The kit, featuring the Snapdragon X Elite chipset, was initially available for pre-order in May and According to an email sent to customers,
Qualcomm stated that the Developer Kit “comprehensively has not met our usual standards of excellence” and will, therefore, be discontinued indefinitely. The company will issue refunds to all customers who have ordered the kit, including those who have already received their devices.
The Snapdragon X Elite Developer Kit was designed to provide a powerful platform for developers to experiment with Windows on Arm. Still, its discontinuation may hinder the development of ARM-native applications. Qualcomm has offered an alternative, the Microsoft Windows Dev Kit, which features an older Snapdragon chip, but it is currently out of stock on Microsoft’s website and its future availability is uncertain.
The cancellation is a surprise, especially considering the kit’s delayed shipping and Qualcomm's lack of clear communication regarding any issues.
There is some online speculation that the HDMI port, which was removed from the kit at the last minute, may have been a major contributor to the production delays and ultimately led to the cancellation. The kit was supposed to start shipping in June.
In the note to developers, Qualcomm said it was indefinitely pausing this product and its support.
“Qualcomm prioritises working with the developer community. If you want to learn more about Windows on Snapdragon, please engage with us on Discord or visit our developer portal on Qualcomm.com. If you are ready to build your next-gen AI PC application, visit the Qualcomm Device Cloud (QDC) today,” the note said.
While the board might have had issues, those who played with it claim that it was a missed opportunity.
One blogger worte: “Hopefully, Microsoft and Qualcomm can figure out a way to make a compelling small desktop offering with Snapdragon X, which is something not so strongly associated with the failed CoPilot+ launch.”
If it happens, Qualcomm may not make the device, instead relying on an OEM partner.
