With AMD's latest Zen 5 architecture and Qualcomm's improved Snapdragon SoCs, competition among chipmakers for a spot in Windows Ultrabooks is heating up. Despite the presence of the Copilot+-enabled Ryzen AI 9 series and Snapdragon X-series processors, Intel continues to be the preferred option for leading manufacturers when it comes to their flagship ultrabooks.
Let's take a look at why Intel remains the preferred choice in the premium ultrabook market and what unique advantages give it its leadership status.
Flagship ultrabooks from major manufacturers
Looking at the current laptop lineup from major Windows OEMs like HP, Dell, Lenovo, and Asus, it's pretty obvious that they all prioritize Intel for their high-end offerings.
For example, Lenovo's flagship business ultrabook, the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Aura Edition, and the Yoga Series 9 (consumer side) are only available with Intel CPUs.
Switching to Dell, the XPS 13 is offered with both the Lunar Lake and Snapdragon X Elite CPUs. However, the other two models in the XPS series (XPS 14 and XPS 16) are only equipped with an Intel CPU. The most popular Omnibook Flip from HP (formerly Specter x360) and the Zenbook S14 from Asus are also exclusively equipped with Intel CPUs (Core Ultra Series 2).
Although mid-range models like the Vivobook, Yoga Series 7 and ThinkPad T-Series have seen significant improvements in recent years, it's the flagship devices that receive the latest innovations and cutting-edge technology from OEMs (which is to be expected). Whether you prefer Asus' unique Ceraluminum material (ceramic + aluminum), ThinkPad's ultra-light X1 Carbon, or the beautiful design of XPS in the 14-inch form factor, Intel remains the only option. Let's take a look at the possible reasons for Intel's market dominance.
Availability and software compatibility
Unlike AMD, Intel has never had any problems with availability. For example, most of the Intel Lunar Lake laptops unveiled at IFA 2024 are already available for pre-order in the US and even in regions like India. With AMD, on the other hand, there are often delays and uncertainty regarding availability.
Now let's move on to the key factor that gives Intel an edge over Qualcomm's ARM CPUs. Unlike the Snapdragon X series, Intel CPUs are based on the x86 architecture and have no problems with app or game compatibility. All leading apps and games are available from day one, giving flagship buyers much-needed peace of mind. After all, someone who pays top dollar for premium Windows Ultrabooks doesn't want to compromise on such a crucial aspect.
Overall, availability and software compatibility are two of the main reasons for OEMs to choose Intel over the others in their flagship lineup.
The verdict for Qualcomm is still pending
Suffice it to say, 2024 was a year for Qualcomm. The company had a blockbuster launch of Snapdragon X-series processors involving all major OEMs. While these devices excel in terms of battery life and performance, they fall short in terms of gaming and app compatibility, and overall the verdict is still out.
It's only been a few months since ARM-powered Windows laptops hit the market. But we'll soon see if buyers choose them over traditional offerings from Intel and AMD this upcoming holiday season. If Snapdragon devices don't sell well initially, Windows OEMs will ultimately be reluctant to add them to their high-end product lines.
Lunar Lake is actually good
Source: Intel
Mediocre battery life has historically been one of the weak points of Intel Ultrabooks. However, the company has completely changed the game with the latest Lunar Lake CPUs. In our recent XPS 13 test, we found it to be extremely efficient and on par with the latest AMD and Qualcomm devices. The integrated graphics also received a significant boost with the Lunar Lake avatar. Intel has ultimately delivered what consumers, and especially Windows OEMs, have been demanding for years.
Now it looks like Windows manufacturers have little to no reason to adopt AMD or Qualcomm for their next-generation flagships.
Intel's reign in the flagship ultrabook space
Unless Intel makes a big mistake, we don't see any laptop manufacturers using AMD or Qualcomm exclusively in their flagship products. In most cases, Windows manufacturers will continue to offer Ryzen or Snapdragon CPUs as choices for mid-range models or as options for high-end devices alongside Intel.
However, in the desktop CPU space, the scenario is exactly the opposite. Intel's offerings have been disappointing for some time and AMD is quickly gaining ground with the Ryzen 9000 series. It will be interesting to see if Intel can make a comeback with the upcoming 15th generation Arrow Lake CPUs.