At CES 2026, Qualcomm has officially expanded its next-generation Arm-based computing portfolio beyond the high-end with the announcement of the Snapdragon X2 Plus platform. Designed to bring significant generational improvements to more affordable Windows laptops, this new chipset promises to reshape expectations for performance, battery life, and AI capabilities in the mid-range segment, setting the stage for a new wave of Copilot+ PCs in the first half of the year.
A New Contender for the Mainstream Market
Following the debut of the flagship Snapdragon X2 Elite series in late 2025, Qualcomm is strategically filling out its lineup with the Snapdragon X2 Plus. This move mirrors the company's previous strategy, positioning the Plus variant as the engine for more accessible, yet highly capable, Windows on Arm devices. The announcement at CES 2026 signals Qualcomm's commitment to challenging AMD and Intel across a broader price spectrum, not just at the premium tier. The first laptops powered by this new silicon are expected to be unveiled by leading OEMs throughout the event and will become available to consumers in the coming months.
Specifications and Core Architecture
The Snapdragon X2 Plus arrives in two distinct configurations, both fabricated on an advanced 3nm process node. The top model, identified as the X2P-64-100, features a 10-core CPU configuration comprising six high-performance "Prime" cores and four efficiency-optimized "Performance" cores, all based on Qualcomm's third-generation custom Oryon architecture with peak speeds reaching 4GHz. A more streamlined variant, the X2P-42-100, opts for a six-core design, utilizing only the six Prime cores. Both chips are paired with the X2-45 Adreno GPU, though clocked differently at 1.7GHz and 0.9GHz respectively, and are equipped with a powerful Hexagon Neural Processing Unit (NPU) capable of 80 TOPS of AI performance. The platform supports up to 128GB of fast LPDDR5x memory and includes modern connectivity like Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4.
Snapdragon X2 Plus Model Specifications
| Model | CPU Cores (P+E) | Max CPU Clock | GPU (Clock) | Cache | NPU (TOPS) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| X2P-64-100 | 10 (6P + 4E) | 4.0 GHz | X2-45 Adreno (1.7 GHz) | 34 MB | 80 |
| X2P-42-100 | 6 (6P + 0E) | 4.0 GHz | X2-45 Adreno (0.9 GHz) | 22 MB | 80 |
| Both are 3nm chips with LPDDR5x support, Wi-Fi 7, and Bluetooth 5.4. |
Performance Claims and Efficiency Gains
Qualcomm is touting substantial performance uplifts across the board compared to its first-generation Snapdragon X Plus. The company claims a 35% improvement in single-core CPU performance for both X2 Plus models, a critical metric for everyday responsiveness. Multi-core gains are reported at 17% for the 10-core chip and 10% for the 6-core variant. Perhaps most impressive is the claimed 78% increase in NPU performance, directly accelerating on-device AI tasks. Graphics performance also sees a healthy bump, with Qualcomm promising up to 29% and 39% better GPU performance for the 10-core and 6-core models, respectively. Crucially, all these gains are reportedly achieved while consuming up to 43% less power than the previous generation, a figure that could translate to even longer battery life for future laptops.
Claimed Performance Improvements vs. Snapdragon X Plus
- Single-Core CPU: +35% (both models)
- Multi-Core CPU: +17% (10-core) / +10% (6-core)
- GPU Performance: +29% (10-core) / +39% (6-core)
- NPU Performance: +78% (both models)
- Power Efficiency: Up to 43% lower power consumption.
Competitive Positioning and AI Leadership
In its briefing, Qualcomm directly compared the Snapdragon X2 Plus to rival offerings from AMD and Intel. The chipmaker claims its 10-core model delivers 28% higher peak CPU performance than AMD's Ryzen AI 7 350 ("Strix Point") and a staggering 3.5x greater performance at the same power level as Intel's Core Ultra 7 265U ("Lunar Lake"). The 80 TOPS NPU is positioned as a key differentiator, with Qualcomm asserting leadership in AI benchmark scores against both competing platforms. This focus on AI performance-per-watt is clearly aimed at the growing market for Copilot+ PCs, where efficient, on-device AI processing is becoming a standard requirement.
Key Features & Support
- AI: 80 TOPS Hexagon NPU for on-device AI and agentic/multimodal models.
- Display: Supports up to three external 4K @ 144Hz displays or one 5K @ 60Hz display.
- Media: AV1 encode/decode, 4K/30fps video capture, aptX audio.
- Connectivity: Optional Snapdragon X75 5G modem, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4.
- Security: Includes Snapdragon Guardian for malware protection and biometrics.
- Availability: First devices announced at CES 2026, with general availability in H1 2026.
The Road Ahead for Windows on Arm
The introduction of the Snapdragon X2 Plus represents a significant step in maturing the Windows on Arm ecosystem. By offering a compelling blend of strong CPU performance, class-leading AI acceleration, and exceptional power efficiency in a package designed for mid-range laptops, Qualcomm is addressing one of the platform's historical challenges: accessibility. While the ultimate test will come with independent reviews of actual shipping hardware, the specifications and performance claims suggest that 2026 could be the year where Arm-based PCs become a default consideration for a much wider audience, promising a future where users no longer have to choose between all-day battery life and robust performance for creative and professional workloads.