Qualcomm launches Snapdragon C chip for affordable Windows laptops that will take on MacBook Neo
Qualcomm has launched the Snapdragon C chip platform. With this new chip, the company is planning to bring Arm-based Windows laptops down to $300.
Qualcomm has finally announced the chip it hopes would help drive Windows OEMs (original equipment manufacturer) to bring MacBook Neo-killer laptops to the market. The chip in question is launching under Qualcomm’s freshly minted Snapdragon C platform. Snapdragon C-powered Windows laptops are expected to hit the shelves later this year. Qualcomm says these laptops could start at as low as $300 which is roughly Rs 28,500 undercutting the MacBook Neo’s $599 (Rs 59,900 in India) pricing.
Apple launched the MacBook Neo in March. It is the most affordable MacBook it has ever made. The secret sauce is the A18 Pro chip from the iPhone 16 Pro, a wild spec choice on paper, but one that is proving to be a technical masterstroke from Apple. The MacBook Neo has been selling like hot cakes so much so that Apple is reportedly struggling to meet demand, and a successor may already be in the works. Given Apple’s success, it was only about time that Windows fired back and Qualcomm is basically giving companies like Acer, HP, and Lenovo the tool to expedite the process.
Launching just ahead of Computex 2026, Qualcomm’s ARM-based Snapdragon C chip is seemingly designed to improve the experience of entry-level laptops, which are often criticised for weak performance, poor battery life and noisy cooling systems. Acer, HP and Lenovo are among the first brands partnering with Qualcomm for Snapdragon C devices expected this year itself.
Qualcomm Snapdragon C chip targets affordable Windows laptop segment
Until recently, most Windows laptops powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chips were priced between $600 and $1,000. With Snapdragon C, the company now wants to enter the budget segment, where low-cost laptops are usually powered by entry-level Intel or AMD processors.
The new platform is built for basic computing tasks such as web browsing, office work, streaming and online classes. Qualcomm also claims the laptops will offer all-day battery life and quieter operation compared to many traditional budget Windows machines.
Being budget-centric, there are some cutbacks. Unlike Qualcomm’s latest premium chips, Snapdragon C does not use the newer Oryon CPU cores. Instead, it relies on older Kryo cores previously used in smartphones and Chromebooks.
The laptops will include AI capabilities through an onboard neural processing unit, or NPU, but they will not qualify as Microsoft’s Copilot+ PCs, meaning users will miss out on some advanced AI-powered Windows features.