11% in certain benchmark tests, highlighting its superiority in terms of speed and efficiency in web browsing.

In addition to its processing capacity, the Snapdragon X Elite it also offers exclusive features such as faster 5G and Wi-Fi connectivity, fast charging and improved energy efficiency. These features make it an attractive option for notebook manufacturers looking to combine high performance with advanced mobility and connectivity.

In another speed test, in the benchmark Speedometer 2.0, the non-optimized and optimized versions of the Google Chrome on Snapdragon X Elite and Intel Core 7 Ultra 155H. The performance of Chrome No. Snapdragon X Elite came closer to the Edge browser, especially after optimization, while the non-optimized version performed worse. On the other hand, the Core 7 Ultra performed slightly better than Asus ZenBook 14, but with differences of less than 10% in specific comparison.

These results highlight the significant improvement in the performance of the Chrome No. Snapdragon X Elite after optimization, bringing it closer to the browser Edge in terms of speed and efficiency. O Core 7 Ultra da Intel also demonstrated competitive performance, although with subtle differences in relation to the Zen Book 14. These findings highlight the importance of optimizing software to achieve the best performance across different platforms.

O Chrome, being the most used browser globally, is constantly updated with new features, performance and security, including experimental generative AI capabilities. O new Chrome can now be downloaded on devices Snapdragon with Windows, and preliminary testing demonstrated significant performance improvements, especially on the Speedometer 2.1 benchmark.

In terms of performance, the Qualcomm states that the Snapdragon X Elite surpasses the single-core performance of AMD e Intel, and equals multi-core performance. In internal company tests, o Snapdragon X Elite was also compared to Apple M2 Max, being considered superior in synthetic benchmarks.

Regarding processor performance in notebooks, it is important to highlight that, although the benchmarks show promising results, the actual performance of the Snapdragon X Elite in CPUs may vary depending on factors such as power consumption, temperature management and specific processor implementation in each notebook. Therefore, it will be necessary to wait until the official launch of the first notebook equipped with it.

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Sources: Engadget, PC World e Tom's Hardware

reviewed by Glaucon Vital in 26 / 3 / 24.