CES 2026: Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Plus SoC unveiled; delivers 80 TOPS of AI power

On the CES 2026 stage, Qualcomm sharpened its vision for the Windows laptop and announced the all-new Snapdragon X2 Plus SoC. It is the next step in the Snapdragon X Series and a clear signal that the company is doubling down on Copilot+ PCs that promise desktop-level performance in slim, all-day machines.

Built on a new 3nm process, Snapdragon X2 Plus succeeds the Snapdragon X Plus and targets professionals and creators who want day-long power without lugging around a charger.

A leaner Snapdragon chip with more muscle

At the Snapdragon X2 Plus’ core is Qualcomm’s third-generation Oryon CPU, available in two configurations. There is a 10-core version for performance-focused laptops and a 6-core option aimed at thinner, lighter designs. Both run at up to 4.0GHz, a notable jump over the previous generation.

Qualcomm claims up to 35 per cent faster single-core performance while using a whopping 43 per cent less power. That combination is the real story here. This is not about chasing raw benchmarks, but about making ARM-based Windows laptops feel fast and consistent whether they are plugged in or not.

Graphics are handled by an updated Adreno GPU, clocked higher on the 10-core variant, with support for LPDDR5X memory at speeds up to 9523 MT/s and capacities reaching 128GB. On paper, this puts Snapdragon X2 Plus firmly in premium laptop territory rather than “experimental ARM alternative”.

AI, everywhere, without the cloud

AI is the headline feature; no surprises there. The Hexagon NPU inside Snapdragon X2 Plus delivers 80 TOPS of AI performance, almost doubling the AI performance of the previous Snapdragon X Plus.

This level of on-device AI is designed to power more than 50 local experiences, from photo and video editing to multimodal content generation and agent-style workflows that do not need a constant cloud connection. For users, this should translate to faster responses, better privacy, and less battery drain when using AI-heavy tools.

ALSO READ: Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X2 Elite and X2 Elite Extreme take aim at the Windows PC crown

Connectivity stays cutting edge with the Snapdragon X75 5G modem and FastConnect 7800, bringing Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 into the mix. Qualcomm is also promising multi-day battery life, backed by smarter power distribution that keeps performance steady even when running on battery.

Security is handled through hardware-level protections paired with Microsoft Pluton, alongside optional enterprise features like presence detection, biometric authentication, and remote manageability.

Devices powered by Snapdragon X2 Plus are expected to arrive from major OEMs in the first half of 2026. If Qualcomm’s claims hold up in real-world laptops, this could be another meaningful step in the arc of ARM-based Windows machines in the tech landscape.

Thoughts? Drop a comment below, and stay tuned to Unboxed by Croma for the latest CES 2026 coverage.