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Qualcomm has expanded its Windows on Arm lineup with the Snapdragon X2 Elite family, introducing two X2 Elite variants and an X2 Elite Extreme model. Built on TSMC's 3nm node, these SoCs promise marked gains in CPU and GPU efficiency, stronger AI performance, and longer battery life for premium Windows 11 laptops.
New X2 Elite lineup: chips and positioning
The new X2 Elite series comprises three silicon SKUs: X2 Elite (X2E-80-100) with a 12-core CPU, X2 Elite (X2E-88-100) with 18 cores, and the top-tier X2 Elite Extreme (X2E-96-100), which also packs 18 cores. All three are fabricated on TSMC's 3 nm process and use Qualcomm's third-generation Oryon CPU architecture — the same CPU family introduced in the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 but scaled for Windows devices.
| Model | CPU cores | Prime cores / max boost | Perf cores / max | Total cache | GPU & NPU | Memory bandwidth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| X2 Elite Extreme (X2E-96-100) | 18 | 12 prime, up to 5.0 GHz | 6 perf, up to 3.6 GHz | 53 MB | Adreno X2-90 (1.85 GHz) + 80 TOPS NPU | 228 GB/s (192-bit LPDDR5x) |
| X2 Elite (X2E-88-100) | 18 | 12 prime, up to 4.7 GHz | 6 perf, up to 3.4 GHz | 53 MB | Adreno X2-90 (1.70 GHz) + 80 TOPS NPU | 152 GB/s (128-bit LPDDR5x) |
| X2 Elite (X2E-80-100) | 12 | 6 prime, up to 4.7 GHz | 6 perf, up to 3.4 GHz | 34 MB | Adreno X2-85 (1.70 GHz) + 80 TOPS NPU | 152 GB/s (128-bit LPDDR5x) |
Performance, power and platform features
Qualcomm is positioning the X2 Elite series as a significant step up from the first-generation X Elite chips. The company cites a 31% CPU performance uplift at iso-power and a 43% reduction in power draw over its predecessors. GPU efficiency is highlighted as well, with Qualcomm claiming roughly a 2.3x improvement in performance per watt for the upgraded Adreno graphics compared to first-gen X Elite silicon. The GPUs also support modern APIs including DirectX 12.2 Ultimate, Vulkan 1.4 and OpenCL 3.0.
AI capabilities are driven by Qualcomm's latest Hexagon NPU delivering 80 TOPS (INT8), which the company describes as the fastest laptop NPU available. Memory and storage support includes LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 storage, while enterprise and manageability features are covered by Snapdragon Guardian Technology for remote management.
What this means for Windows laptops
Qualcomm says the X2 Elite will target premium Windows notebooks handling resource-intensive tasks, while the X2 Elite Extreme aims at ultra-premium systems for "expert-level workloads." Alongside raw performance, Qualcomm is emphasizing power efficiency — even claiming "multi-day battery life" in some usage scenarios — which will be a key selling point for thin-and-light Arm-based laptops.
Expect the first laptops powered by X2 Elite silicon to appear in Spring 2026, as OEMs adopt the new chips for both consumer and professional Windows on Arm devices.
Conclusion
The Snapdragon X2 Elite family marks Qualcomm's next push to make Arm-based Windows PCs more competitive. Between the 3nm die, higher clock ceilings, beefed-up Adreno GPUs, and an 80 TOPS NPU, these SoCs are designed to close gaps in performance while extending battery life. If manufacturers translate those claims into real products, Spring 2026 could be a milestone for premium Arm laptops.
Source: gsmarena
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