Qualcomm unveils Snapdragon X2 Elite for Windows PCs
Qualcomm has announced the Snapdragon X2 Elite, the second generation of its PC processors designed to power the evolving Windows on ARM landscape. Building on the company’s Copilot+ PC AI story and strong backing from Microsoft, the new lineup is pitched as the fastest, most powerful and most efficient option for Windows laptops and convertibles that rely on ARM-based silicon.
Extreme model leads the charge
At the top of the stack sits the Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme. Qualcomm describes it as an 18‑core CPU built on the third generation of its Oryon cores. The configuration includes 12 premium cores clocked up to 5.0 GHz, and 6 performance cores reaching up to 3.6 GHz. The new X2-90 GPU runs at up to 1.85 GHz, and the platform supports a frankly sweeping amount of memory—up to 228 GB of RAM. The standout feature for AI workloads is the NPU, rated at as high as 80 TOPS, a meaningful jump over the first-gen AI engine that Qualcomm introduced for Windows PCs.
Baseline and mid-range variants
Qualcomm also introduced two “base” SKUs alongside the Extreme. The X2E-88-100 and X2E-96-100 use the same Oryon core layout but run at lower peak frequencies. They offer a maximum boost of 4.7 GHz for the premium cores and 3.4 GHz for the performance cores, with a graphics engine running at 1.7 GHz. RAM support for these mid-range variants tops out at 152 GB, which is still ample for most professional use cases and AI workloads. A third model, the X2E-80-100, is positioned as the entry option with 12 cores (6 premium, 6 performance) at speeds matching the mid-range chips but with a lighter GPU, the X2-85, and a smaller on-die memory cache of 34 MB versus 53 MB on the higher-end parts.
Performance and efficiency targets
According to Qualcomm, the current generation is built on a 3-nanometer process and delivers up to a 31% improvement in peak performance over the prior generation. The integrated GPU promises up to a 2.3x improvement in performance-per-watt. The updated NPU is claimed to provide a 37% uplift in AI throughput while consuming 16% less power. The company also touts endurance gains that translate to two days of mixed-use operation in some scenarios, versus about a day and a half for the previous generation.
What this means for Windows on ARM and the market
Qualcomm’s push with the X2 Elite family signals a continued bet on Windows PCs powered by ARM, particularly for AI-assisted workloads and productivity without hostage-like virtualization layers. The new chips aim to deliver higher single-thread performance, better multi-core throughput, and more capable NPUs to accelerate tasks such as natural language processing, on-device AI, and real-time translation—all important for Copilot+‑driven workflows on Windows. Whether Intel and AMD respond with competitive Windows-oriented performance remains to be seen, but Qualcomm’s emphasis on AI efficiency and raw compute could reshape buyers’ expectations for ARM laptops and convertibles in 2025 and beyond.
Bottom line
With the Snapdragon X2 Elite, Qualcomm positions itself as a serious contender in the Windows PC processor market, especially for users who want robust AI capabilities and strong efficiency. The Extreme model’s 18-core design, 228 GB RAM support, and 80 TOPS NPU illustrate a strategic shift toward AI-first Windows experiences, while the baseline variants offer a path for more budget-conscious configurations without sacrificing the core Oryon performance gains.
