Qualcomm Expands Snapdragon-Powered Laptops in India with Retail Push

Next week, Qualcomm is set to unveil its latest Snapdragon X laptop CPUs, targeting the growing midrange laptop market in India. These new chips will power affordable, AI-capable devices, with a focus on laptops priced around $600 (roughly Rs. 52,000). Alongside the product launch, Qualcomm is also making strides in retail by opening its first Snapdragon Experience Zone at a Croma store in Mumbai. This move aims to introduce Indian consumers to the power and potential of Snapdragon-powered laptops.

Snapdragon’s Vision for India

Qualcomm’s push into India’s laptop market isn’t new. The company has been working on bringing its Arm-based Snapdragon chips to PCs for several years. Kedar Kondap, Qualcomm’s Senior Vice President of Product Management, explained that their goal is to offer top-notch performance, long battery life, and integrated AI features through their Snapdragon X, X Plus, and X Elite chipsets. The focus for the Indian market is on laptops priced around $600, catering to a wide range of consumers who want performance without breaking the bank.

Kondap highlighted that consumers in India are already familiar with the Snapdragon brand, primarily through smartphones. Now, Qualcomm aims to make the same association with PCs. The launch of the Snapdragon Experience Zone is a key part of this strategy. It’s a space designed to familiarize users with the benefits of Snapdragon-powered devices by allowing them to experience AI features, performance, and battery life firsthand.

Snapdragon-Powered Laptops: The Early Response

Although the market for Snapdragon-powered laptops is still in its early stages in India, Qualcomm has seen promising results. Kondap shared that the penetration of PCs in India is low, with only about 10% of the population owning a PC. However, the company believes that consumers will gradually recognize the advantages of Snapdragon technology in laptops, just as they did in smartphones.

Major PC manufacturers like Dell, HP, Lenovo, and Asus have already begun rolling out devices based on Snapdragon X chips. And, while the initial adoption has been slow, the goal is to raise awareness and highlight the real-world benefits of Snapdragon-powered PCs, particularly in areas such as battery life and AI capabilities.

Why Retail Expansion Matters

Qualcomm’s expansion into retail, starting with its Experience Zone in Croma, reflects a deeper understanding of the Indian market. Unlike smartphones, many consumers still prefer to physically interact with a laptop before making a purchase. The experience zone provides an opportunity for customers to try out the technology and experience AI features like image upscaling or DJ Pro, a tool aimed at musicians.

Kondap emphasized the importance of educating consumers about the capabilities of Snapdragon-powered laptops. While the brand is well-known in the mobile space, it’s still building recognition in the PC market. Retail zones like Croma’s Experience Zone offer a unique platform to bridge this gap.

Improving App Compatibility for Indian Consumers

One challenge Qualcomm faced when entering the laptop market was ensuring that popular apps were compatible with Snapdragon-powered devices. Fortunately, Kondap revealed that the company has made significant progress. Microsoft’s Prism Arm emulator ensures that legacy apps perform well on Snapdragon laptops. Additionally, many core apps are already running natively on Snapdragon PCs, with more developers optimizing their applications to take advantage of the unique architecture of Snapdragon processors.

The company is also working to ensure that apps, particularly those utilizing AI and machine learning, are optimized for Snapdragon chips, which feature a powerful NPU (Neural Processing Unit) with 45 TOPS (Tera Operations Per Second). This capability is expected to make a significant difference for users who need AI-driven applications, from students to professionals.

Competing in the AI-Driven PC Market

Qualcomm’s approach to competing in the AI-powered laptop space is unique. By offering the same NPU across the Snapdragon X, X Plus, and X Elite chips, the company can deliver consistent AI performance across various price segments. This ensures that consumers get a reliable experience, whether they opt for a $600 laptop or a higher-end model.

Kondap also discussed the rapid pace at which generative AI is evolving and how the use of on-device AI could help ensure that consumers get value from their laptops for longer periods. He explained that devices with legacy processors, lacking an NPU, might quickly become outdated as AI technology progresses.

The Future of Snapdragon-Powered Laptops

Looking ahead, Qualcomm plans to deepen its ties with educational institutions in India, aiming to educate students about the potential of AI on Snapdragon-powered PCs. The company is also focused on building developer communities to ensure a steady stream of native applications and solutions that work seamlessly with Snapdragon chips.

As for the possibility of exclusive Snapdragon stores, Kondap teased that Qualcomm is exploring the idea. However, for now, the focus remains on expanding retail presence and educating consumers through the Experience Zone in Mumbai.

The Bigger Picture: Bridging the AI Divide

The retail expansion is just the beginning for Qualcomm in India. As the company continues to bring AI capabilities to the masses through its Snapdragon-powered laptops, it is also playing a crucial role in shaping the future of computing. By providing on-device AI, Qualcomm is not just offering powerful laptops but also helping bridge the gap between traditional computing and the next generation of AI-driven devices.

For consumers, this means that AI-powered features like smarter photo editing, real-time translation, and enhanced security are now more accessible than ever. For developers, it opens up new possibilities for creating innovative applications that run efficiently on Snapdragon devices.

Qualcomm’s journey in India is just beginning, but the company’s focus on retail expansion, app compatibility, and AI features will undoubtedly shape the future of laptops in the country. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or a tech enthusiast, Snapdragon-powered laptops are about to make a lasting impact.