New Microsoft models harness Snapdragon X power to quash repairability and speed issues, but do they represent a generational leap forward?

In 2020, Apple left the laptop market reeling with the release of its M1 MacBook Air, which finally saw the firm begin its transition to ARM-powered CPUs replacing Intel and its x86 architecture.

ARM CPUs had long been used for mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets due to their superior battery life, but had not been considered powerful enough to run laptops. With the release of the M1 chip in 2020, Apple showed that ARM could be utilised very effectively to run a fully-fledged desktop while maintaining its battery life and portability benefits.

The Surface Pro 11 battery is relatively easy to remove

Qualcomm, the manufacturer behind the majority of chips that power Android phones, has spent the last few years trying to develop its own desktop-appropriate chips – the Snapdragon X series – which are finally ready to challenge Apple’s M-series...