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Windows Central
Windows Central
Technology
Sean Endicott

A Snapdragon X Elite mini-PC is on the way, but it's not from Qualcomm

Geekom A8 profile view showcasing connectivity.

What you need to know

  • A leak shows a Snapdragon X Elite-powered mini-PC from Geekom.
  • The body of that mini-PC looks very similar to that of the Geekom A8/A7, which received high marks from reviewers for design.
  • There is no word on when the new Geekom mini-PC will launch or how much it will cost.
  • Qualcomm canceled its Snapdragon X Elite devkit just before launch, so the new Geekom mini-PC would be the first mini-PC with a Snapdragon X Elite.

A new mini-PC powered by a Snapdragon X Elite could be just around the corner. A recent leak by 孤城Hardware shows a mini-PC by Geekom that's powered by a Snapdragon X Elite. Nothing official has been shared at this time, but there's enough there to make some educated guesses.

The mini-PC looks remarkably similar to the Geekom A8 and A7, so much so that I wouldn't be shocked if the Snapdragon X Elite-powered mini-PC was marketed as a variation of the Geekom A8 or A7. Of course, the company could also just have taken inspiration from one of its popular designs and branded the new mini-PC with a completely separate name. The Geekom A8 and A7 received high marks for their "elegant design with aluminum chassis" in our Geekom A8/A7 review, so if the new Snapdragon X Elite-powered mini-PC took notes from the A8/A7, that would be good news.

A new Geekom device would be the first mini-PC with a Snapdragon X Elite processor. (Image credit: 孤城Hardware (leak of Geekom graphic))

As the source of the information is a leaked image, we don't have many details about the new Geekom mini-PC. The device is the world's first Qualcomm-powered mini-PC, according to the image. That's mostly true, since Qualcomm canceled the launch of its Snapdragon X Elite devkit days before the PCs were set to launch. A few lucky people were sent a Snapdragon X Elite devkit and allowed to keep any device received, but it's accurate to say the mini-PC from Qualcomm never launched.

Even if Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite devkit was available on shelves right now, Geekom could still claim to be the world's first in some categories. The Geekom device is a real PC meant to be sold to consumers, at least based on the leaked photo. The Snapdragon X Elite devkit was a device built for developers, not a consumer-focused PC. Geekom makes some of the best mini-PCs, so I'm confident the new mini-PC from the company will showcase the Snapdragon X Elite well.

Are Copilot+ PCs only laptops?

Up to this point, all Copilot+ PCs have been laptops, such as the Surface Laptop 7 (shown above). (Image credit: Windows Central)

Several questions remain about the new Geekom mini-PC, such as its price, exact specs, and when it will be available. I'd also like to know if it will be an official Copilot+ PC. Right now, all of the best Copilot+ PCs are laptops or convertible 2-in-1s like the Surface Pro 11. It would be nice to add a mini-PC to that list.

Copilot+ PCs have exclusive features such as Auto Super Resolution and Advanced Windows Studio Effects. Windows Recall, which is testing right now, is on the way to Copilot+ PCs as well. Since Copilot+ PCs have an NPU, they can power AI features within third-party apps. Many creative apps take advantage of the efficiency and power of dedicated NPUs.

RELATED: Best native Windows on Arm apps

The Copilot+ PC launch was rocky, but things have gotten better. Now, we'll have to see if companies hop on board with new devices.

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