Qualcomm Incorporated (QCOM) has introduced the Snapdragon X2 Plus platform, aimed at AI-powered Windows 11 Copilot+ PCs. This new platform, built on a 3 nm process with third-generation Oryon CPU cores, promises significant performance improvements and energy efficiency, contributing to longer battery life. The integrated Hexagon NPU enhances on-device AI capabilities, and it supports LPDDR5X memory and Wi-Fi 7, with expected availability in the first half of 2026.
Qualcomm is also gearing up to release higher-performance Snapdragon X2 Elite variants and future AI-centric chips targeted at premium, mainstream, and enterprise markets. This strategic move is anticipated to enhance Qualcomm’s market position against traditional x86 processors, with potential growth in chip volumes and revenue diversification.
The launch comes amid increasing competition from Intel Corporation (INTC) and Apple, Inc. (AAPL), who are also advancing their own chip technologies, including Intel’s Panther Lake processors and Apple’s M5 chip. Qualcomm’s shares have increased 10.3% over the past year, although this is below the industry average growth of 35.2%.
