As we get ready to say goodbye to summer and hello to fall, we’re excited to introduce you to the latest Snapdragon Insider of the Month. For September, meet Alex from Romania (@AlexDuicu on X and Instagram). Alex is a lover of street photography, a technology enthusiast, and a big fan of the Snapdragon Insiders community. Before we jump into the interview, here’s a message from Alex: 

Pick one to describe you: audiophile, photographer, gamer, all around tech enthusiast.

I’ve always focused on the photography part of technology so I’d say photographer. Anything that can take a picture and is tech-related, I’m in.  

What features or capabilities of devices powered by Snapdragon do you find most impressive?

In Romania, most everyday consumers aren’t really aware of Snapdragon. I was the same way until a couple years ago when some friends of mine in the OPPO community told me about Snapdragon. Bit by bit I learned about the brand and that it powers so many types of devices — smartphones, laptops, smart watches, AR glasses, etc. It made me really curious and I started looking at my previous phones that I’ve used for photography. I discovered that all my best work was done with smartphones powered by Snapdragon. Those phones have no lag, are super powerful and efficient, and help me take my best photos. To me, Snapdragon is power on demand.  

The features on cameras powered by Snapdragon have really elevated my photography. I don’t need a dedicated camera or a studio because I have a device with me that does exactly what I need it to do. With just my smartphone, I can take the photo, open Lightroom, and within a couple of minutes of editing, I have exactly what I want.  

What excites you most about the future of Snapdragon technology?

There are two areas I’m really excited about: laptops and XR. I haven’t seen the new laptops powered by Snapdragon® X Series processors in person in Romania but from what I’ve seen on X from other Snapdragon Insiders, I’m really impressed by what Qualcomm Technologies managed to do. They’ve crammed a lot of power into these processors without draining battery life, and Snapdragon X Series looks like it does so many things compared to the competition. Previously, if you wanted incredible performance you had to trade in battery life, or if you wanted long-lasting battery life you had to settle for mediocre performance. With devices powered by Snapdragon X Series, you get both. I’m really looking forward to getting my hands on one of the new laptops. I think these platforms set us up for an interesting future for laptops because it seems like they knocked it out of the park already. 

The second thing I’m excited about is XR. I’m really interested to see where this tech will go in a few years after it’s matured a bit. I think we’re at the start of what XR can do — and it’s a very exciting start — but I think it’ll be even more interesting ten years down the line. 

What’s your favorite memory as a Snapdragon Insider?

My favorite memory as a Snapdragon Insider is when I attended MWC in Barcelona. It was my first time going to a big event like that. I got to meet loads of people, some of whom I’d been talking to for months online. It’s one thing to talk to someone online, but it's another to actually give them a hug. It was an experience that I’ll never forget.

How has being a part of the Snapdragon Insiders community impacted your relationship with technology?

My knowledge about hardware and software has increased greatly in a very short period of time, but more than that, I’ve noticed changes within myself. For example, Snapdragon has monthly #ShotOnSnapdragon photo themes. They’re really fun to participate in and these themes make me want to get out and explore and go on more adventures. It’s about getting a picture for the theme, but it’s also about seeing things differently. The community makes me want to become a better person because I know within Snapdragon Insiders there are so many talented, wonderful people, and I want to be a better person for them. 

What would you say to someone considering joining the Snapdragon Insiders community?

I would tell them that in the Snapdragon Insiders community, you’ll find people like you, good people who are interested in the same things. When I have a question about a topic like 5G, I know that if I post my question on X, somebody will reply to me and answer my question and we can have a conversation from there. If you’re interested in photography, connectivity, technology in general, you’ll find good people to connect with all over the world. And I love that, because someday maybe we’ll get to meet each other in person and go on photography walks or something. The thing about Snapdragon Insiders is that it’s about more than just phones and giveaways, it’s about community.   

What’s the best photo you’ve ever taken with a smartphone camera powered by Snapdragon?

The photo that comes to mind is a black and white photo of an escalator in a shopping mall that I took years ago. Everytime I go to that mall I try to recreate the photo and the mood it captures, but I’ve never been able to. I edited out all the people in the photo — this was before AI, so it took a while — and it looks both abandoned and futuristic. I would describe it like you discovered the Star Trek Enterprise had been abandoned for ten years, and turned on the lights in the main hall. 

What does being named the Snapdragon Insider of the Month mean to you?

There are few things in life that can make me shut up, and finding out I was going to be the Snapdragon Insider of the Month was one of them. I was speechless that out of all the people on the internet, they chose me for September. I’m very honored because I have seen the people that have been chosen as previous Snapdragon Insiders of the Month and I admire them a lot. There are a lot of talented photographers in the Snapdragon Insiders community and I’m honored to be selected among them. It’s humbling but at the same time I want to jump and scream that I was chosen. It’s a tough feeling to describe but it holds a lot of meaning. To be chosen for September is even more special because it’s my birth month. It’s a perfect birthday gift. 

What future Snapdragon technology are you most excited about? Head over to Discord to discuss.