CES 2026: Snapdragon X2 Elite Promises Major Laptop Performance Leap

Qualcomm is preparing to unveil its advanced Snapdragon X2 Elite and X2 Elite Extreme chips at CES 2026, signaling a significant performance boost for upcoming laptops. These processors, announced in September 2025, are poised to enhance computing power, offering notable improvements over the previous Snapdragon X Elite series and potentially challenging competitors like Apple's M5. Manufacturers such as Dell, Asus, Lenovo, and Microsoft are expected to feature these new chips in their 2026 device lineups.

While Qualcomm won't host its own keynote at CES 2026, CEO Cristiano Amon is scheduled to appear at Lenovo Tech World on January 6, suggesting a strong presence for Lenovo devices equipped with the new Snapdragon X2 Elite processors. Leaked information indicates several Lenovo models, including the Yoga Slim 7x and various IdeaPad configurations, will be among the first to sport this new technology. This points to a widespread adoption across the laptop market.

The Snapdragon X2 Elite series is anticipated to significantly enhance Windows Copilot+ PCs, delivering superior CPU, GPU, and AI performance, which also benefits gaming. Qualcomm may also introduce new entry-level X2 series chips, following a trend seen at CES 2025. Consumers can look forward to Arm-based laptops offering both heightened performance and extended battery life, making them a compelling upgrade for the year ahead.