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Qualcomm’s 18-Core Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme Posts Big Gains in Company Tests

Qualcomm-controlled reference systems produced strong CPU, GPU and 80‑TOPS NPU scores, with real-world verdicts expected when retail laptops ship in the first half of 2026.

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Images of Qualcomm's new Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme processor, benchmarks from reference design laptops, and pictures from the announcement at the Snapdragon Summit (2025).

Overview

  • The top X2E-96-100 chip combines 18 CPU cores, up to 5.0GHz dual-core boost, and an NPU rated at 80 TOPS, with test units using 48GB of on-package LPDDR5X on a 192-bit, 12‑channel interface.
  • Qualcomm-hosted benchmarks show sizable leads over current Intel and AMD mobile parts and competitive results versus Apple’s M4, though independent comparisons note Apple’s M4 Pro/Max still win some synthetic GPU tests.
  • GPU scores include an 80% uplift over the prior Snapdragon X Elite in 3DMark Solar Bay, and Qualcomm cites major gen-on-gen gains in Adobe apps, pending third‑party testing.
  • Outlets stress the demo conditions: preinstalled tests on Qualcomm’s reference laptops, supervised runs, wall power, and configurations that may reflect best‑case performance.
  • Commercial systems based on the X2 family are slated for the first half of 2026, with higher price tiers likely, and open questions around broader OEM support, Windows-on-Arm app and game compatibility, and battery life.