Qualcomm Snapdragon X vs. Snapdragon X2: What's Changed?

Published: Wednesday, October 29, 2025 at 1:44 pm

Qualcomm Unveils Snapdragon X2: A Next-Generation Chipset for PCs

Qualcomm is preparing to launch its second generation of Snapdragon X processors, the Snapdragon X2, designed for personal computers. The new chips, slated to appear in devices starting in 2026, promise significant performance and efficiency improvements over the original Snapdragon X family.

The Snapdragon X2 introduces a hybrid CPU architecture, combining Prime and Performance cores, a design already seen in Qualcomm's mobile processors and similar to Intel's Performance Hybrid architecture. Qualcomm claims the new cores will deliver up to 39% more single-core performance while consuming 43% less power compared to the first-generation cores. This efficiency gain is attributed to a shift from a 4nm to a 3nm process node. The top-end Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme X2E-96-100 is expected to offer a 50% increase in multithreaded performance.

The new chips also feature upgrades to the onboard graphics, AI capabilities, and memory. The Adreno GPUs will have higher clock speeds, with the top-spec chip promising 2.3 times the peak performance of its predecessor. The Hexagon NPU is also upgraded, offering 80 TOPS of INT8 compute speeds, nearly double the previous generation. Memory performance is also boosted, with LPDDR5x memory supporting transfer rates up to 9,523 megatransfers per second.

Additional enhancements include support for PCIe Gen 5.0, an embedded DisplayPort 1.5 for 4K/144Hz displays, and support for three 5K/60Hz external displays. The new chips will also feature Snapdragon Guardian for remote management. While maintaining support for Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, and three USB4 connections, the Snapdragon X2 will include a new Snapdragon X75 5G modem. However, the maximum single-camera resolution has been reduced to 36 megapixels.

BNN's Perspective: The Snapdragon X2 appears to be a promising step forward for Qualcomm in the PC market. While it may not be a revolutionary leap, the performance and efficiency gains could lead to improved user experiences, particularly in terms of battery life and device design. The success of these chips will depend on how well they perform in real-world applications and how they compare to competing offerings.

Keywords: Qualcomm, Snapdragon X2, Snapdragon X, CPU, GPU, Adreno, Hexagon NPU, LPDDR5x, performance, efficiency, hybrid architecture, PC, laptop, processor, chip, mobile, graphics, AI, memory, 5G, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4

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