Qualcomm has introduced the second generation of its processors for Windows PCs, the Snapdragon X2 Elite and Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme. The company claims that these are the "fastest and most efficient chips for Windows" capable of competing with Intel and AMD.
Both new products are manufactured using a 3-nm process technology and are based on 3rd generation Oryon cores. The top-end version of the X2 Elite Extreme has up to 18 cores, 12 of which operate at a frequency of up to 4.4 GHz, and two can be overclocked to 5 GHz - a first for ARM processors in laptops. Qualcomm promises up to 31% higher CPU performance compared to the previous X Elite at the same power or 43% lower power consumption.
The graphics subsystem with a new 1.85 GHz GPU provides up to 2.3 times better performance per watt, and for gaming, 18 MB of Adreno High Performance Memory cache is added. For AI tasks, there is a Hexagon NPU with a performance of 80 TOPS - 37% faster and 16% more energy efficient than the previous generation. Qualcomm calls it the most powerful NPU for laptops.
The company claims that the X2 Elite Extreme delivers up to 75% faster CPU performance than competing chips at the same power consumption level, allowing the platform to scale not only for ultrabooks but also for more powerful laptops with TDPs over 50W.
For content creators, Qualcomm promises tangible gains: 28% faster editing in Photoshop, 43% faster exporting in Lightroom, and noticeable improvements in Premiere. Razer has also become a partner, confirming support for its Synapse software on Windows on Arm, although there is no word yet on a gaming laptop on these chips.
The first devices based on the Snapdragon X2 Elite and Extreme are expected in the first half of 2026. Qualcomm also hinted that the development could coincide with Google's plans to merge Android and ChromeOS into a single PC platform.
Recall that Qualcomm also introduced a new flagship chip for smartphones - Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 with the same 3rd generation Oryon cores.