Last week, Qualcomm teased the release of a new processor on April 24th, likely from the Snapdragon X series. Intel is set to unveil its next-generation "Battlemage" discrete graphics card in the fourth quarter. In the first quarter of 2024, domestic monitor sales and revenue both experienced a decline. HP introduces the new StarBook Pro 14 Ryzen edition for 2024.
Qualcomm Snapdragon X Series to be Released on April 24, Social Media Preheating Underway
Qualcomm has been teasing its upcoming Snapdragon X series processors for quite some time, but the specific release date has remained undisclosed. Last week, the official Qualcomm Snapdragon account on the X platform released a video hinting at a new product preheating, accompanied by the caption "Stay tuned for 4/24." The video features numerous "X" letters and chip elements, alluding to the imminent release of the Snapdragon X series products. Additionally, the official Qualcomm Snapdragon account on Weibo also released a preheating video titled "The Story Behind the Chip Episode 1 | The Birth of Snapdragon X," further hinting at the imminent release of the Snapdragon X series.
Previously, Qualcomm showcased the flagship processor Snapdragon X Elite in this series, featuring a customized integrated Qualcomm Oryon CPU with up to 12 high-performance cores. It boasts a maximum all-core frequency of 3.8GHz and single/dual-core boost frequencies of up to 4.3GHz. Additionally, it integrates a total of 42MB of cache and supports LPDDR5X memory clocked at 8533MHz across 8 channels, offering a maximum bandwidth of 136GB/s and a maximum capacity of 64GB. Storage options include PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD, UFS 4.0, and SD 3.0 expansion cards.
In terms of GPUs, the Snapdragon X Elite still utilizes Qualcomm's Adreno GPU, supporting DX12 with a computational power of up to 4.6 TFlops. In terms of AI performance, the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite integrates the Hexagon NPU AI engine from its mobile platform, with a total computing power of up to 75 TOPS, a peak NPU computing power of 45 TOPS, and on-device generative AI processing capability of 30 tokens per second, capable of handling local processing of models with up to 13 billion parameters. Additionally, there have been previous reports indicating that Qualcomm is testing a lower-tier variant, possibly the Snapdragon X PLUS, in this series of processors, which may come with fewer CPU and GPU cores.
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Intel is reportedly gearing up to launch its next-generation graphics cards in the fourth quarter, poised to challenge offerings from both AMD and NVIDIA.
Previously, Intel has stated on multiple occasions that its next-gen "Battlemage" discrete graphics cards will be released within this year, with numerous leaks already revealing specifications about this series of GPUs. According to the latest reports from ComputerBase, Intel is expected to unveil this series of products before the traditional "Black Friday" in the West.
According to sources, Intel is set to unveil its next-generation Battlemage "Xe2" GPU by the end of 2024, likely timed around the annual U.S. shopping extravaganza, "Black Friday" (November 29), presumably with sales in mind. This release comes almost two years after the debut of Intel's first-generation Battlemage series graphics cards, in line with the typical two-year product cycle observed in the graphics card industry. Moreover, this timing coincides with the refresh cycles of competitors NVIDIA and AMD, suggesting a fiercely competitive landscape with all three major GPU manufacturers launching new products by the end of this year.
Several Battlemage GPUs have already been leaked, including the flagship BMG-G10 and BMG-G21, with a possible entry-level option, the BMG-G31. There were rumors earlier suggesting that Intel might scrap the flagship BMG-G10 GPU from the Battlemage lineup, retaining only the smaller-scale BMG-G21 GPU, but everything remains uncertain at this point. The full BMG-G10 boasts 56 Xe cores paired with 16GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, while the BMG-G21 features 40 Xe cores on a 192-bit bus, delivering performance roughly between an RTX 4060 Ti and an RTX 4070. The new generation of GPUs will continue to be manufactured by TSMC using a 4nm process.
Hot Takes: While Intel hits the mark on timing, it still has ground to cover in performance compared to the competition.
Q1 Monitor Online Sales Decline: AOC Maintains Lead, Xiaomi Takes Third Place
Tech market analysis firm Loto Technology has released its "Monthly Tracking Report on Mainland China's Online Retail Market for Monitors," revealing that in the first quarter of 2024, online monitor sales in mainland China reached 2.09 million units, marking a 6% year-on-year decline. Sales revenue amounted to 2.2 billion yuan, down 12% year-on-year.
According to analysis by Lutu Technology, the overall market demand in the Chinese monitor e-commerce market was sluggish in the first quarter. With the rising prices of upstream panels and other components in the first quarter of this year, costs have increased. As a result, some companies have begun adjusting their low-price strategies in order to achieve better profit margins. Product homogenization and structural upgrades are happening simultaneously. OLED/Mini LED technologies are actively being introduced into the high-end market. Traditional e-commerce platforms are encountering scalability bottlenecks, while other channels have failed to rise.
In terms of brand, the concentration of China's online monitor market is gradually decreasing as more players enter the scene. AOC holds the dual position of first in sales volume and revenue in the online market, with a market share of about 15%, showing slight growth. HKC and Xiaomi respectively rank second and third in online market sales. In the mid-to-high-end product lines, Samsung's OLED and Mini LED products lead the market in market share.
According to online monitoring data from RUNTO Technology, in the first quarter of 2024, the average price of monitors in the online market was around 1072 yuan, a decrease of 38 yuan compared to the same period last year. The mainstream price range remains between 500 and 1000 yuan, accounting for 47% of the market share, an increase of 5 percentage points from the same period last year, mainly driven by products in the 1000-1500 yuan price range. The mid-to-high-end market above 2000 yuan is mainly dominated by products from top-tier brands such as Samsung, LG, and AOC. Overall, the demand for mid-to-high-end monitors remains relatively stable, with market share maintaining stability.
In terms of product distribution, upstream manufacturers are expanding their production capacity for OLED/Mini LED displays, with an increasing number of brand participants and significant improvements in product lines. According to online monitoring data from Runto Technology, in the first quarter, although the penetration rate of OLED and Mini LED display products in the online market remained below 1.5%, sales increased by 52% and 48% year-on-year, respectively.
Looking at the distribution structure of price segments mentioned earlier, the demand for high-end displays in the monitor market remains relatively stable, with a long-standing presence of users seeking high-quality products. Going forward, as the industry chain matures and overall costs decrease, the penetration rate of OLED and Mini LED displays will continue to grow rapidly.
Following the milestone event of esports being officially included in the Asian Games in 2023, the influence of esports in the Chinese consumer electronics market is rapidly spreading. According to online monitoring data from Runto Technology, in the first quarter of 2024, the retail volume of esports monitors in China reached 1.21 million units, a year-on-year increase of 24.7%, with a record high quarterly penetration rate of 58%. The top three brands in the online retail market for esports monitors are AOC, HKC, and SANC, each with a market share exceeding 10%. Particularly, SANC, as a rising star, has increased its market share by 7.6 percentage points compared to the same period last year, demonstrating strong growth momentum.
According to Runto Technology's online monitoring data, the mainstream refresh rate for esports monitors is still 165Hz, accounting for about 40% of the market share, but it has decreased by nearly 15 percentage points compared to the same period last year. In contrast, the growth momentum of 180Hz products is the most vigorous, with a market share increase of 20 percentage points compared to the same period last year.
Entering the second quarter, with the boost from the 618 shopping festival, new types of display technology products and the esports market will continue to advance rapidly. The overall market capacity will also experience a small outbreak. However, due to the market downturn in the first quarter, the outlook for the first half of the year is not optimistic overall. Runto Technology predicts that the online monitoring market size of monitors in China will reach 4.39 million units in the first half of 2024, a decrease of 4% year-on-year.
Commentary: The intensification of competition within the monitor industry, coupled with the demand for cost-effective and high-end monitors, may be the key to future market competition.
HP has now launched the StarBook Pro 14 2024 Ryzen Edition, featuring optional Ryzen 5 8645H and Ryzen 7 8845H processors, as well as a choice of 2.8K 120Hz OLED screens. This laptop is already available for pre-order on domestic platforms, offering two color options: Moonlight Silver and Night Blue, with a starting price of 4,999 yuan. Additionally, customers can receive a 100 yuan E-card and an environmentally friendly design shoulder bag with their purchase.
The StarBook Pro 14 2024 Ryzen edition offers the option for the top-tier Ryzen 7 8845H processor, built on a 4nm manufacturing process. It boasts an 8-core, 16-thread design with a maximum turbo frequency of 5.1GHz and integrated Radeon 780M graphics with 12 CUs. Memory options include 16GB or 32GB of LPDDR5X-6400 onboard memory, while storage utilizes a 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD.
This notebook comes with a 14-inch screen, featuring a Ryzen 5 8645H version with a 2.5K @ 120Hz IPS panel, and a Ryzen 7 8845H version with a 2.8K 120Hz OLED panel. The brightness levels are 300/400 nits respectively, with a refresh rate of 120Hz. It supports VRR variable refresh rate and DC dimming, and has obtained dual certification from TUV and Eyesafe for low blue light.
The StarBook Pro 14 2024 Ryzen Edition is thin at 17.5mm and weighs around 1.52kg. It boasts a built-in 68Whr battery with support for 100W PD fast charging. This laptop features Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3, along with a 5-megapixel webcam with a privacy shutter and IR facial recognition. The keyboard offers three levels of adjustable backlighting. Connectivity includes two USB Type-C ports with full functionality, one USB 10Gbps Type-A port, one USB 5Gbps Type-A port, an HDMI 2.1 port, and a 3.5mm audio jack.
Fresh & Spicy Review: Decent value for money, but there are just too many options currently available with the 8845H/HS chipset.
