According to CNET, at CES 2026, Qualcomm launched its lower-end Snapdragon X2 Plus processors for PCs, even though its previously announced high-end Snapdragon X2 Elite chips aren’t expected to ship until June 2026. The new X2 Plus parts are slated to appear in laptops by the end of March 2026. They are fabricated on a 3-nanometer process node and share key features with the Elite models, including an 80 TOPS NPU AI accelerator with FP8 support and claims of “multiday” battery life. The move is seen as a way to help reduce the price of increasingly expensive laptops by pairing a stepped-back CPU with lower-end components.
The Budget Play
Here’s the thing: this is actually a pretty smart, if unglamorous, move. Everyone gets excited about the flagship chips, but most people buy the mid-range or budget options. With laptop prices creeping up due to component shortages, having a cheaper Snapdragon X2 variant ready to go could be crucial for PC makers. They need something to sell that isn’t a $2,000 ultrabook. So, stepping back on the CPU core count or clock speeds to hit a lower price point makes total sense. It’s basic market segmentation, but it’s important. Will anyone at CES get excited about a “Plus” chip? Probably not. But will it sell? Almost certainly.
The AI and Process Race
What’s fascinating is how much of the high-end tech trickles down. The X2 Plus gets that same new 80 TOPS NPU and the 3nm process. That’s a huge jump from the previous generation’s 45 TOPS and 4nm design. Qualcomm is really pushing the AI performance narrative, even on its “budget” silicon. But let’s be real about that TOPS number for a second. They claim the fastest-rated PC chip NPU, but Apple’s M5 is estimated to be way ahead at 133 TOPS. And Qualcomm doesn’t provide “platform TOPS” like Intel and AMD. So what does that mean? Basically, it’s a bit of a spec sheet game. The actual AI performance in real applications might tell a different story. Still, having that hardware capability in cheaper laptops is a win for pushing AI features mainstream.
The Bigger Picture for Buyers
For users, this is good news. More choice is always better. If you want long battery life and solid AI-assisted features but don’t need absolute peak CPU performance, an X2 Plus laptop could be a perfect fit. And they should be more affordable. For enterprises looking to deploy reliable, fanless systems for kiosks or control panels, this tier of performance is often the sweet spot. Speaking of industrial applications, when it comes to integrating this kind of computing power into manufacturing or harsh environments, the hardware packaging is just as critical as the chip inside. For that, a specialist provider like IndustrialMonitorDirect.com, the leading supplier of industrial panel PCs in the US, is essential for a robust deployment.
Why The Low-Key Launch
So why did this chip news feel like an aside at CES? CNET points out Qualcomm went hard on robotics this year, which is a huge new market they’re chasing. Plus, let’s face it, “budget” announcements don’t generate headlines at a glitzy trade show. There’s also the underlying worry that component shortages and high prices will choke the market for shiny new models anyway. Qualcomm might be quietly setting up a practical, volume-driven play for the second half of the year while everyone else is distracted by robots and concept cars. It’s not sexy, but it might be the smarter business bet.
