Snapdragon X2 Plus explained
Qualcomm is back with another step in its push into Windows PCs and gaming devices. After its first generation of Snapdragon X chips and the more recent Snapdragon X2 Elite, the company has now introduced the Snapdragon X2 Plus family. These new chips are designed to be more affordable while still delivering big gains in performance and efficiency.
The interesting part is that Snapdragon X2 Plus does not appear to be a fully new design. Think of it like how some Intel Core Ultra processors are cut down versions of higher tier chips. The X2 Plus lineup essentially looks like X2 Elite silicon with certain features disabled or scaled back.
There are currently two main Snapdragon X2 Plus models:
- X2P 64 100 with 6 Prime cores and 4 Performance cores, up to 4.0 GHz Prime clock and a 4.04 GHz boost
- X2P 42 100 with 6 Prime cores and no Performance cores, up to 4.0 GHz and a 4.04 GHz boost
Compared to the earlier Snapdragon X Plus chips, the X2 Plus series cuts and rearranges cores and cache, while still pushing clocks high and improving the underlying architecture.
CPU architecture and performance gains
Qualcomm claims up to 35 percent better single core performance over the previous generation. Even if that number is optimistic for real world workloads, there are solid technical reasons for a noticeable uplift.
Clock speeds alone do not explain the gains. In many cases the clocks are the same or only modestly higher. The real improvement comes from the new X2 Prime cores. They are designed with slightly wider pipelines and, crucially, twice as many branch units compared to the older X cores. This helps the CPU handle instruction flow more efficiently, which is especially important in games and responsive desktop use.
Other tweaks span the integer and floating point pipelines and the memory subsystem. When you pair these changes with faster LPDDR5X memory, the chip can feed the cores and GPU more effectively, cutting down on stalls and improving frame consistency and general snappiness.
On the efficiency side, Qualcomm says Snapdragon X2 Plus can use up to 43 percent less power than the earlier Snapdragon X Plus. That improvement comes from several factors:
- An updated architecture with better low power behavior
- More efficient Performance cores that are optimized for very low power operation
- A move to TSMC’s N3P manufacturing process, compared to N4 on previous chips
It is worth noting that Qualcomm’s naming is a bit confusing. The so called Performance cores are not the fastest cores in the chip. The Prime cores are the real muscle for heavy workloads, while the Performance cores are tuned to sip power and handle lighter tasks efficiently.
Adreno GPU and why this matters for handheld PCs
The part that should really get PC gamers and handheld fans interested is the GPU. Qualcomm does not share full details but both X2 Plus models use the same X2 45 Adreno graphics block.
The X2 Elite flagship has an X2 90 GPU with 2048 shaders. Based on that, a reasonable estimate is that X2 45 in the X2 Plus chips carries around 1024 shaders, or roughly half of the Elite GPU. Clock speeds are also tuned per model, with the higher tier Plus variant running the GPU at around 1.7 GHz and the cheaper one at a lower clock.
Even with that, this is not some stripped down mobile phone GPU. Qualcomm’s latest Adreno architecture supports:
- Full DirectX 12 compatibility
- Vulkan support
- Hardware accelerated ray tracing, including BVH traversal assistance
- About 11 MB of specialized cache, similar in spirit to AMD’s Infinity Cache, which reduces memory traffic and gives shaders a fast scratchpad
That mix of features makes the X2 Plus platform look surprisingly well suited to handheld gaming PCs. Modern Windows games expect DirectX 12, solid shader throughput and efficient memory use. With this kind of GPU and a strong CPU front end, Snapdragon X2 Plus could deliver respectable 720p or 1080p gaming performance in a compact power envelope.
Power is the key here. Qualcomm does not hard lock the TDP. Instead, device makers can configure the chips within a roughly 10 to 20 watt range. If that range is accurate, it puts Snapdragon X2 Plus squarely in the same class as AMD’s popular handheld APUs and Intel’s latest Core Ultra 300 Panther Lake mobile chips.
For portable PCs, that means a realistic chance of:
- Console like gaming performance on battery
- Longer runtimes thanks to ARM efficiency
- Cooler and quieter devices with less aggressive cooling
More importantly, it introduces genuine competition. AMD has been the default choice for handheld gaming PCs, with Intel only recently starting to push back with improved integrated graphics. If Qualcomm can deliver strong real world performance, especially in emulation and popular PC titles, it could shake up the market and push everyone to improve.
The main catch is timing and availability. Snapdragon X2 Elite was announced back in September 2025, yet we still have not seen shipping devices using that chip. Supply issues such as the ongoing DRAM crunch and cautious OEMs have slowed adoption. Qualcomm will need hardware partners to commit to designs and actually launch products before gamers can get their hands on Snapdragon powered handhelds or laptops.
Still, on paper, Snapdragon X2 Plus looks like a smart evolution. The CPU architecture is more efficient and more powerful per core, the GPU has modern gaming features and a healthy shader count, and the power envelope looks ideal for thin laptops and handheld gaming PCs. If device makers follow through, the next wave of portable PCs might not all be running AMD or Intel hardware. Qualcomm is lining up to be a serious third option.
Original article and image: https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/processors/qualcomm-unveils-the-snapdragon-x2-plus-with-up-to-35-percent-more-single-core-cpu-performance-and-29-percent-faster-gpus-than-x-plus-chips/
