Qualcomm follows on the 2018 announcement of the Snapdragon 8cx SoC for high-end always-connected PCs with a lower-cost option-- the Snapdragon 7c for entry-level and the 8c for mid-tier always-connected notebooks.
Aimed, as mentioned earlier, at entry-level machines, the Snapdragon 7c platform promises a 25% performance boost and up to twice the battery life compared to "competing platforms." It consists of an octa-core Kryo 486 CPU and Adreno 618 GPU, as well as an AI Engine able to deliver up to 5 trillion operations per second (TOPS). In addition, an X15 LTE modem delivers wireless connectivity.
Meanwhile the Snapdragon 8c is, essentially, a stripped-down version of the flagship 8cx. It is based on the same 7nm process and has an integrated X24 LTE modem for "mutli-gigabit" connectivity, but offers less performance at six TOPS through the AI Engine. It also carries an octa-core Kryo 490 CPU and an Adreno 675 GPU, making it 30% faster than the Snapdragon 850 SoC.
“Qualcomm Technologies’ innovation in smartphones and connectivity placed the power of your desktop PC in your phone, now the phone is returning the favor by bringing thin, light, always on, always connected, all-day battery life experiences to your PC,” the company says. “The mobile-first consumer wants an experience on par with a smartphone, and we have the innovation, the inventions and the technology to enable this experience for customers across price points.”