We are granting a Best of CES 2026 Award to the Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Plus for bringing flagship-tier efficiency and AI capabilities to the mainstream laptop market. High-end processors often dominate the conversation. However, the X2 Plus stands out by offering a staggering 43% improvement in power efficiency for everyday Windows devices. The hardware also brings 80 TOPS NPU for mid-range laptops capable of running powerful “agentic” AI.
Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Plus brings brutal efficiency gains
Qualcomm’s newest silicon is more focused on how well it works in the real world than on how high it can score on synthetic tests. There are both 10-core and 6-core versions of the Snapdragon X2 Plus. Both have the newest 3rd Gen Oryon CPU architecture. The 10-core model has a 35% faster single-core performance than the last generation. This should give users the snappy performance they expect while multitasking. But for most people, the biggest benefit is how well it keeps things cool. These chips use a lot less power, which lets you make ultra-thin, fanless designs that stay cool even when they’re under a lot of stress.
The true powerhouse within the chip is the Hexagon NPU, which delivers 80 TOPS of AI performance. This massive leap from the previous 45 TOPS allows mid-range laptops to handle “Agent AI”—tools that actively manage workflows, perform real-time language translation, and enhance system security locally rather than relying on the cloud. Qualcomm also updated the graphics suite with the Adreno X2-45 GPU. It now provides a 30% jump in performance.
Major manufacturers like HP are already showcasing Snapdragon X2 Plus-powered designs. Qualcomm’s chip promises to offer multi-day battery life for those looking for the highest level of autonomy.
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