Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X2 Laptops Launch With Surprise Partner
▼ Summary
– Qualcomm has announced new Snapdragon X2 Plus laptop chips aimed at budget machines, joining the previously announced X2 Elite series, with the first laptops based on all this silicon expected around the end of the first quarter.
– While not promising specific prices due to market fluctuations, Qualcomm indicates the X2 Plus and Elite products aim for similar price tiers as the previous generation, which started at $600 for the base “X” model.
– The X2 Plus chips, available in 10-core and 6-core variants, are claimed to outperform competing low-power Intel chips in CPU performance and efficiency and feature the same powerful 80 TOPS NPU for AI tasks as the higher-end Elite chips.
– However, the X2 Plus chips have significantly less GPU power for gaming compared to the Elite series, though Qualcomm is ramping up graphics driver support with quarterly updates and support for many popular games.
– Qualcomm hints that potential Windows handhelds using this silicon may be revealed at the 2026 Game Developers Conference, though it is not announcing support for other operating systems like SteamOS at this time.
The first wave of laptops powered by Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon X2 series processors is set to arrive in the coming months, marking a significant push by the chipmaker to challenge the dominance of Intel and AMD in the Windows PC market. Following their initial announcement last fall, these chips are now making their debut in actual hardware at CES 2026. The lineup includes the high-performance X2 Elite and X2 Elite Extreme, alongside the newly revealed X2 Plus chips designed for more budget-conscious machines. According to Qualcomm, devices featuring both the Elite and Plus variants are scheduled to launch around the end of the first quarter.
The company is not committing to specific price points this time, a shift from its previous $700 target for Snapdragon X laptops. This cautious approach is understandable given the current volatility in PC component costs. However, a senior director indicated that the new generation aims to occupy similar price brackets as its predecessor. This suggests we could see the Elite tier starting around $1,000, the Plus models near $800, and the base X series from $600 and up, with final pricing to be revealed by individual PC manufacturers.
While the X2 Plus chips, available in 10-core and 6-core configurations, naturally offer less raw CPU power than their 18-core and 12-core Elite siblings, Qualcomm asserts they are formidable competitors. The company claims the Plus chips can deliver superior CPU performance and efficiency compared to rival low-power Intel Lunar Lake or Arrow Lake processors. A key advantage is their integrated Neural Processing Unit (NPU). Both the Plus and Elite chips feature the same 80 TOPS NPU, which Qualcomm touts as the world’s fastest for laptops in this class, ensuring robust capabilities for AI-driven tasks across the entire product range.
The trade-off with the Plus series becomes apparent in graphical performance. Although Qualcomm promises CPU gains of up to 35 percent and GPU improvements of up to 39 percent over the previous generation, this may not translate to a strong gaming experience. The GPU gains are modest, especially when compared to the 2.3x leap claimed for the Elite chips. The 6-core Plus model operates at a notably lower GPU frequency, which could further limit its prowess in games and graphics-intensive applications.
Where the Plus chips shine is in efficiency. Qualcomm states they require up to 43 percent less power than the prior generation, enabling potential multi-day battery life with a firm promise that performance will not drop when running on battery power. They also support substantial memory, up to 128GB of LPDDR5x, though such configurations may be rare given current market conditions.
For those interested in gaming, Qualcomm is enhancing its graphics driver support. The company is committing to quarterly driver updates and claims its drivers already support approximately 1,400 games, covering a vast majority of the most-played titles. The Snapdragon Control Panel app is designed to handle automatic GPU driver updates, with native support for modern graphics APIs like DX 12.2 Ultimate and Vulkan 1.4.
In terms of device design, the chips are flexible. While most laptops using them will likely fit into the 12–35W thermal envelope common for thin-and-light notebooks, the architecture can scale to support fanless designs or even more powerful mini PCs. Notably, Qualcomm is remaining quiet for now on support for operating systems beyond Windows, such as SteamOS, or for Windows on Arm handheld devices. However, a spokesperson hinted that the 2026 Game Developers Conference in March could be an event to watch for potential announcements related to Windows handhelds, suggesting this market segment is actively being explored.
(Source: The Verge)
