Brett Ostrum, Corporate Vice President of Microsoft Surface, stated that Microsoft has never shipped a gaming PC and has allowed original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to cater to the gaming market. He mentioned that Microsoft was aware of the upcoming MacBook Neo and chose not to compete directly in that space, as OEMs like Dell and ASUS already provide viable alternatives. Microsoft has received feedback from various stakeholders about Surface's absence in this competitive area but maintains that it does not need to compete in every market. The Surface lineup has been categorized into three tiers: Entry Premium, Premium, and Ultra Premium, with the Entry Premium starting at over ,000. This shift reflects changes in the market and leadership within Surface. The Surface Laptop Ultra is set to be unveiled on October 7.
Qualcomm is exploring the possibility of adding DirectX 12 support to future Snapdragon mobile chips, potentially improving PC game compatibility and performance on mobile devices.
Motorola's Signature 27 will be one of the first phones powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 chipset. GrapheneOS has confirmed initial support for the Signature 27, expanding beyond Google Pixel phones. GrapheneOS is based on AOSP and focuses on privacy, with optional Google Play services running sandboxed. The Signature 27 features a revamped camera layout and includes premium enhancements such as Audio by B&O. Motorola has not disclosed the release date or pricing for the Signature 27.
Qualcomm and Google announced a collaboration at the Snapdragon Summit 2025 to develop a desktop version of Google's Android operating system, traditionally used on smartphones. The initiative aims to create a device powered by an Arm chip, moving away from the x86 architecture prevalent in PCs. This development aligns with Google's plan to base ChromeOS on Android, allowing Android apps to run natively on laptops and desktops. The anticipated benefits of the new device include affordability, exceptional battery life due to Arm CPUs, and a seamless web browsing experience. However, challenges remain for the gaming sector, as evidenced by Valve's decision to stop plans for Steam on Chromebooks. The collaboration may indicate a significant shift towards Arm architecture in the PC market.
At the Snapdragon Summit 2025, Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon and Google’s Rick Osterloh discussed the collaboration between the two companies on the evolving landscape of desktop Android. Google announced in 2024 that ChromeOS would transition to a foundation built on Android, aiming to merge ChromeOS and Android into a cohesive platform. This initiative intends to enhance the ChromeOS experience by leveraging Android's technology and create a common technical foundation for products on PCs and desktop computing systems. The project aims to accelerate AI innovation within ChromeOS, streamline engineering efforts, and improve interoperability among devices. Qualcomm is expected to benefit from a new operating system for its PC-class chips, although specifics about the development of a desktop Android-first offering remain unclear.
Google is collaborating with Qualcomm to unify the technical foundations of Android and PC systems, aiming to blur the distinctions between mobile and desktop computing. Rick Osterloh, Google's Senior Vice President of Devices and Services, emphasized the potential for integrating Google's AI capabilities into PCs. Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon expressed enthusiasm for this convergence initiative. Additionally, Google is reportedly working on a multi-year project to merge Chrome OS and Android into a cohesive operating system for various devices. Enhancements to Android for larger screens are already being implemented, suggesting future Chromebooks and possibly a new Pixel Laptop may run on Android instead of Chrome OS.
Qualcomm's CEO, Cristiano Amon, expressed enthusiasm for Google's anticipated merger of Android and ChromeOS during a keynote at Qualcomm's Snapdragon Summit. He previewed the new software and highlighted collaborative efforts between Qualcomm and Google to bridge mobile and desktop computing. Google's head of platforms and devices, Rick Osterloh, noted the aim to create a common technical foundation for PCs and smartphones, integrating Gemini AI and the complete Android stack. Amon described the software as incredible and aligned with the vision of convergence between mobile and PC. The last update from Google on this initiative was in July, confirming their commitment to merging ChromeOS and Android into a unified platform.
Qualcomm announced at the Snapdragon Summit that Google plans to merge its Android and ChromeOS platforms to create a new operating system for computers. Sameer Samat from Google expressed excitement about this integration, which aims to enhance the laptop experience by incorporating AI advancements from Android. Qualcomm also introduced new PC chips, the Snapdragon X2 Elite and Elite Extreme, which may support this initiative.
Qualcomm's 10th annual Snapdragon Summit featured discussions on Google's re-entry into the PC ecosystem through the Android for PC initiative, which aims to unify mobile and desktop experiences. Google plans to merge its ChromeOS and Android for PC projects into a single platform, leveraging advanced AI technologies like Gemini. Qualcomm's CEO expressed excitement about the convergence of mobile and PC technologies. Additionally, Google launched the Google App for Windows desktop PCs, allowing users to search across various sources on their devices, marking an effort to expand its presence in the desktop application market.
