At CES 2026, Qualcomm has introduced its latest Snapdragon X2 Plus processors, designed for mid-range laptops, emphasizing high performance and energy efficiency while integrating artificial intelligence capabilities. These new processors are positioned as more accessible alternatives to the flagship Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme, aiming to cater to a broader audience.
The Snapdragon X2 Plus comes in two variants: a ten-core model (X2P-64-100) and a six-core version (X2P-42-100), both utilizing Qualcomm's third-generation Arm-compatible Oryon architecture built on a 3nm process. The ten-core chip boasts a clock speed of up to 4.0 GHz with six performance and four efficiency cores, while the six-core model features only performance cores and a smaller cache. Compared to the previous year’s Snapdragon X Plus, the new ten-core processor offers a remarkable increase in single-threaded performance by up to 35% and multi-threaded performance by 17%, while the six-core variant sees a 10% boost in multi-threaded capabilities.
Qualcomm emphasizes the energy efficiency of its processors, claiming that the Snapdragon X2 Plus outperforms Intel's Core Ultra 7 265U and AMD's Ryzen AI 7 350 in single-threaded performance by a factor of up to 3.5 times, and up to 3.1 times in multi-threaded tasks, all while maintaining similar power consumption levels. Additionally, the ten-core model has a maximum power draw that is significantly lower than its competitors, requiring up to 4.6 times less power for peak performance in single-threaded scenarios.
The Snapdragon X2 Plus also features integrated Adreno X2-45 graphics, with the ten-core model achieving a clock speed of 1.7 GHz, representing a 29% speed increase from the previous generation. This graphics unit supports DirectX 12.2 Ultimate, Vulkan 1.4, and OpenCL 3.0, as well as hardware-accelerated ray tracing. Qualcomm assures that 90% of popular Windows games will be supported at launch.
An important highlight of the Snapdragon X2 Plus is its AI accelerator, the Hexagon NPU, which delivers an impressive 80 TOPS (INT8) performance, marking a 78% improvement over its predecessor. In AI benchmarks, both models scored significantly higher than Intel’s offerings, showcasing their capabilities in running over 50 localized AI applications, including image generation and editing.
Additionally, these processors can be paired with the Snapdragon X75 5G modem, supporting speeds of up to 10 Gbps, and they are compatible with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4. The Snapdragon X2 Plus supports advanced display features, allowing for 4K output at 144 Hz and the capability to connect up to three external 4K monitors.
Security features include the Snapdragon Guardian Technology for remote device management and biometrics for authentication. The first devices powered by the Snapdragon X2 Plus are expected to hit the market in the first half of 2026.
This launch signifies Qualcomm's commitment to providing competitive, energy-efficient computing solutions that could reshape the mid-range PC market, posing a significant challenge to established competitors in the space.
Informational material. 18+.
