Qualcomm unveils Snapdragon X Series at Southeast Asia Media Summit

The landmark event spotlighted the potential of Snapdragon X Series–including Snapdragon X, Snapdragon X Plus, and Snapdragon X Elite– to revolutionise with AI PCs. With a focus on superior performance, energy efficiency, and affordability, Qualcomm is poised to reshape how SEA and Vietnamese consumers engage with technology.

The event kicked off with a compelling keynote by Kedar Kondap, senior vice president and general manager of Compute and Gaming at Qualcomm Technologies. "We are ushering in a new era where AI tasks will happen automatically and seamlessly, enhancing productivity and creativity for all users," said Kondap.

Kedar Kondap, senior vice president and general manager of Compute and Gaming at Qualcomm Technologies. Photo: Qualcomm Technologies

Such a vision resonates strongly with Vietnam, a market known for its young, tech-savvy population eager to adopt cutting-edge innovations. The Snapdragon X Series, with a 45 TOPS NPU that runs AI experiences more efficiently, promises to deliver flagship-level performance at competitive price points, making AI PCs more accessible than ever.

Vietnam’s burgeoning digital economy, coupled with its rapid adoption of AI, positions it as a key focus for Qualcomm. In 2024 alone, Southeast Asia saw over eight million PCs shipped, with Vietnam playing a significant role in this growth. Experts predict that AI integration could add over $1 trillion to the region’s economy by 2030, with Vietnam’s expenditure on AI expected to contribute to the projected $650 million regional spend by 2026. The Snapdragon X Series aligns perfectly with this trajectory, offering Vietnamese consumers and businesses a gateway to next-generation computing.

The Snapdragon X Series stands out for its ability to democratise AI technology. While the premium Snapdragon X Elite and X Plus chips cater to higher-end devices priced between $800– $1,200, the newly introduced Snapdragon X targets the mid-range segment starting from $600.

Featuring an 8-core Qualcomm Oryon CPU and a 45 TOPS NPU, Snapdragon X platform delivers exceptional AI performance, extended battery life, and energy efficiency—outpacing competitors with up to 163 per cent faster performance at ISO-power. For Vietnam, where affordability and efficiency are paramount, this chip promises to bring AI PCs to a broader audience.

Industry leaders joined discussions at the summit. Photo: Qualcomm Technologies

At the summit, industry leaders from ASUS, Dell, HP, and Lenovo joined a debate moderated by ST Liew, vice president and president of SEATANZ at Qualcomm. They highlighted the rise of ARM-based laptops, projecting that such devices could capture 25 per cent of the global PC market by 2027.

For Vietnam, this shift is particularly significant. Thieu Phuong Nam, general director of Qualcomm Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos, said, "Vietnam is a vital market for us, with a young demographic that embraces technology and a growing demand for AI-driven solutions."

Partnerships with OEMs like ASUS, which will launch the lightweight Zenbook 14 and A14 (980g) in Ho Chi Minh City on March 4, underscore Qualcomm’s commitment to expanding its footprint in Vietnam.

At the event, interactive zones showcased the transformative potential of the Snapdragon X Series, offering a glimpse into its relevance for creative and professional communities.

In the Creative Zone, attendees experienced near-zero-latency music production, powered by Snapdragon’s processing prowess—a boon for the burgeoning music and content creation scene.

The Beach Zone demonstrated AI-enhanced photography with Auto-Cropping and Match Look features, alongside audio tools like Moises Live and djay Pro, which deliver studio-quality results five times faster.

These capabilities could empower Vietnamese photographers, musicians, and small businesses to elevate their work without relying on expensive equipment or cloud services.

For professionals, the Snapdragon X Series offers seamless multitasking with support for up to 15K resolution displays and AI-optimised workflows. Features like Copilot+ AI integration enhance productivity with real-time subtitle generation, image editing, and system-wide search improvements—all processed on-device for enhanced security and speed. As over 92 per cent of Asia-Pacific employers plan to adopt AI tools by 2028, such innovations could accelerate digital transformation across industries.

Why Snapdragon X Matters for Vietnam

The Snapdragon X Series is more than a product line; it’s a catalyst for Vietnam’s digital future. Its affordability addresses the needs of a market with relatively modest per-person income, while its AI and energy-efficient features cater to a fast-paced, mobile-first society.

Casual gamers, students, and small business owners–key demographics in Vietnam–stand to benefit from extended battery life and robust performance without the need for constant recharging. Moreover, on-device AI ensures data privacy, a critical factor as Vietnamese users increasingly prioritise security.

Qualcomm’s collaboration with Microsoft and developers further enhances the Snapdragon X experience. With over 93 per cent of user time spent on native apps like Google Chrome and Adobe suite (now optimised for Snapdragon), plus efficient emulation for non-native apps via the Prism x86 engine, Vietnamese consumers can expect a seamless transition to ARM-based computing. The company’s AI Hub, offering over 100 AI models, also empowers local developers to create innovative applications tailored to Vietnam’s needs.

The Snapdragon X Series Southeast Asia Media Summit marked a pivotal moment for Qualcomm and Vietnam alike. By blending high performance, AI accessibility, and competitive pricing, Qualcomm is not only redefining personal computing but also positioning at the forefront of the AI PC revolution.

"This is just the beginning. With AI at the heart of computing, we are redefining what’s possible. For Vietnam, the Snapdragon X Series is a gateway to a smarter, more connected future–one that promises to unlock unprecedented opportunities for its people and economy," Kondap concluded,

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