# Qualcomm Discontinues Snapdragon X Elite Dev Kit for Windows: What Went Awry?
In recent times, the technology sector has seen an increasing effort to transition Windows to ARM-based processors, a shift that promises superior power efficiency, enhanced AI functionalities, and better battery performance. Qualcomm has played a pivotal role in this initiative, utilizing its Snapdragon X Elite and X Plus processors to drive a new wave of Windows PCs, especially those integrating Microsoft’s Copilot+ AI. Nevertheless, in spite of the anticipated future for ARM-based Windows devices, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite Developer Kit encountered numerous challenges, leading to its sudden cancellation.
## The Ascendance of Windows on ARM
The endeavor to run Windows on ARM processors is not a recent development. For more than a decade, Microsoft and ARM chip manufacturers have been striving toward this goal. The aim is to engineer devices that provide extended battery life, improved thermal efficiency, and embedded AI capabilities, all while ensuring compatibility with the extensive Windows application ecosystem. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite and X Plus processors are vital to this campaign, powering numerous Copilot+ Windows PCs. These devices are designed to deliver distinctive AI-enhanced functionalities, like Microsoft’s Copilot AI assistant, while tackling the application and hardware compatibility challenges that have historically impacted Windows-on-ARM systems.
## The Snapdragon X Elite Dev Kit: A Promising Beginning
As part of the first wave of Copilot+ PCs, Qualcomm introduced the Snapdragon X Elite Developer Kit, a compact desktop PC priced at $899. This development kit was intended to provide developers with a more budget-friendly option to enter the Copilot+ landscape, enabling them to test and fine-tune their applications for ARM-based Windows platforms. The dev kit was perceived as an essential resource for developers to ensure their software could leverage the advanced hardware and AI features offered by Snapdragon processors.
The Snapdragon X Elite Dev Kit followed in the footsteps of Microsoft’s own ARM-based developer kit, Project Volterra, which launched two years prior. However, while Project Volterra met with mixed reactions, Qualcomm’s dev kit was anticipated to deliver a more robust and polished experience, credited to the Snapdragon X Elite processor.
## A Troubled Launch
Despite the initial enthusiasm stemming from the Snapdragon X Elite Dev Kit, its introduction was marred by delays and technical complications. Initially scheduled for release in June 2024, the dev kit encountered numerous setbacks, leading to developer frustration over pre-orders. As reported by developer and YouTuber Jeff Geerling, who had placed an order for the dev kit, Qualcomm attributed the delays to hardware issues.
One of the primary concerns was the elimination of the integrated HDMI port, which was substituted with a USB-C-to-HDMI adapter. Qualcomm provided a 10% discount to affected customers as compensation; however, this alteration raised doubts about the stability of the hardware. Geerling’s examination of the dev kit disclosed that the HDMI port removal occurred late in the design phase, as the motherboard still had space for the port along with an unutilized DisplayPort to HDMI conversion chip. This indicates that the decision to eliminate the HDMI port may have been made at the last minute, potentially contributing to the delays in shipping.
Additionally, Geerling’s unit was marked as “not FCC approved for resale,” which is an atypical classification for a product from a large corporation intended for consumers. This heightened concerns regarding the market readiness of the dev kit.
## Qualcomm’s Cancellation Decision
Following a series of delays and technical difficulties, Qualcomm took the unexpected step of canceling the Snapdragon X Elite Dev Kit entirely. In a statement, the company conceded that the dev kit “has not met our typical standards of excellence” and declared that product support would be indefinitely halting. Qualcomm also offered refunds to customers who had pre-ordered, and those who had already received the dev kit were permitted to retain it without returning the hardware.
The termination of the dev kit constitutes a considerable setback for Qualcomm’s ambitions to advance Windows on ARM. This dev kit was meant to serve as a crucial asset for developers seeking to optimize their applications for ARM ecosystems, and its absence creates a void in the ecosystem.
## What Lies Ahead for Developers?
With the cancellation of the Snapdragon X Elite Dev Kit, developers eager to test and create applications for ARM-based Windows platforms will have to explore alternative devices. Regrettably, none of the current Copilot+ laptops or tablets present the same value as the $899 dev kit, particularly for those requiring 32GB of RAM and an unlocked Snapdragon X Elite processor.
For instance, a Surface Pro tablet with comparable specs will be priced around $2,100, while some laptops, such as the HP Omnibook X, can run closer to $1,000, contingent on ongoing promotions. Yet, these devices remain significantly higher in cost compared to the dev kit, posing greater challenges for independent developers and smaller enterprises seeking the needed hardware for testing and development.
