Qualcomm’s second-gen Windows PC SoCs—the Snapdragon X2 Elite and X2 Elite Extreme—move to 3nm, add 3rd-gen Oryon CPUs (up to 18 cores, 5.0 GHz), larger caches (53 MB), and higher memory bandwidth (up to 228 GB/s). A new Adreno GPU introduces sliced execution and HPM cache; the Hexagon NPU reaches 80 TOPS for Copilot+ class workloads. Windows ML standardizes NPU access. Optional X75 5G, updated Wi-Fi/Bluetooth, and Snapdragon Guardian broaden manageability. Systems target 1H26 availability; performance depends on OEM thermals, software support, and workloads.
By Shawnee Blackwood
On September 25, 2025, Qualcomm announced its second-generation Arm-based processors for Windows PCs, the Snapdragon X2 Elite and Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme, during its Snapdragon Summit in Maui, Hawaii. This follows the 2024 introduction of the original Snapdragon X Elite, which enabled Windows on Arm laptops and displaced Intel from consumer-grade Microsoft Surface devices, challenging Intel and AMD dominance. Qualcomm hopes to extend their challenge with these new chips, built on a 3-nanometer process. They target high-performance computing across laptops and emerging PC form factors.
The Snapdragon X2 Elite and X2 Elite Extreme incorporate Qualcomm’s 3rd-generation Oryon CPU, also featured in the Snapdragon 8 Elite 5 mobile chip. The X2 Elite Extreme offers up to 18 cores, with 12 Prime cores reaching 4.4 GHz and two cores boosting to 5 GHz, marking the highest clock speed for an Arm CPU. The standard X2 Elite maintains a similar core configuration. Qualcomm reports a 31 percent CPU performance increase over the Snapdragon X Elite at equal power, or a 43 percent power reduction at equivalent performance. The Adreno GPU, clocked at 1.85 GHz, delivers 2.3 times the performance per watt, enhancing graphics efficiency.
A new 80 TOPS Hexagon NPU supports AI tasks with 37 percent higher performance and 16 percent lower power consumption compared to its predecessor. Qualcomm positions this NPU as a leader for laptop AI processing, targeting Copilot+ features. The X2 Elite Extreme claims 75 percent faster CPU performance than competitors, including the Intel Core Ultra 9 285H and AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, at the same power level, though specific benchmarking data remains elusive. Power consumption reaches over 50W, expanding beyond last year’s thin-and-light focus to support larger PCs.
Memory enhancements include a 53 MB cache and 228 GB/s bandwidth on the X2 Elite Extreme, improving AI model performance. The Adreno GPU introduces an 18 MB High Performance Memory cache, reducing latency for gaming, a weak point in last year’s Arm implementation. Adobe reports 28 percent faster photo editing in Photoshop, 43 percent quicker Lightroom exports, and similar gains in Premiere video analysis on these chips. Razer plans to adapt its Synapse software for Windows on Snapdragon, though no gaming laptop commitment emerged.
Connectivity upgrades feature the X75 5G modem for PCs and MobileConnect 7900 WiFi/Bluetooth for mobile SoCs, supporting GSMA Release 17 and 18 standards. Snapdragon Guardian technology adds a low-power modem for locating, updating, or wiping lost PCs, which appeals to enterprise and consumer customers alike. Microsoft’s Windows ML framework, now generally available, standardizes NPU, GPU, and CPU utilization via Execution Providers, easing software development across hardware variations.
Qualcomm’s hybrid AI strategy integrates on-device and cloud processing, extending opportunity for these chips across smartphones, PCs, cars, smart glasses, headphones, and IoT devices. The Oryon CPU’s two-generation leap from Gen 1 to Gen 3 in PCs, paired with enhanced NPUs and GPUs, supports this vision. The Image Signal Processor in the Snapdragon 8 Elite 5 enables 20-bit low-light photography, with ArcSoft’s Dragon Fusion combining ISP and NPU for real-time video AI processing.
Laptops with these chips will launch in the first half of 2026, a delay compared to last year’s rapid rollout. Qualcomm hints at a potential Android-ChromeOS merger with Google, aligning with this timeline. CEO Cristiano Amon emphasized AI-powered agents bridging device and cloud models, with 5G connectivity enhancing hybrid AI performance. Despite past visions of connected devices, current advancements sharpen this focus, though widespread adoption awaits broader software support.
The X2 Elite Extreme targets ultra-premium PCs for agentic AI, data analytics, media editing, and scientific research, while the X2 Elite suits multitasking in thin-and-light designs. Both promise multi-day battery life, building on last year’s 14-18 hour performance, potentially equating to two eight-hour workdays. Qualcomm positions these chips as industry leaders, with Kedar Kondap highlighting performance, AI, and battery life gains. The company’s collaboration with Microsoft and Google aims to drive agent-driven interactions, though the timeline for full realization remains uncertain.
You can find all the specifications here.