Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite ARM chip announced at CES 2026 for Windows laptops, up to 45 TOPS NPU, in Dell XPS 14 at $1,799 shipping Q3
Qualcomm announced the Snapdragon X2 Elite ARM chip for Windows laptops at CES 2026, with Dell unveiling the XPS 14 model priced at $1,799 and shipping in the third quarter. The chip features up to 85 TOPS NPU performance and a 3nm 18-core CPU, aiming to enhance AI capabilities and battery life in Windows 11 Copilot+ devices, Qualcomm officials said.
The NPU supports offline large language models (LLMs) with a dedicated 64-bit direct memory access (DMA) and 228 gigabytes per second of memory bandwidth, enabling local AI inference and agentic AI experiences on Windows 11 Copilot+ devices, according to the company’s release.
The Snapdragon X2 Elite chip features Qualcomm’s 6th generation Hexagon neural processing unit (NPU) delivering up to 85 trillion operations per second (TOPS) in its highest configurations, doubling the previous generation’s 45 TOPS, Qualcomm officials said at CES 2026.
Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme model incorporates an 18-core CPU based on the 3rd generation Qualcomm Oryon architecture fabricated on a 3-nanometer process, combining 12 Prime cores and 6 Performance cores that boost up to 5.0 gigahertz, the company detailed. The X2 Elite’s CPU offers up to 35% faster single-core and 10-17% faster multi-core performance compared to the prior generation in Geekbench 6 benchmarks, while consuming 43% less power, Qualcomm representatives said.
The Snapdragon X2 Plus variant targets mainstream users with 10-core and 6-core configurations, featuring Prime cores reaching up to 4.0 and 4.04 gigahertz respectively, according to Qualcomm’s product specifications. The X2 Plus is designed to deliver multi-day battery life for portable Windows devices and supports up to 128 gigabytes of unified LPDDR5X memory running at 9,523 megatransfers per second, officials confirmed. The X2 Plus also integrates the Adreno X2-45 GPU, which provides up to 39% uplift in single-core graphics performance over previous generations.
Dell announced the XPS 14 laptop model featuring the Snapdragon X2 Elite chip, priced at $1,799 with shipments expected in the third quarter of 2026, company sources said. The XPS 14 will run Windows 11 Copilot+ and leverage the chip’s AI and power efficiency enhancements. However, Qualcomm’s broader CES 2026 presentation highlighted the X2 Plus for mid-range laptops, with no other confirmed Dell devices using the X2 Elite at launch, according to market reports.
ASUS showcased the Zenbook A14 laptop equipped with the Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme model featuring 18 CPU cores and 32 gigabytes of RAM, including 16 gigabytes dedicated to the Adreno X290 GPU, during CES 2026. Real-world battery tests on the Zenbook A14 demonstrated over 26 hours of usage, underscoring Qualcomm’s claims of significant power efficiency improvements, company officials stated. The device also includes 1 terabyte of PCIe storage and supports AAA gaming titles such as Cyberpunk 2077 and Spider-Man 2, according to ASUS representatives.
Qualcomm emphasized that the Snapdragon X2 series enables enhanced AI computing with an independent power rail for the NPU, allowing background AI tasks like real-time translation and security monitoring via Snapdragon Guardian with minimal battery impact. The chips support agentic AI, generative tasks, and privacy-focused local processing, expanding AI capabilities beyond cloud reliance, Qualcomm’s technical brief noted. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi 7 and optional 5G, targeting on-the-go productivity and seamless device integration.
The Snapdragon X2 chips support a broad range of applications beyond laptops, including desktops, robotics, and self-driving cars with sensor integration. Qualcomm highlighted the Dragonwing IQ10 robotics platform upgrade powered by the X2 series, which enables real-time navigation and autonomous controls, company statements said. The chips’ advanced security features and AI processing aim to enhance user experiences across multiple device categories running Windows 11 Copilot+.
Qualcomm’s CES 2026 announcements position the Snapdragon X2 Elite and X2 Plus as foundational to the transition toward AI-centric Windows PCs. The company projects availability of select OEM devices featuring the Snapdragon X2 Plus in the first half of 2026, with broader adoption expected throughout the year, according to Qualcomm’s roadmap. The expansion of the Snapdragon X Series aims to broaden AI access for creators, professionals, and everyday users through fast, responsive computing experiences.
The Snapdragon X2 Elite’s GPU, the Adreno X2-90, delivers doubled graphics performance compared to the prior generation, supporting complex AI workloads and gaming at high fidelity, Qualcomm engineers said. The architecture includes large on-chip caches—53 megabytes for the X2 Elite and 34 megabytes for the X2 Plus—to optimize memory bandwidth and power efficiency. These enhancements enable demanding applications such as AAA gaming and AI inference to run efficiently on Windows laptops.
Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X2 platform integrates tightly with Windows 11 Copilot+, Microsoft’s AI-enhanced operating system version, enabling seamless AI-driven workflows and multitasking. Officials described the collaboration as advancing AI PC experiences by embedding powerful NPUs and optimized CPU-GPU designs into mobile computing devices. This integration supports privacy-conscious local AI processing while maintaining high performance and extended battery life.
The Snapdragon X2 Elite and X2 Plus chips mark Qualcomm’s continued investment in ARM-based Windows computing, competing against traditional x86 processors by delivering superior power efficiency and AI capabilities. Qualcomm’s executives highlighted the chips’ ability to outperform current x86 processors in single-core performance while using significantly less power, reinforcing the company’s strategy to accelerate the adoption of Windows on ARM platforms.
