This Surface laptop’s return rate just triggered Amazon’s red flag
Amazon has slapped Microsoft’s Surface Laptop 7, powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X, with a “Frequently Returned Item” label after users returned ARM-based devices at unusual rates, According to Windows Central. The designation applies to products with the highest return rates in their category, per Amazon’s algorithmic assessments between July and September 2024.
Despite a 4.2/5-star rating from 360 reviews, including 71% five-star scores, 12% of buyers gave the laptop one-star ratings. The returns coincide with Microsoft’s recent launch of an Intel Core Ultra-powered Surface Laptop 7 variant, suggesting some customers swapped ARM models for x86 alternatives within Amazon’s 30-day return window.
Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X devices saw a 180% sales jump in Q3 2024, but Canalys data shows they still represent less than 1.5% of the Windows market. The company sold approximately 720,000 units during the quarter—just 0.8% of global PC shipments.