Qualcomm is making 5nm ARM chipsets for Windows laptops

The new chips are based on the 7c+ Gen 3 platform. The company wants to power handheld gaming devices with the G3x Gen 1 chipsets.

The first 5nm PC platform, according to the company, is the Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3, which builds on last year's Gen 2. It says that moving to a 5nanometer process allowed for improved performance of the Kryo CPU while maintaining the same power consumption levels as Gen 2. The company claims that the chipsets will deliver better performance than x86 chips and will deliver up to 85 percent improved performance compared with the previous generation.

The platform is said to offer chip-to-cloud security, upgraded camera and audio functions, and multi-day battery life. The leading competitive platform will be three times the performance of systems with 8cx Gen 3 chips. Face detection and background blur on calls could be sped up with the help of the artificial intelligence. As many as four cameras can be supported by the Gen 3 of the Snapdragon 8cx.

Up to 60 percent improved performance will be offered by 8cx Gen 3 thanks to the AdrenoGPU. You'll be able to play games in Full HD at up to 120 frames per second, and the platform is designed to allow people to play for up to 50 percent longer than other platforms.

Six months after the previous generation of the platform, it was released for entry-level PCs and Chromebooks. It also supports 5G, thanks to the inclusion of the X53 5G modem- RF system. You can also expect support for 6 and 6E. The 6nm 7c Gen 3 platform will deliver up to 40 percent improved CPU performance and as much as 35 percent improved graphics performance over the previous-gen chipsets, according to the company.

It remains to be seen if the Windows on Snapdragon platform can turn the corner with its latest, more powerful options. The first devices with the 7c+ Gen 3 and 8cx Gen 3 are expected in the first half of the century.

There is a new category of gaming handhelds that is being made by Qualcomm. It says the G3x Gen 1 gaming platform will support streaming games from consoles and PCs, as well as cloud gaming services and games on apps. The FastConnect 6900 system has 5G and sub 6 and a 6/6E connection, while the Adreno graphics card can run games at a rate of up to 144 frames per second.

To show off the platform, Razer collaborated with Qualcomm on a handheld gaming kit that's available to developers starting today. The device has a 120hz, 6.65-inch display, 10-bit HDR support, four-way speakers, and a controller. The device can be used for live streams that include audio and video feeds from players, since it has a high definition camera and dual mics.

The likes of the Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, smartphones and tablets will be vying against the likes of the Snapdragon-powered handhelds. It's a competitive sector, but one that's growing rapidly, so there might be room for devices with Qualcomm chips to carve out a niche.