Everything you need to know about Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme (with benchmarks)

This article was originally published on 29 September 2025.

In this article, we cover the basics of making your Snapdragon processor choice: understanding what the Snapdragon X2 Elite or Elite Extreme is about, what the different (known) SKUs offer, and Qualcomm’s self-reported benchmark scores.

What is Snapdragon X2 Elite / Elite Extreme?

We’ve covered the launch of Snapdragon X2 Elite and Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme here. Instead of going through the fine print all over again, we summarised it below.

The two new Snapdragon X2 series variants were announced at the Snapdragon Summit 2025, setting the stage for Qualcomm’s next generation (2026 onwards) of OEM laptop/PC platforms that will use these new all-in-one ARM64-compatible processors.

Previously, the first-generation Snapdragon X Elite from 2024/2025 was the top-end, premium-grade chipset. Since then, Qualcomm has responded to OEM preferences and launched an Elite Extreme variant that’s even more powerful, thereby widening the depth of premium-grade chipset options it could offer.

For the uninitiated, Snapdragon-branded platforms are an alternative to the Windows-friendly CPU/processor duopoly long held by AMD and Intel. Since Snapdragon is relatively new to the game, Qualcomm is working hard at growing its list of compatible apps, which you can find here.

For the tech enthusiasts, the Snapdragon X2 Elite and Elite Extreme come with Qualcomm’s third-generation, in-house CPU, the Oryon CPU. The same third-generation CPU is also in its mobile platform, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5.

The first-generation Oryon CPU went to the predecessor, Snapdragon X Elite. The second generation went to Qualcomm’s smartphone/mobile platform, Snapdragon 8 Elite. This marks the third-generation Oryon CPU as the first time it has been featured in both PC and mobile chipset designs, simultaneously.

What are the Snapdragon X2 series variants available? How many cores do they have?

At Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Summit 2025, the company introduced two main variants of the Snapdragon X2 Elite platform for PCs, each with its own set of SKUs.

The Elite Extreme variant is for users seeking overpowered, cores-to-the-walls performance. Additionally, there are two Snapdragon X2 Elite models, each with different core counts and differentiated via SKU numbers commonly used in inventory nomenclature.

We foresee many laptop and PC buyers seeking clarity on the Snapdragon X2 series processors, their specifications, and SKU numbers, so we’re compiling all that information into a quick table here for your reference. Bookmark this page if you have to.

In summary, the Snapdragon X2 Elite variants differ mostly in its core count, clock speed, CPU memory cache, and maximum RAM capacity.

In other aspects, such as their support for Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, USB 4 (40Gbps), audio package (Qualcomm Aqstic, Qualcomm aptX), and on-device display support with a 4K resolution at a maximum of 144Hz, are the same across these three SKUs.

Qualcomm’s self-reported benchmark scores

Below are Qualcomm’s self-reported benchmark scores. Of course, there are several caveats to Qualcomm’s findings, which we covered below.

First, the numbers below are strictly for the Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme (X2E-96-100). It is not representative of other Snapdragon X2 Elite variants. Hence, you’re looking at Qualcomm’s best numbers.

Second, the benchmarks were measured using non-retail prototype devices called Qualcomm Reference Design (QRDs). These are Qualcomm’s self-made “consumer devices” that are strictly for their own measurement and research, on top of showing off to OEM customers that Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chips can fit into a wide variety of form factors, as seen in this article’s lead image (ultraportables, laptops, mini-PCs, multi-displays, etc.).

Then again, OEMs that adopt any mobile platform will have different implementations and optimisations, which also factor in differences such as power consumption in watts (both when plugged in and unplugged), as well as proprietary thermal management. In short, the scores below are strictly for reference only, are not conclusive, and should be taken with a pinch (or a mountain) of salt.

In Qualcomm’s sharing, it unabashedly compared its work to that of its competitors, including Intel, AMD, and even the Apple M4 chipset. However, we’re only sharing the results between the Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme and its older Snapdragon X Elite. People can get very agitated by these numbers, after all.

Again, these are self-reported by Qualcomm. If these numbers somehow made you happy or upset, please don’t take it out on us.