(Credit: Joseph Maldonado/PCMag)
Upgradable laptop maker Framework Computer, which has long used x86 processors from Intel and AMD, is stirring up speculation that it might adopt Qualcomm’s Arm-based Snapdragon chips.
In response to a tweet from someone begging for a laptop that offers high performance and power efficiency like Apple's Arm-powered MacBooks ("Like M1 or M2 equivalent"), but also supports Linux, Framework responded: "If you can wait for Tuesday, we might have something for you,” alluding to its "Next Gen" launch event tomorrow, where it'll be debuting new products.
The tweet could mean Framework plans to launch upgradable laptops featuring Qualcomm’s Arm-based Snapdragon X2 Elite processors. Earlier this month, we tested the X2 Elite Extreme, which offered a major leap over its predecessors and looks poised to challenge AMD and Intel’s x86 laptop processors.
That said, Framework might be alluding to Intel’s recently released “Panther Lake” Core Ultra chips, which also offer exceptionally long battery life. Our tests of the Intel Core Ultra X7 358H on the new Dell XPS 14 laptop squeezed out 21 hours of battery life, close to the M5 MacBook Pro, which ran for 24 hours.
Other users wonder if Framework will be the first to debut AMD’s own Arm-based APU chip, dubbed Soundwave, which has been rumored to be in the works.
We’ll be attending Framework’s event tomorrow, so stay tuned for our coverage. One big question: How will the company address the ongoing memory shortage, which has already forced it to raise prices? Earlier this month, Framework’s CEO even warned that the RAM crunch risks ending PC ownership, citing AI data construction eating up chip production.