Gartner predicts that artificial intelligence (AI) PCs will represent half of the total PC market worldwide in 2026. Just about every PC maker offers one, and they all claim next-generation performance. But not all AI PCs are created equal. And for small-market and midmarket businesses, cutting through the noise and determining what truly matters in an AI PC is essential.
Here are three questions to help evaluate what AI-ready really means for your business.
1. Will this device improve everyday productivity — or just benchmarks?
Productivity is still the primary driver of device decisions. But in hybrid and mobile-first environments, productivity is no longer just about processor speed and RAM. It’s also about agility.
The battery life and sustained performance of unplugged devices directly impact field teams, remote meetings, and travel-heavy roles. Across industries, long battery life and speed consistently resonate the most with IT decision-makers.
What resonates with end users matters, too. Younger generations that are joining or newer to the workforce expect to have access to a modern set of productivity tools — including company-issued PCs.
“Newer people entering the workforce want a computer experience that shows that their employer cares,” says Craig Tellalian, director, Field Applications Engineering (Enterprise Compute)[AM1] [SK2] at Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. “Part of that is providing advances in technology to help them get their work done. It’s increasingly viewed as a selling point for an employer, along with salary and vacation days.”
Another important factor related to productivity is how well the device will integrate with other AI-enabled devices — including mobile phones, watches, smart glasses, and other smart wearables — that users are bringing into the workplace.
“The PC is no longer the only way we do compute,” says Tellalian. “AI is the new UI, so you’re not investing just in a device but in a whole new mindset that focuses on how to get things done and which devices best fit a particular task.”
2. What does real AI acceleration look like?
AI-enabled is becoming a generic label. Real AI acceleration is measurable. With embedded AI acceleration, teams can:
- Work on local AI models that are billions of parameters in size
- Collaborate with multiple AI agents that are executing complex tasks simultaneously
- Edit 4K video and imagery in real time
- Summon information by using multimodal models
- Run essential AI experiences on low power, such as with background blur and noise suppression
For nontechnical buyers, the takeaway is simple: Look for a device that can orchestrate multiple AI experiences simultaneously without lag or latency.
Speed alone is not enough. Concurrent AI capability is the new standard. “AI is disrupting traditional compute,” says Tellalian. “It used to be enough to go with the highest-end CPU. But with AI, there will be a threshold in terms of having those workloads running solely on the CPU without compromising battery life, thermals, and overall device performance. That’s why having a dedicated NPU [neural processing unit] to handle those AI workloads is so important.”
3. Will this device still be relevant in three to five years?
As the pace of AI innovation continues to accelerate, expect PC refresh rates to follow. The usual three-to-five-year lifespans of company-supplied devices may evolve more toward the two-to-three-year cycle of mobile phones. “Five years is probably very much on the extreme side now,” says Tellalian.
Although shorter cycles will be more realistic, it very much depends on the types of AI workloads an organization is supporting and where it’s running them.
“We’re likely to be in a hybrid environment for some time, with a need to have certain AI workloads running on the cloud and certain AI workloads running locally on a device,” he says. “Having devices that can orchestrate and adapt to different needs will be important.”
An AI-ready device built to withstand rapid innovation cycles should support:
- Expanding AI workloads
- Agentic AI collaboration
- Larger model sizes
- Increasing security demands
- Scalability as teams adopt more intelligent[ekl3] workflows
The Snapdragon® X2 Elite integrated memory architecture and high-bandwidth design enable teams to tackle massive and simultaneous AI workloads today while positioning for future growth.
Thinking beyond the spec sheet
For small-market and midmarket business leaders, AI PCs represent a significant shift in the concept of end user devices. They are not just faster laptops. AI PCs are platforms that fuel the partnership between human intelligence and AI power. The right device amplifies a team’s ingenuity, supporting smarter decisions, faster iteration, and more ambitious outcomes.
Ask the right questions now, and your next PC refresh will position your business to lead with AI-driven innovation.
Unlock the full potential of AI in your business with Snapdragon® X2 Elite. Learn more.
Snapdragon branded products are products of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries.