Qualcomm’s efforts to expand its presence in the Windows PC market with the Snapdragon X platform have encountered another hurdle. Following lower-than-expected sales in the third quarter of 2024, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7—one of the key devices featuring the Snapdragon X processor—has been flagged by Amazon as a “Frequently Returned Item.”
The label, as reported by Windows Central, is assigned to products with high return rates compared to others in the same category. While Amazon has not disclosed exact figures, this designation suggests a notable number of customers have opted to return the device within the standard 30-day return period.
Despite this, the Surface Laptop 7 has a respectable 4.2-star rating out of 5, based on 360 user reviews. A majority (71%) have given the device five stars, while 12% have rated it with a single star. The contrast between return rates and user ratings raises questions about the specific issues leading to customer dissatisfaction.
One possible factor is Microsoft’s recent launch of an updated Surface Laptop 7 model equipped with Intel’s Core Ultra series processors. Some customers who originally purchased the Arm-based version may be exchanging their units for the x86 alternative, which could offer broader software compatibility and performance benefits in certain workloads.
Market adoption of Snapdragon X-powered Windows devices has remained slow. Data from Canalys shows that Qualcomm shipped approximately 720,000 Snapdragon X devices in Q3 2024, accounting for just 0.8% of all PCs sold in that period. Even with sequential growth of 180%, Snapdragon X systems still represent less than 1.5% of the overall Windows market.
The return rate issue, combined with modest market penetration, highlights the challenges Qualcomm faces in establishing Snapdragon X as a viable alternative to traditional x86 processors. The coming quarters will be critical in determining whether these issues can be addressed or if the platform will continue to struggle for wider adoption.
Sources: Windows Central (Source and Images), via Tom’s Hardware
