Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite laptops at MWC 2025 Kerry Wan/ZDNET
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ZDNET's key takeaways
Qualcomm unveiled the Snapdragon X2 Plus at CES 2026, delivering next-gen performance to midrange laptops.
The main model features a 10-core Oryon CPU, updated Adreno GPU, and LPDDR5x memory.
The chip also features Wi-Fi 7 support, Snapdragon Guardian, and enhanced energy efficiency.
In September 2025, Qualcomm unveiled its first next-generation laptop chipsets: the Snapdragon X2 Elite and X2 Elite Extreme, both designed primarily for high-end models. At CES 2026, the company expanded its 2026 roadmap by introducing the Snapdragon X2 Plus.
Also: CES 2026 live updates: Biggest TV, smart glasses, phone news, and more we've seen so far
If Qualcomm follows the same strategy as the previous generation, this is a new SoC (system-on-a-chip) designed to bring next-gen performance to midrange laptops rather than premium flagship machines. According to the developer, the chipset features a 10-core Oryon processor, an updated Adreno graphics card, and an 80 TOPS Hexagon NPU. All this is paired with LPDDR5x memory to deliver fast and efficient performance.
There will also be a variant of the X2 Plus housing a 6-core CPU, offering laptop manufacturers another option for their affordable models.
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