Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X2 Plus Aims to Bring AI PCs to Cheaper Laptops
Qualcomm is expanding its Windows on Arm lineup with a new, more affordable platform: the Snapdragon X2 Plus. Announced on January 6, 2026, the chip is positioned as a cheaper alternative to last year’s Snapdragon X2 Elite and X2 Elite Extreme, targeting thinner, lighter, and more accessible AI‑capable laptops.
The Snapdragon X2 Plus succeeds the Snapdragon X Plus from September 2024, but it’s more than a minor refresh. Built on a 3 nm process, it incorporates Qualcomm’s third‑generation Oryon CPU, an 80 TOPS NPU, and a modern connectivity stack with Wi‑Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, and optional 5G. First laptops powered by the platform are expected to reach the market by the end of June 2026.
Positioning in Qualcomm’s Windows on Arm Roadmap
The X2 Plus sits below the Snapdragon X2 Elite and X2 Elite Extreme, which were unveiled in September and are aimed at premium and flagship Windows on Arm devices. Those chips pushed performance and AI capabilities to compete with Apple’s M‑series and high‑end x86 parts from Intel and AMD.
The new X2 Plus broadens that strategy:
- Target segment: Mainstream and upper‑midrange laptops, including thinner and more affordable designs.
- Key pitch: High AI performance and strong efficiency without the cost of an elite‑tier SoC.
- Successor to: Snapdragon X Plus (2024), with notable gains in CPU performance and power efficiency.
According to Qualcomm, the Snapdragon X2 Plus delivers up to 35% faster single‑core CPU performance than the previous X Plus while using 43% less power. That combination is critical for making Windows on Arm laptops more competitive in both responsiveness and battery life.
Tech Specs
CPU: Third‑Generation Oryon Cores
At the heart of the Snapdragon X2 Plus is Qualcomm’s third‑generation Oryon CPU. The platform comes in two configurations:
- 10‑core variant
- Total cache: 34 MB
- Maximum multithread CPU frequency: up to 4.0 GHz
Aimed at higher‑performance laptops and more demanding multitasking.
6‑core variant
- Total cache: 22 MB
- Maximum multithread CPU frequency: up to 4.0 GHz
- Designed for thinner, lighter, and more cost‑sensitive devices.
Both versions share the same CPU architecture and top clock speed, but the 10‑core model offers more cores and cache for heavier workloads, content creation, and sustained multitasking.
GPU: X2‑45 Graphics
Graphics duties are handled by the X2‑45 GPU, but Qualcomm differentiates the two SKUs via clock speeds:
- 10‑core X2 Plus: GPU clocked up to 1.7 GHz
- 6‑core X2 Plus: GPU clocked up to 900 MHz
While Qualcomm hasn’t disclosed detailed gaming benchmarks, the higher GPU frequency on the 10‑core model should provide a noticeable bump for 3D workloads, light gaming, and GPU‑accelerated creative applications. Both variants support modern display and media capabilities typical of the Snapdragon X laptop family.
NPU: 80 TOPS for On‑Device AI
A central focus of the X2 Plus is its neural processing unit (NPU). Qualcomm rates it at 80 TOPS (trillions of operations per second), and the company claims this is “the fastest in a laptop” today.
This level of NPU performance is designed for:
- Running large language models and generative AI assistants locally.
- Real‑time translation, transcription, and summarization.
- Background AI features such as noise suppression, background blur, and eye‑contact correction during video calls.
- On‑device creative tools, including image upscaling and AI‑assisted editing.
The emphasis on AI mirrors a broader industry trend where PC vendors are repositioning laptops as AI PCs, offloading more workloads from the cloud to local NPUs for latency, privacy, and cost benefits. That same trend underpins broader collaborations in the industry, such as the recently announced “Qualcomm and IBM Partner to Scale Enterprise Generative AI from Edge to Cloud”, which highlights how Qualcomm is trying to span everything from mobile and edge devices to large‑scale enterprise deployments.
Memory and Storage Support
The Snapdragon X2 Plus supports LPDDR5X RAM, aligning it with current‑generation laptop memory standards. Qualcomm says the platform can address up to 128 GB of RAM, which is more than sufficient even for high‑end creator or developer notebooks built on this more affordable silicon.
LPDDR5X offers:
- Higher bandwidth for AI and graphics workloads.
- Lower power consumption compared to older DDR standards.
- Compact form factors that suit thin‑and‑light designs.
While the platform’s maximum memory capacity is generous, real‑world devices are likely to ship with more modest configurations (for example, 8–32 GB) in order to hit lower price points.
Connectivity: Wi‑Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, Optional 5G
On the connectivity front, the X2 Plus is fully modern:
- Wi‑Fi 7 for higher throughput, improved latency, and better performance in congested environments.
- Bluetooth 5.4 for lower‑power, more reliable connections to peripherals like mice, keyboards, and wireless audio devices.
- Optional 5G modem integration, enabling always‑connected experiences on compatible laptop designs.
The inclusion of Wi‑Fi 7 brings the X2 Plus in line with other high‑end platforms announced at CES‑era events, and it should help future‑proof devices as next‑generation routers become more common.
Performance and Efficiency Claims
Qualcomm’s headline performance claims center on improvements over the Snapdragon X Plus (2024), not direct comparisons to x86 competitors. The company states:
- Up to 35% faster CPU single‑core performance than X Plus.
- 43% less power consumption for the CPU under comparable workloads.
These figures, if realized in shipping laptops, should translate into:
- Snappier everyday responsiveness in apps and the Windows interface.
- Better sustained performance on battery, especially under light to medium workloads.
- Cooler, quieter devices due to reduced thermal load.
Qualcomm also emphasizes that the Snapdragon X2 Plus is designed for no drop in performance on battery, a common issue for some laptop platforms that throttle aggressively when unplugged. Combined with the efficiency of the 3 nm process and LPDDR5X memory, OEMs may be able to deliver “multi‑day battery life” in certain usage scenarios, although real‑world results will depend heavily on battery capacity, display choice, and workload.
Windows on Arm and the Software Question
Hardware is only part of the equation for Windows on Arm laptops. Software compatibility, app optimization, and ecosystem maturity remain crucial.
Over the past few years, Microsoft and its partners have been steadily improving x86 emulation performance and encouraging native Arm builds of popular applications. Qualcomm’s own roadmap, including the earlier “Unleashing the Future: Qualcomm Introduces Snapdragon X Plus Platform,” has consistently framed Windows on Arm as a long‑term bet rather than a short experiment.
The X2 Plus, with its focus on mainstream price points, is a test of how ready that ecosystem is. If app compatibility and performance are sufficiently seamless for typical office, web, and light creative workloads, the platform could help normalize Arm‑based Windows laptops beyond premium niches.
Market Impact: Cheaper AI Laptops by Mid‑2026
By bringing a high‑TOPS NPU and modern CPU/GPU capabilities to a cheaper tier, the Snapdragon X2 Plus could:
- Enable sub‑premium AI laptops that still deliver strong local AI performance.
- Give OEMs more flexibility in designing thin, fanless, or fan‑light systems.
- Push competitors to respond with their own more affordable AI‑focused silicon.
With first devices expected by the end of June 2026, the X2 Plus will likely appear in back‑to‑school and holiday‑season laptop lineups. Key questions that will determine its success include:
- Price: How low can OEMs go while still pairing the chip with sufficient RAM, storage, and quality displays?
- Thermals: Can manufacturers maintain performance without noisy cooling solutions in thinner chassis?
- Software: Will Windows on Arm and key apps feel indistinguishable from x86 for mainstream users?
How It Compares Within Qualcomm’s Stack
Within Qualcomm’s own portfolio, the Snapdragon X2 Plus can be viewed as the workhorse chip:
- Versus X2 Elite / Elite Extreme:
- Lower cost and slightly lower peak performance.
Similar AI focus, but tuned for broader adoption rather than halo devices.
Versus older X Plus:
- Significantly better single‑core CPU performance.
- Much improved power efficiency.
- Updated GPU clocks and connectivity options.
This tiering allows OEMs to target distinct segments—from high‑end creator and developer machines with X2 Elite Extreme, to mainstream consumer and business laptops with X2 Plus.
Outlook
The Snapdragon X2 Plus is a strategic move for Qualcomm: it brings flagship‑class AI capabilities to more affordable Windows on Arm laptops while promising substantial gains in efficiency and single‑core performance over its predecessor.
If OEMs can price devices competitively and if the Windows on Arm ecosystem continues to mature, the X2 Plus could become one of the first Arm laptop platforms to gain real traction outside premium niches. With an 80 TOPS NPU, modern connectivity, and a 3 nm Oryon CPU, it positions cheaper laptops to participate fully in the emerging AI PC era rather than being left behind as cut‑down, non‑AI‑ready machines.
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