Since I’ve experienced firsthand the impressive power of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite and X Plus chips in Copilot+ PCs, I can’t help but ponder: These processors would be ideal for a portable gaming device. Their performance is undeniably strong, and when coupled with the battery life efficiencies they offer, it simply feels like an irresistible combination.
In February 2025, I’m not saying that Snapdragon X is flawless for handheld devices at the moment, but after testing gaming performance on a Snapdragon X Plus for a week with the Acer Swift 14 AI, I have a better understanding of what improvements could be made. Previously, I used a Snapdragon X Elite, but this is my first time with the lower-tier chip. To gauge its performance accurately, I compared it to playing games on my Steam Deck, giving me a realistic idea of how a potential Snapdragon handheld device might perform in real-world conditions.
Essentially, what’s needed is a portable gaming PC powered by a Snapdragon processor, sooner rather than later. The possibilities are vast, but until it materializes, it won’t advance beyond conceptual stages. Somebody should be the one to make this bold move.
Performance on par with a Steam Deck at times
This test isn’t extensive and all-encompassing; rather, it has specifically chosen a limited number of video games. The reason for this is twofold: firstly, I possess these games on Steam, enabling me to perform the tests effectively. Secondly, I wanted to incorporate titles that offer built-in Auto SR (Auto Super Resolution) support.
If you haven’t come across Auto SR before, I’ve previously written an in-depth explanation about it. Essentially, think of it as Microsoft and Qualcomm’s response to FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution), a tool that enhances image quality using AI technology and is integrated into Windows 11. Auto SR leverages the NPU (Neural Processing Unit) by offloading tasks from both the CPU and GPU, thereby freeing up resources for better gaming performance. While it works effectively, it doesn’t support many games optimally at this moment. Games that do work with it include 7 Days To Die, Kingdom Come Deliverance, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider. I’ve had the chance to test it on a Snapdragon X Plus device for comparison purposes against my Steam Deck.
Across these three games, Auto SR on Windows 11 and upscaling techniques like FSR/XeSS on the Steam Deck were found to perform comparably in terms of performance. Frame rates remained consistent, whether measured through built-in benchmarks or casual gameplay. I’m not going into technical detail, just wanted to give a quick comparison of their side-by-side performance.
Similarly, some older games like Bioshock Infinite also don’t require much to run and deliver similar performance on the Snapdragon as on my Steam Deck. Significantly, the Snapdragon X Plus can manage this even while running on battery power, just like the Steam Deck. However, most Windows laptops can’t make the same claim when it comes to gaming. In truth, very few can. But Qualcomm’s chips are almost as powerful when not plugged in as they are when they are, which is a significant advantage for handheld devices.
Work to do from Qualcomm and Microsoft
Since the debut of Qualcomm’s new laptop chips, I’ve been consistently impressed by their gaming capabilities. However, there are areas that require improvement. I won’t delve into anti-cheat measures as they’re a separate issue. Instead, I’m focusing on the performance issues related to Qualcomm’s drivers, Microsoft’s Auto SR feature, and the challenges encountered when installing games from Xbox Game Pass or the Microsoft Store.
Before I installed the beta Qualcomm graphics drivers, performance was satisfactory but lacked any real boost, and at times experienced significant issues. For instance, in Shadow of the Tomb Raider, the beta drivers increased almost 20 frames per second (FPS), which is an incredible enhancement. In Kingdom Come Deliverance and 7 Days To Die, they made the games playable as well. Regardless of the graphics power you have, software remains crucial.
Auto SR is a fantastic tool, but it’s currently quite limited in its application. Only a small number of games are fully compatible, and when they are, it performs exceptionally well. Games displayed on higher resolution screens, like this Acer laptop’s, look great, while still benefiting from the performance boost of lower native resolutions. The NPU handles this transformation beautifully. I truly hope to see its capabilities expanded greatly in the future as it’s too valuable not to be. At present, it only officially supports 14 games and those using DirectX 11 or 12. There’s no support for anything earlier or Vulkan.
A potential drawback, however, lies in the widespread prohibition of downloading Xbox Game Pass and Microsoft Store games on Snapdragon devices. Regrettably, the Xbox app fails to include a Game Pass section, offering only cloud gaming options, while direct store access permits installation of only outdated and ‘casual’ games. This situation is rather disappointing, as it prevents us from testing many games that could potentially run smoothly.
Sometimes, games like Avowed clearly state they aren’t suitable for your CPU type, specifically ARM64 versus x64. Yet, older games such as Gears of War: Ultimate Edition declare that they only work with x64 but can still be installed and operate at 60 FPS, despite some visual issues. This inconsistency isn’t uncommon in Microsoft’s platform, showcasing their unique style.
The first handheld would kick things into gear, just as the Steam Deck did
Linux gaming was around prior to the Steam Deck, but without a doubt, Valve’s handheld device has played a significant role in its ongoing growth. Initially, developers tended to overlook Linux, but that’s changing now as games like Stellar Blade are preparing for optimizations on both Windows and Linux for their handheld versions. This is beneficial since Valve handles the toughest part with Proton; developers don’t need to focus on targeting Linux natively. Previously, native Linux ports often lagged behind, but now it’s simply a single game on Steam that functions smoothly without much hassle.
Microsoft might be exploring an identical concept with a portable device powered by Snapdragon. This device would offer all the advantages of the platform, such as exceptional battery life, a unique Windows-native upscaling technique leveraging the NPU, and impressive gaming performance. However, at this point, there seems to be little demand for such a product. The Copilot+ PCs aren’t primarily designed for gaming, yet they can handle it, and Auto SR is in existence. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem that these capabilities are being fully recognized or utilized.
In order for these devices to become reality, someone has to take the initial step, and a pioneer product is needed to spark interest in the market. If the Steam Deck hadn’t emerged when it did, would we have the ROG Ally and Legion Go as they are today? Given that Microsoft and Qualcomm are already working together on a partnership, might there not be a Microsoft/Xbox handheld powered by Snapdragon in our future? It’s fun to imagine, isn’t it?
Essentially, I’m not fully convinced we’ll see significant focus on this matter in the near future, even though it’s clear there are advantages. My ROG Ally, prior to its demise, had abysmal battery performance. Replacing the chipset with a Snapdragon X might enhance that without requiring a larger physical battery. All the necessary components seem to be in place, but they’re still far from solving the puzzle. The handheld market is expanding rapidly, and instead of continuously releasing Copilot-related products, why not create something entertaining that makes use of all this AI excitement?
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2025-02-13 15:17