Qualcomm claims its Snapdragon C chip beats Intel on battery power for $300 laptops

Credit: Acer Published Aug 13, 2026, 3:21 PM EDT Simon is a Computer Science BSc graduate who has been writing about technology since 2014, and using Windows machines since 3.1. After working for an indie game studio and acting as the family's go-to technician for all computer issues, he found his passion for writing and decided to use his skill set to write about all things tech. Since beginning his writing career, he has written for many different publications such as WorldStart, Listverse, and MakeTechEasier. However, after finding his home at MakeUseOf in February 2019, he would eventually move on to its sister site, XDA, to bring the latest and greatest in Windows, Linux, and DIY electronics. Sign in to your XDA account Summary Snapdragon C features a 8-core Kryo CPU, single-core 3GHz, and a multi-core 2GHz for ~$300 laptops. Qualcomm claims huge battery gains vs Intel N250: +106% Netflix, +99% Teams, +86% YouTube usage. No price or release date yet; Acer, Asus, HP and Lenovo already building devices. In a world where we focus on the biggest and best hardware out there, it's easy to overlook the entry-level stuff. I'd argue that budget-tier hardware is just as interesting, as companies are locked into a duel to create the most powerful and energy-efficient chips with the smallest price tag available. Qualcomm seems to believe it has a winner on its hands, as it claims that its Snapdragon C respects your laptop's battery more than Intel's N250 chip does. The Snapdragon C gives you more battery for your charge, says Qualcomm Its charts certainly look convincing Credit: Qualcomm As reported by Tom's Hardware, Qualcomm has shed some light on what we can expect from its latest budget chip, the Snapdragon C. We're looking at an 8-core Qualcomm Kryo CPU, a single-core max frequency of 3GHz, and a multi-core max frequency of 2GHz. They're designed to slot into ~$300 laptops, and we've already seen Acer, Asus, HP, and Lenovo building upon the tech. The most impressive part of the reveal is just how much you get out of the Snapdragon C on a single charge. You can see some of the improvements Qualcomm claims over Intel's N250 chip. Some standout statistics include 106% better power efficiency while watching Netflix on battery, 99% better efficiency when on a 1-to-1 Teams call, and 86% better efficiency while watching YouTube. If these measurements translate into the real world, that's some serious battery savings that add up over time. Qualcomm didn't reveal a price or a release date, but given how it's meant for budget laptops, it shouldn't be too expensive. In the meantime, you can check out Qualcomm's recent announcement that its Snapdragon X chips are breaking out of Windows and appearing on Googlebooks.