Intel throws shade at Arm PCs, claiming retailers get a ‘large percentage’ of devices returned – but Qualcomm is quick to strike back

Return rates are ‘within industry norms’ Qualcomm assures us

· TechRadar

News By Darren Allan published 17 December 2024

(Image credit: Future / Philip Berne)
  • Intel co-CEO has claimed a ‘large percentage’ of Arm-based PCs are returned
  • Qualcomm disagreed claiming return rates are within industry norms
  • Neither company backed up these assertions with any hard figures

It’s all kicking off between Intel and Qualcomm of late, as one of the new interim co-CEOs of Team Blue has taken a pointed swipe at Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs. As you might imagine, Qualcomm was quick to return fire – and in no uncertain terms.

Windows Central reports that this started with Intel’s Michelle Johnston Holthaus, who currently helms Intel along with co-CEO David Zinsner, following Pat Gelsinger’s sudden departure.

Holthaus observed that Arm-based PCs, which are a major part of Microsoft’s drive with Copilot+ laptops, powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon X chips, might not be all that popular: “If you look at the return rate for Arm PCs, you go talk to any retailer, their number one concern is, ‘Wow, I get a large percentage of these back,’ because you go to set them up, and the things that we just expect don’t work.”

So, the claim here is not that Arm PCs are less reliable on the hardware front, but that software compatibility is the main sticking point, and reason why some buyers are returning their devices.

Qualcomm then issued a statement in reply to this, published by CRN, which read: “Our devices continue to have greater than 4+ stars across consumer reviews and our products have received numerous accolades across the industry including awards from Fast Company, TechRadar, and many consumer publications. Our device return rates are within industry norm.”

In short – unsurprisingly – Qualcomm was having none of this, with the spokesperson making it clear that return rates of Snapdragon X laptops are within the expected ‘industry norm’ range for PCs.

Analysis: Laptop realities and airy assertions

The gloves are off, then, well and truly. Intel’s been having a turbulent time this year, of course, so is this just a case of lashing out, deflecting, and drawing attention to the weaknesses of rivals?

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