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| Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Plus SoCs support up to 128 GB of RAM. |
CES 2026 is in full swing, and the fireworks aren’t just in the sky. In a move that solidifies its aggressive push into the Windows laptop arena, Qualcomm has just unveiled the Snapdragon X2 Plus series. This new tier of System-on-Chips (SoCs) is designed explicitly for the coveted "thin-and-light" laptop category, promising elite-tier efficiency without the extreme power—or price tag.
This announcement follows the September 2025 debut of the flagship Snapdragon X2 Elite and X2 Elite Extreme chips. While those processors are engineered to dethrone Apple's M-series and challenge Intel's and AMD's best, the X2 Plus series answers a more common question: What about the perfect balance for everyday excellence?
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| Snapdragon X2 Plus performance. |
Meet the New Contenders: Snapdragon X2 Plus X2P-42-100 and X2P-64-100
Qualcomm is launching two chips under the X2 Plus banner, sharing the same groundbreaking architecture as their Elite siblings but configured for different performance tiers.
- Snapdragon X2 Plus X2P-42-100: A 6-core powerhouse featuring six high-performance "Prime" cores.
- Snapdragon X2 Plus X2P-64-100: A step up with a 10-core configuration, combining 6 Prime cores with 4 additional Performance cores for heavier multitasking.
Both chips boast a blistering single-core boost clock of up to 4.04 GHz on the Prime cores, ensuring snappy application launches and fluid responsiveness. Where they differ is in total cache (22MB vs. 34MB) and their integrated graphics muscle.
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| Snapdragon X2 Plus single core performance vs the competition. |
Under the Hood: Specifications Breakdown
The devil is in the details, and Qualcomm hasn't cut corners on the essentials.
- CPU & Cache: The 6-core (X2P-42-100) and 10-core (X2P-64-100) layouts are complemented by 22MB and 34MB of total system cache, respectively, feeding those third-gen Oryon cores efficiently.
- GPU: Both models feature the Adreno X2-45 iGPU. Don't let the number fool you—it supports modern APIs like DirectX 12.2 Ultimate and Vulkan 1.4. The key difference is clock speed: 1.7 GHz in the 10-core chip versus 0.9 GHz in the 6-core part, tailoring graphical performance to the device's thermal design.
- Memory & AI: Pro-level specs trickle down here, with support for up to 128GB of blazing-fast LPDDR5x-9523 RAM on a 128-bit bus. The new Hexagon NPU is also on board, delivering a staggering 80 TOPS of AI performance for next-gen Windows Studio Effects and on-device AI applications.
- Connectivity: Fully modernized with Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, support for up to three USB4 Type-C ports, and the ability to drive three 4K displays at 144Hz simultaneously—a boon for productivity power users.
Speaking of current-gen power, to see how far the platform has come, you can check out the highly-rated Microsoft Surface Laptop with the first-generation Snapdragon X Elite chip.
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| Snapdragon X2 Plus NPU performance. |
Find the Microsoft Surface Laptop (2024) with Snapdragon X Elite on Amazon
Performance Claims: Taking the Fight to x86
Qualcomm isn't being shy with its performance projections. If these numbers hold in independent reviews, the PC landscape is in for a shake-up.
Generational Leap: Compared to the first-gen Snapdragon X Plus, Qualcomm claims the 10-core X2P-64-100 delivers a 35% faster single-core and 17% faster multi-core performance in Geekbench 6.5. The Adreno X2-45 iGPU is touted to be 29% faster in GPU tests. Most impressive is the NPU, with a 78% generation-on-generation performance gain.
The x86 Challenge: The comparisons get more aggressive when pitted against current x86 competitors. Qualcomm states the 10-core Snapdragon X2 Plus offers:
- 28% better peak single-core performance than an Intel Core Ultra 7 265U.
- A massive 50% lead in peak multi-core performance against the same Intel chip.
- Stunning efficiency, claiming the Intel chip requires 4.6x more power to reach its peak performance, while the X2 Plus hits higher numbers at a fraction of the wattage.
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| Snapdragon X2 Plus multi core performance vs the competition. |
Availability and the Road Ahead
Laptops featuring the new Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Plus processors are expected to hit the market in the first half of 2026. CES 2026 itself is already showcasing a wave of new designs from major OEMs built around these chips.
The Bottom Line: With the Snapdragon X2 Plus series, Qualcomm isn't just offering an alternative; it's crafting a compelling blueprint for the future of the mainstream laptop. By bringing elite architecture, exceptional AI capabilities, and game-changing efficiency to more affordable form factors, Qualcomm is putting the entire industry on notice. The battle for your next laptop is no longer just about clock speeds—it's about intelligent, cool, and enduring performance.
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| Snapdragon X2 Plus. |