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Will Snapdragon X Elite 2 Finally Fix the Annoying External Monitor Night Light Problem?
I've been following the ARM PC space closely, and there's a frustrating issue that's been bothering many users like myself. Dell recently confirmed something that explains why your Windows 11 Night Light feature stops working when you connect an external monitor to your Snapdragon-powered laptop.
Let me break this down for you in simple terms. Night Light is that helpful feature that makes your screen warmer in the evening by reducing harsh blue light. It's supposed to help your eyes feel better and improve your sleep. But here's the problem: it only works on your laptop's built-in screen, not on any external monitor you plug in.
The Real Problem Behind This Issue
Dell has been upfront about what's causing this headache. The company published a support document that clearly states this isn't a Windows 11 bug or something they can fix with a software update. Instead, it's a hardware limitation built right into the current Qualcomm Oryon chipset that powers these ARM-based laptops.
This affects several popular Dell models that people are using right now:
- Inspiron 14 5441
- Inspiron 14 Plus 7441
- Latitude 5455
- Latitude 7455
- XPS 13 9345
Dell's position is crystal clear: "This is a limitation of the Qualcomm Oryon chipset". They've also made it clear that they won't be fixing this on current devices because they simply can't.
What This Means for Current Users
If you own one of these Snapdragon laptops, you're stuck with this limitation. Rolling back to Windows 10 won't help either - the problem exists at the hardware level. Your laptop screen will still get the Night Light treatment, but any external monitor you connect will stay at full brightness with all that blue light.
Dell suggests using their Display and Peripheral Manager software to manually adjust color presets on external monitors. You can also try third-party blue light filtering tools like f.lux or similar applications. But let's be honest - these workarounds aren't the same as having native Night Light support that just works.
Hope Is Coming with Next-Generation Chips
Here's where things get interesting. Dell has hinted that this problem will be solved with the next generation of ARM computers. The company specifically mentioned that "this feature is expected to be available with the next generation of ARM computers."
The upcoming Snapdragon X Elite 2 (also called Snapdragon X2 Elite or Project Glymur) is generating serious buzz in the tech community. Early reports suggest this chip will bring significant improvements:
Performance Upgrades:
- Boost clocks starting at 4.4 GHz compared to the current 3.8 GHz
- Expected 18-22% performance improvement over current chips
- Possibly 18 CPU cores in high-end versions
- Support for up to 48 GB of integrated RAM
Gaming and Graphics:
- Potential support for dedicated graphics cards
- Better thermal management compared to current chips
- Improved gaming performance capabilities
Timeline and Availability
The Snapdragon X Elite 2 announcement might happen as early as September 2025, but don't expect widespread availability until 2026. Some sources suggest the chip might be built on a more advanced 3nm or even 2nm manufacturing process, which would explain the delayed timeline.
My Take on This Situation
As someone who's been tracking ARM PC development, this Night Light limitation represents the kind of growing pains we see with new platforms. While app compatibility issues have largely been resolved, hardware-level constraints like this one remind us that ARM on Windows is still maturing.
The good news? Dell's acknowledgment of this issue and their commitment to fixing it in next-generation hardware shows they're listening to user feedback. The bad news? Current users will need to rely on workarounds or wait for their next laptop upgrade.
If you're considering buying a Snapdragon laptop right now, factor this limitation into your decision. If you frequently use external monitors and rely on Night Light for eye comfort, you might want to wait for the next generation or stick with Intel/AMD options for now.
The ARM PC revolution is real, and these devices offer impressive battery life and performance. But like any new technology, there are trade-offs to consider. This Night Light issue is just one example of how hardware limitations can impact daily usability in unexpected ways.