Now that Qualcomm has finally announced its Snapdragon X2 Elite CPUs, including an all-new X2 Elite Extreme chipset, we have a better idea of what these next-gen Arm-based processors can bring to upcoming Windows PCs. And it's already looking mighty.
Throughout the Snapdragon Summit 2025, I've been hearing how the X2 Elite series will offer up the "world's fastest NPU for laptops." From the brief comparisons shown at the keynote, it's made abundantly clear that Qualcomm will deliver on this promise.
Being up to 5.7x faster than its competition is a bold statement, considering the company specifically calls out some of the strongest CPUs in the best laptops right now, such as the Intel Core Ultra 9 285H, AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 and Apple's M4 chip.
That Hexagon NPU with 80 TOPS (Trillions of Operations Per Second) of AI performance is already one major feature to look forward to, but the Snapdragon X2 Elite has other tricks up its sleeve.
While we wait for the first set of laptops (and other platforms) with Snapdragon X2 Elite chips to arrive sometime in spring 2026, here's a look at what else Qualcomm's next-gen processors are bringing to the table.
Faster CPU performance
When we benchmarked the first Snapdragon X Elite CPUs, we were majorly impressed with how they measured up to their competition at the time. Now, Qualcomm appears to be at it again, with a significant uplift in CPU performance.
Now, as always, we still need to do our own testing, but it's already looking like there will be a clear difference in the speeds we get in Windows PC sporting X2 Elite — and especially X2 Elite Extreme — processors. First, we know there will be a claimed 39% increase in single-core performance, and up to a more impressive 50% boost in multi-core speeds, compared to its first-gen chipsets.
Comparing this to the Dell XPS 13 with a Snapdragon X Elite X1E-80-100, which scored 2,797 single-core and 14,635 multi-core in Geekbench, it means we could see scores reach 3,887 single-core and 21,952 multi-core. That's just pure speculation, but those are some crazy numbers compared to, say, an M4 MacBook Air.
| Row 0 - Cell 0 | CPU cores | Max MultiCore Frequency | Max Boost Frequency | Cache | Qualcomm Adreno GPU | Qualcomm Hexagon NPU (TOPS) | Memory |
Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme (X2E-96-100) | 18 (12 Prime Cores, 6 Performance Cores) | 4.4 GHz | 5.0 GHz single-core / 5.0 GHz dual-core | 53MB | X2-90 | 80 | 228 GB/s LPDDR5x |
Snapdragon X2 Elite (X2E-88-100) | 18 (12 Prime Cores, 6 Performance Cores) | 4.0 GHz | 4.7 GHz single-core / 4.7 GHz dual-core | 53MB | X2-90 | 80 | 152 GB/s LPDDR5x |
Snapdragon X2 Elite (X2E-80-100) | 12 (6 Prime Cores, 6 Performance Cores) | 4.0 GHz | 4.7 GHz single-core / 4.4 GHz dual-core | 34MB | X2-85 | 80 | 152 GB/s LPDDR5x |
That should be all thanks to the 18 CPU cores (12 prime cores, 6 performance cores) fitted in its third-gen Oryon CPU. And take note, this will be on two of the three chips announced — not just the X2 Elite Extreme processor.
While the AI power is seeing major gains, so too is CPU performance, and it will be great to see how the next suite of Windows PCs will leverage this power.
PC gaming gets a boost
I'm happy to see that Qualcomm is taking PC gaming seriously with its X2 Elite offerings, as it was one of the main talking points during the big reveal. As in, up to a claimed 2.3x faster graphics performance in its advanced Adreno GPU.
This may not mean much, considering gaming on a Snapdragon X Elite laptop wasn't the main selling point, but what we do know is how much better it will handle even the latest, highly demanding PC games.
For instance, we tested Cyberpunk 2077 and GTA V on a Snapdragon X Elite laptop, with frame rates at 30 FPS and 57 FPS at around low-to-medium settings, respectively. From what Qualcomm states, we will see these games shoot up to 60 FPS in Cyberpunk 2077 at possibly higher settings, and close to 100 FPS in GTA V.
- GTA V: 1.6x
- Street Fighter 6: 1.8x
- Far Cry 6: 1.9x
- Dirt 5: 2.0x
- Shadow of the Tomb Raider: 2.0x
- Cyberpunk 2077: 2.1x
- Read Dead Redemption 2: 2.1x
- Black Myth Wukong: 2.1x
- Hitman World of Assassin: 2.2x
More upcoming PC titles will need to be optimized for the Snapdragon X2 Elite platform, but the company has stated it's working on just that. And it's bringing in a few more gamer-ready features, such as anti-cheat software support from Epic, Razer's Synapse app to bring more to a gamer-ready setup and an on-device AI experience in Alien: Rogue Incursion Evolved Edition using the X2 Elite's NPU.
Improved gaming on ultra-thin laptops? That's what we've been wanting to see from the Nvidia and Intel partnership in its upcoming x86 RTX chips. But Snapdragon CPUs are now also in the mix, and we'll have to see what this improved gaming performance delivers.
Going big on battery life
According to Qualcomm, battery life is the biggest factor for consumers choosing their next laptop. Well, it certainly helps, and if there's one feature I'd want to see these Snapdragon X2 Elite chips offer, it's the "multi-day" battery life that the company is touting.
Already, Qualcomm has done well in this department. The Dell XPS 13 with a Snapdragon X Elite is still one of the best laptops for battery life at nearly 20 hours, going head-to-head with beasts like the M4 Pro MacBook Pro at just under 21 hours.
As the company has stated time and time again, Snapdragon X-equipped laptops still deliver maximum performance when unplugged, with the X2 Elite series claimed to bring even better power efficiency, while its competitors comparatively require "222% more power" to reach their peak performance.
The real question, though, is whether we will see this "multi-day" battery life. We've heard of laptops expected to offer up to a whopping 27 hours in the Dell Premium 16, but since the claimed 20-hour battery in the Dell Premium 14 didn't pan out (tested at just over eight hours, actually), I'll believe it when I see it.
In any case, all signs are pointing towards a huge boost in battery life in Windows laptops rocking a Snapdragon X2 Elite, and that's a huge boon for workers on the move.
Remote security
Nobody likes having their personal items stolen, especially when it comes to a pricey laptop. It was made apparent in the keynote that 12,000 laptops are lost weekly in airports (although it appears this figure can be traced back to research done in 2008), but Qualcomm is bringing a new way to manage security on X2 Elite laptops.
With its Snapdragon Guardian, users have the ability to locate, lock and wipe data from their device via a Snapdragon Guardian app. With just a cellular connection, you can find your misplaced laptop, lock it from a remote location or wipe it clean before threat actors get to it if it's stolen.
That's a major win for security, and I saw this in action during a demo. What's more, even when these devices are "offline, powered down or unbootable," the built-in cellular modems, and 4G, 5G and Wi-Fi 7 connectivity, allow them to be managed at any point.
Hopefully, it's something that won't be used as much, but for security purposes, this is a feature that will be hugely beneficial.
Not just laptops
While Snapdragon X processors have become synonymous with laptops, the Snapdragon X2 Elite chips will be made for more than just mobile computing. While only showcased during the event (and in lovely red styling), we should see these CPUs come in mini PCs and AICs (all-in-one), too.
Mini PCs have become a popular option for many, bringing the performance of a desktop in a much smaller form factor that's even easy enough to travel around with. Plus, these have become more affordable options, with the Mac mini M4 being a standout. Bringing Qualcomm's next chips to more computer platforms is a step in the right direction, as it expands what these processors can accomplish beyond just laptops.
We'll have to see how these perform, especially considering they won't need the advantage of battery life. But I'm more excited to see what other form factors we'll find Snapdragon X2 chips in, even if that means a push towards gaming handhelds.
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