Qualcomm has unveiled Snapdragon C, a new chip for low-cost Windows laptops, just days ahead of the Computex expo[1]. The chipset is expected to power laptops priced at roughly 300 USD (about 48,000 yen) and up, positioning it as a mainstream option aimed at classrooms, small businesses, and households[1]. Acer has announced the first laptop to use it, the Aspire Go 15, though pricing and availability have not been revealed[1].

A mainstream play: Snapdragon C

Qualcomm's Windows chips have so far been led by the Snapdragon X series, which launched about 2 years ago[1]. Those chips offered long battery life and AI features and mostly appeared in premium to mid-range laptops[1]. Snapdragon C is a new chip positioned a tier below that, for cheaper laptops[1].

Qualcomm says laptops with Snapdragon C will sit in the roughly 300 USD (about 48,000 yen) and above price range[1]. This is a move to bring Snapdragon-powered Windows laptops firmly into the mainstream, with the company pointing to classrooms, small business owners, and families[1].

※1 USD = 159 JPY (as of May 29, 2026)

Kryo cores instead of Oryon

Qualcomm revealed almost no details about the chip, but confirmed in a media briefing that Snapdragon C does not use its custom Oryon CPU cores[1]. Instead, it uses Kryo CPU cores based on Arm's IP (semiconductor design assets)[1]. The company did not specify which Arm cores are used, the GPU configuration, the maximum amount of RAM, or the manufacturing process[1].

According to Qualcomm, laptops with Snapdragon C will deliver cool and quiet designs and long battery life, with some AI features available through the integrated NPU (a unit dedicated to AI processing)[1]. However, the company says this NPU will not support Microsoft's Copilot+ features[1]. This appears to be because it does not meet the 40 TOPS (40 trillion operations per second) requirement for Copilot+ certification[1].

Acer Aspire Go 15 is the first to ship

Acer has announced the Aspire Go 15 as the first product with Snapdragon C[1]. Acer positions it as a mainstream product[1]. Key specs include up to 8GB of RAM, up to 512GB of storage, and a 15.6-inch display (1080p, 16:9 aspect ratio)[1]. It also features two full-function USB-C ports, an HDMI port, a 1080p webcam, and a 53Wh battery[1].

However, Acer has not yet revealed pricing or availability for the Aspire Go 15[1]. Given the roughly 300 USD and up range cited by Qualcomm, it could be a cheap laptop that significantly undercuts the 600 USD (about 96,000 yen) MacBook Neo[1]. Where the actual price lands will be the point to watch.

Possible expansion to Googlebooks

Qualcomm was also asked whether this chip could power Googlebooks[1]. The company would only say that it is excited about its partnership with Google for Googlebooks and will share more details in the near future[1].

Qualcomm is one of several chip partners for Googlebooks, so it would not be a surprise if Snapdragon C or the Snapdragon X series ended up in Google-powered laptops[1]. We will have to wait for future announcements for specific product plans.

Summary

Snapdragon C is a new chip aimed at mainstream Windows laptops priced at roughly 300 USD (about 48,000 yen) and up. By using Arm-based Kryo cores rather than custom Oryon cores, and by skipping Copilot+ support, it is clearly positioned to prioritize price and power efficiency over raw performance. The first product, Acer's Aspire Go 15, has no price yet, but it stands out as a move to widen the options for affordable Windows laptops.

Source: https://www.androidauthority.com/qualcomm-snapdragon-c-300-windows-laptops-3670900/