The embargo has lifted on reviews for new Windows 11 laptops powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon processors. Initial user reports, however, paint a picture that falls short of the performance gains touted by Microsoft and Qualcomm in their marketing campaigns.
Windows 11 on ARM: Early Impressions Fall Short of Promises
A key metric for evaluating processor performance is the Geekbench benchmark. This platform, one of the few currently compatible with Windows 11 ARM, has been heavily used by both companies to showcase the potential of the Snapdragon chip. However, early results from a Reddit user receiving a Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge for preview are concerning. Their benchmark scores came in at 1,829 for single-core and 11,537 for multi-core performance. These figures are significantly lower than the figures Qualcomm presented at press events (closer to 3,000 and 15,000 points, respectively). Notably, another user pointed out on Twitter that the single-core score even falls below that of an iPhone 12 Mini.
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Several factors could be contributing to this performance gap. One possibility is the use of different Snapdragon variants within the reviewed laptops. However, another potential culprit may be heat dissipation. Aggressive throttling mechanisms implemented by Samsung could be limiting the chip’s performance to prevent overheating or excessive power consumption.
The user’s early impressions also highlight less-than-ideal user experience. Gaming, specifically, appears to be a point of concern. Frame rate drops were reported even in titles expected to run smoothly on the platform, such as Resident Evil Village. However, a software update received shortly after receiving the device reportedly improved the situation and delivered more stable frame rates.
These early findings suggest a product that may not yet live up to the promises made in recent months. Furthermore, the software platform itself could be in a state of relative immaturity and lack optimal optimization. It’s crucial to monitor the situation closely, not only through the lens of upcoming official reviews but also through user experiences in the following months. This will provide a clearer picture of how these devices perform in real-world scenarios and how well the platform evolves over time.
