Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite for Windows laptops and PCs

The Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite processor takes a big step forward for portability and PC gaming

Expect better gaming performance, apart from the benefits of thin-and-light form factor and superior battery life

Qualcomm took a big step in challenging the dominance of Intel, AMD, and Apple in the laptop processor space, with the launch of the Snapdragon X series of chips in 2023. With gradual progress in the space including adoption by mainstream laptop manufacturers on the Windows platform, Snapdragon X processors are gaining popularity especially among those looking at a good balance of performance, battery life, and portability. Now comes the Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite - the next-generation processor for Windows PCs based on ARM architecture.

The latest processor for ARM-based Windows laptops and PCs promises to be a big step up in terms of performance, battery life, thermal management, and more. Importantly, there's also the promise of better performance with gaming, and by extension for graphics-intensive tasks such as video editing and 4K rendering. I had a chance to experience and understand how the Snapdragon X2 Elite and X2 Elite Extreme processors are built at Qualcomm's headquarters in San Diego.

There are major improvements in the Snapdragon X2 Elite as compared to the previous-generation Snapdragon X Elite, along with the addition of a 'super-powered' Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme chipset which promises even more in terms of performance. The Snapdragon X2 Elite series is a complete chipset for Windows on ARM laptops, so upcoming OEM devices will feature the entire setup including the integrated Adreno GPU and NPU.

Gaming on Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite

A big change in the approach from Qualcomm with the Snapdragon X2 Elite is towards gaming, with the new chipset making big strides towards performance and capabilities required for smooth and glitch-free gameplay. The Adreno X2 GPU for the Snapdragon X2 Elite promises up to 2.3x higher performance with gaming, and compatibility will also reportedly not be an issue. According to Qualcomm, over 90 percent of the most popular games on Windows are already supported on the Windows on ARM architecture.

Qualcomm further claims better performance in terms of frame rates with many popular graphics-intensive games on PC, including Cyberpunk 2077, Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart, Fortnite, and more. Results in many cases are better than integrated GPUs on competing high-end chipsets from Intel and AMD.

While you can go ahead and add a dedicated GPU to the mix - there are no compatibility issues with the Snapdragon X2 Elite platform - it may not necessarily make sense in the overall form factor. Additionally, Qualcomm is working with manufacturers directly, so these laptops will come with the entire chipset built in, and thin-and-light laptops are in the best position to take advantage of the Snapdragon X2 Elite platform.

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This means that you'll get a performance-focused laptop that can ace most day-to-day requirements, while maintaining the benefits of being light and easy to carry, as well as the benefits of superior thermal management and battery life which the Windows on ARM platform brings. Casual gamers can enjoy these capabilities and performance on their everyday laptops on this platform, unlocking a new set of capabilities.

What is the Snapdragon X2 Elite about?

At its core, the Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite chipset remains focused on thin-and-light form factors and superior battery life - the key advantages of the Windows on ARM architecture that its built on. With the X2 though, Qualcomm is also diversifying the capabilities a bit while remaining focused on performance. The idea is that Windows on ARM laptops can be as powerful and capable as Intel or AMD-based x86 options, while delivering superior battery life and thermal management.

The new chipset is built on TSMC's 3nm process similar to Qualcomm's flagship chipsets for smartphones, and comes in two configurations and three SKUs - 12-core and 18-core termed under Snapdragon X2 Elite, and a new 18-core performance-driven configuration called the Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme.

ALSO SEE: Dell XPS 13 (with Snapdragon X Elite) review

All configurations are powered by the improved next-gen Oryon CPU cluster, which itself delivers considerable improvements over the previous-generation Snapdragon X Elite. There's also the Hexagon NPU, a dedicated processing unit for AI-based tasks and functions.

On the whole, expect better performance, thermal management, and battery life on laptops powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite family of chipsets. Expect laptops from OEMs and major brands powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite to come to market in the first half of 2026.