Chinese computer manufacturer Geekom is reportedly preparing the QS series of mini-PCs powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite chip. According to the Lonely City Hardware (machine translated) on Weibo (h/t Neowin), this device will be the first Snapdragon X Elite mini-PC, especially as Qualcomm unexpectedly canceled the Snapdragon X Elite dev kit. However, we don’t know the mini-PC’s specifications, pricing, or additional information.
All that we see in the leaked image is the device’s exterior case, which features the power button, two USB-A ports, and a 3.5mm combo jack. This looks similar to the Geekom A7, a mini-PC powered by an AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS, and has a similar front button layout, case design, and color. If this mini-PC launches, it will help Qualcomm reach more customers, especially as it promised in Computex 2024 that the Snapdragon is coming to “all PC form factors,” including desktop PCs. While the mini-PC is not precisely a full-blow desktop CPU with largely interchangeable components (like a discrete GPU), it still has a niche, especially for users who do not require portability but have little desk space.
However, one downside of an Arm-based mini-PC is its lack of expandability and compatibility. The Snapdragon X chips use integrated memory, so you can’t upgrade your PC once you’ve picked a RAM capacity. There’s also limited support for discrete GPUs, so the QS mini-PC won’t be a great gaming device. But if all you need is a tiny little PC for basic tasks, like web browsing, office typing, and streaming, then a Qualcomm Snapdragon X mini-PC might be a great option that won’t break the bank but will offer above-average performance.
