Qualcomm launches Snapdragon X2 Plus: multi-day battery life, high performance and AI

A Qualcomm took advantage of the spotlight at CES 2026 to renew its commitment to the notebook segment with the official announcement of Snapdragon X2 Plus.

Designed to equip the next generation of machines with Windows on ARM, the new chip promises to democratize access to cutting-edge technologies, maintaining the focus on energy efficiency that enshrined the architecture.

The big news is the introduction of two different variants — with 10 and 6 cores — aiming to cover a more accessible price range without sacrificing artificial intelligence resources.

Jump in performance and multi-day battery life

Manufactured on a lithography 3 nanometersthe new SoC (System on a Chip) brings the third generation of CPU cores Oryonwhich according to the manufacturer, delivers an increase in 35% em performance single-core compared to the previous generation.

The focus on mobility remains central: Qualcomm claims that the component consumes 43% less energy than its predecessorenabling what the company calls “multi-day battery life” in moderate use.

The big difference of this intermediate line is the maintenance of the NPU (Neural Processing Unit) Hexagon high performance.

Even in the cheapest versions, the chip delivers 80 TOPS of capacity for local AI processing, a 78% jump compared to the previous generation.

This ensures full compatibility with ecosystem resources Microsoft Copilot+, including live captions and generative authoring tools.

Specifications: 10 cores vs 6 cores

The company’s strategy divides the Snapdragon X2 Plus in two main models: the X2P-64-100 (10 cores) and the X2P-42-100 (6 cores).

Both share the same memory and NPU architecture, but differ in integrated GPU operating frequencies Adreno X2-45. Check out the details below:

In graphics terms, the new GPU promises a gain of 29% em performance, supporting modern APIs like DirectX 12.2 Ultimate and Vulkan 1.4. This should allow for a satisfactory experience in light gaming and video editing tasks, although the focus of the hardware continue to be productivity and media consumption.

During the presentation, Qualcomm did not spare direct comparisons with the x86 competition. Data released by the company indicates that the 10-core model surpasses the Intel Core Ultra 7 265U (Lunar Lake) entregando 3.5 times more performance with the same power consumption (ISO power).

In peak scenarios, the single-core advantage would reach 28% over its rival.

Against a AMD and its Ryzen AI processors, the X2 Plus seeks to position itself as the most efficient alternative per watt.

The battle for the mid-range notebook segment is likely to intensify as ARM-based solutions continue to gain maturity in software and driver compatibility.

Complete technical sheet of the Snapdragon X2 Plus

General identification

Processor (CPU)

Graphics processor (GPU)

Artificial intelligence (NPU)

Memory

Screen and video

Storage and expansion

Connectivity

Security and management

Energy efficiency

Features and highlights

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Price and availability

The first notebooks equipped with the new processor should reach the global market in the first half of 2026. The expectation is that the devices will occupy the price range between US$ 600 e US$ 800 (approximately R$3,200 to R$4,300 in direct conversion, without taxes).

Large partner manufacturers are expected to announce their models in the coming weeks, consolidating Qualcomm’s presence in the PC Games casual and corporate computers.

Source(s): Qualcomm