Qualcomm has expanded its Windows on Arm lineup with the launch of the Snapdragon X2 Plus series. The new chips were announced at CES 2026 and are aimed at bringing Copilot+ PC features to more affordable and mainstream Windows 11 laptops.
Last year, Qualcomm focused mainly on premium devices with the Snapdragon X2 Elite lineup. With the X2 Plus, the company is now targeting users who want strong performance and AI features without moving into the high-end price segment.
The Snapdragon X2 Plus is built around Qualcomm’s third-generation Oryon CPU. According to the company, it offers up to 35 percent better single-core performance compared to the previous Snapdragon X Plus chips. At the same time, it is far more power-efficient. Thanks to the 3nm manufacturing process and the updated CPU design, the X2 Plus uses around 43 percent less power than the earlier X Plus lineup.
While the Snapdragon X Plus offered up to 45 TOPS through its Hexagon NPU, the new X2 Plus nearly doubles that figure. Qualcomm claims up to 80 TOPS of AI performance, which is expected to support more advanced on-device AI features in Windows 11 Copilot+ PCs.
The integrated Adreno GPU in the Snapdragon X2 Plus is said to be up to 29 percent faster. It also supports up to three external 4K displays, making it suitable for multitasking and professional workloads.
The platform supports optional integrated 5G, along with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth. This should help laptops deliver faster and more reliable wireless performance, especially for users who work on the move.
Snapdragon X2 Plus platform includes support for features such as presence detection, biometric security, and chip-to-cloud protection using Qualcomm’s Security Processing Unit and Microsoft Pluton. Enterprises can also choose Snapdragon Guardian Technology, which adds remote PC management using a mix of hardware, firmware, and cloud services.
Speaking at the launch, Qualcomm said the new platform is built for professionals and creators who rely heavily on AI tools and long battery life. The company believes the Snapdragon X2 Plus can deliver a more responsive and personal computing experience across daily tasks.
Windows 11 Copilot+ PCs powered by the Snapdragon X2 Plus processors are expected to launch from major PC makers in the first half of 2026.
