Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Plus announced at CES with 80 TOPS NPU and 43% better power efficiency

Qualcomm has launched the Snapdragon X2 Plus at CES 2026. The new chip comes in two variants: a 10-core version (X2P-64-100) and a 6-core version (X2P-42-100), and both are built on a 3nm process. Devices powered by the Snapdragon X2 Plus are expected to hit shelves by late March 2026. Now, let's dive in this article, where i will discuss everything about the Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Plus, including its specifications and availability.

Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Plus Overview

CPU and Performance

The 10-core X2 Plus features six prime cores with 4.0GHz multi-core max frequency and four performance cores with 3.4GHz frequency and 34MB total cache. The six-core variant lacks performance cores and offers only its six prime cores. Both chips use Qualcomm's 3rd-generation Oryon CPU architecture.

Qualcomm's own slides claim up to 35% higher single-core performance versus the prior Snapdragon X Plus, with multi-core gains of up to 17% for the 10-core model and up to 10% for the 6-core model, based on Geekbench 6.5.

GPU and Graphics

For graphics, using 3DMark Steel Nomad Light, Qualcomm cites up to 29% higher iGPU performance for the 10-core chip and up to 39% for the 6-core chip. The X2 Plus uses the Adreno X2-45 GPU, with the 10-core variant running at 1.7 GHz and the 6-core variant at 0.9 GHz. The new Adreno GPU also supports the latest APIs and graphics innovations such as DX12 Ultimate, Vulkan 1.4, OpenCL 3.0, Adreno High Performance Memory (HPM), and ray tracing improvements.

AI Capabilities

Like going on with the big AI hype, the Snapdragon X2 Plus is no different. It features the “world's fastest NPU platform” on laptops with up to 80 TOPS of AI compute, which indeed is a significant jump from the previous X Plus generation's 45 TOPS. 

Memory, Connectivity, and Battery

The Snapdragon X2 Plus supports up to 128GB LPDDR5X memory with up to 9523 MT/s speeds across a 128-bit bus for up to 152 GB/s bandwidth. Which, by the way, is a notable upgrade from the previous generation's 8448 MT/s memory speed.

Similarly, the X2 Plus also offers up to 10Gbps peak download speed and 3.5Gbps upload speed through the integrated Snapdragon X75 5G modem. Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 are here as expected, with optional 5G called out in Qualcomm's CES marketing, plus support for up to three USB-C ports. Moreover, the display output is listed as up to three 4K 144 Hz panels at the same time.

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Security

The Snapdragon X2 Plus includes Qualcomm's SPU (Security Processor Unit) integrated with Microsoft Pluton for chip-to-cloud protection. The platform features biometric authentication, automatic presence detection, and chip-to-cloud protection. There's also optional Snapdragon Guardian Technology for enterprise-grade protection and Out-of-Band (OOB) remote manageability for maintenance and security updates.

Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Plus Specifications

• Manufacturing Process: 3nm
• CPU: 3rd-generation Qualcomm Oryon, 10-core (X2P-64-100) or 6-core (X2P-42-100), up to 4.0 GHz
• GPU: Qualcomm Adreno X2-45, 1.7 GHz (10-core) / 0.9 GHz (6-core)
• NPU: Qualcomm Hexagon NPU, 80 TOPS
• Memory: LPDDR5X up to 9523 MT/s, up to 128 GB capacity
• 5G Modem: Snapdragon X75 5G Modem-RF System, up to 10Gbps download / 3.5Gbps upload
• Wireless: Wi-Fi 7 (FastConnect 7800), Bluetooth 5.4
• Display Support: Up to three 4K 144Hz panels simultaneously
• Security: Qualcomm SPU with Microsoft Pluton integration, biometric authentication, and automatic presence detection
• Connectivity: Up to three USB-C ports

Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Plus Availability

Qualcomm says the first Snapdragon X2 Plus laptops will ship in the first half of 2026, with devices expected by late March 2026. Laptops with this processor are likely to start around USD 800. 

• Meanwhile, check out our review of the OnePlus 15