Qualcomm’s updated PC platforms, Snapdragon X2 Elite and Elite Extreme, go harder
It’s not just a third-generation CPU, but it now packs up to 18 cores!
Qualcomm has also unveiled its premium-grade PC processing platform. In fact, there are now two: the expected Snapdragon X2 Elite that succeeds its debut chipset, and a new tier above it called the Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme.
Snapdragon X2 Elite announcement.
The two SKUs are primarily differentiated by the number of third-generation Oryon CPUs they contain. The Snapdragon X2 Elite packs 12 cores clocked up to 4.7GHz, while the higher-tier Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme carries 18 cores clocked up to 5GHz.
The 12-core CPU on Snapdragon X2 Elite.
According to Qualcomm, these new PC and laptop processors for Windows 11 devices can see up to 75% faster CPU performance (versus “competition” at ISO power).
Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme at a glance.
In particular, Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme has 39% faster peak single-thread CPU performance, 50% faster peak multi-core, and 78% faster peak NPU performance, when comparing against the Snapdragon X Elite from two years ago.
Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme performance curve.
On the Elite Extreme variant, its Adreno GPU also saw an upgrade, now offering 2.3x increase in performance per watt. The Hexagon NPU itself now offers 80 TOPS of AI performance, which is intended to support the Copilot+ feature that comes with its brand partners’ PCs. However, Windows doesn’t require this level of processing power or stipulate any updated requirements past its current recommendation of 40+ TOPS of AI/NPU performance to qualify as a Copilot+ PC.
Snapdragon X2 Elite (not extreme).
The Snapdragon X2 Elite is no slouch either, offering 31% faster performance than its predecessor, while also offering the same updated 80 TOPS of AI performance for its NPU, along with 43% lower power consumption. Having tested almost all the Snapdragon X Elite laptops in the market in our scope of the Best Ultraportable Laptop in our Tech Awards 2025 Editor’s Choice segment, this last point for even lower power consumption will only make the future Snapdragon-powered laptops even more competitive than they already are.
Devices that will have Snapdragon X2 Elite will come as early as the first half of 2026, with more to follow.
(L to R) Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 which has no details announced yet, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, Snapdragon X2 Elite, and Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme.
Note: Qualcomm invited HWZ to attend Snapdragon Summit 2025 as a hosted experience. No additional compensation was received.