Qualcomm is presenting the new Snapdragon X series at CES 2025 in Las Vegas. The mid-range processors are giving mid-range laptops and now also mini-PCs a huge boost.
Qualcomm provides the Snapdragon X Plus and Snapdragon X Elite with the mid-range Snapdragon X chip. (Source: Qualcomm)
More and more Copilot+ laptops, most of them with Snapdragon X-Plus and X-Elite processors, are coming onto the market. We have already reported in detail about the advantages of such systems, such as working with AI without a cloud connection.
Qualcomm supplied the X series chips, which were previously called “X Elite” and “X Plus”, primarily to laptop manufacturers. As part of the CES 2025 in Las Vegas, the chip giant is now giving the starting signal for a new series of processors , which is in the middle class and goes by the name Snapdragon
Aside from the naming, which may be a bit confusing for consumers, the new generation promises tangible benefits. Because Qualcomm and partners will also be offering mini PCs with Snapdragon CPUs for the first time.
Snapdragon X Elite and Plus
With the Snapdragon X Elite-Serie Qualcomm is aimed at users who expect maximum performance – for example in professional applications, creative projects or computationally intensive workflows. These processors are designed for maximum speed and offer the strongest computing power within the X series. You can find Qualcomm's X Elite Series in high-end laptops.
The Snapdragon X Plus However, it is suitable for devices where energy efficiency – i.e. battery life and a compact design are the priority. It delivers sufficient performance, but remains more economical than other processors and generates less waste heat. This makes it a good choice for thin, light laptops or systems that don't need a fan.
In short: While the Snapdragon X Elite aims for maximum performance, the Snapdragon X Plus is a good choice for less demanding tasks where long battery life is a priority. You can find the most important differences between the Snapdragon X CPUs in our table below.
| processor | Kerne / Threads | All-Core-Takt / max. Boost | GPU | NPU | memory | Target group |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snapdragon X Elite X1E-84-100 | 12 / 12 | 3,8 GHz / 4,2 GHz | 4,6 TFlops | 45 TOPS | max. 64 GB LPDDR5X-8448 | Maximum performance (benchmarks) |
| Snapdragon X Elite X1E-80-100 | 12 / 12 | 3,4 GHz / 4,0 GHz | 3,8 TFlops | 45 TOPS | max. 64 GB LPDDR5X-8448 | Powerful devices |
| Snapdragon X Elite X1E-78-100 | 12 / 12 | 3,4 GHz / – | 3,8 TFlops | 45 TOPS | max. 64 GB LPDDR5X-8448 | Base model for fanless designs |
| Snapdragon X Plus X1P-64-100 | 10 / 10 | 3,4 GHz / – | 3,8 TFlops | 45 TOPS | max. 64 GB LPDDR5X-8448 | Efficiency-oriented devices |
| Snapdragon X X1-26-100 | 8 / 8 | 3,0 GHz / – | 1,7 TFlops | 45 TOPS | max. 64 GB LPDDR5X-8448 | Mini PCs / Copilot+ devices with AI focus |
Comparison of all Snapdragon X CPUs
Newly presented at CES 2025: Snapdragon X – the new mid-range, also for mini PCs
The Elite and Plus are now joined by the new Snapdragon the new product is on the lower performance scale within the chip family. Qualcomm sees the new Snapdragon
For the first time, Qualcomm chips are also being used in new mini PCs in desktop format. Important in this context: The graphics unit (Adreno GPU) can control up to three UHD displays at 60 Hertz. Lenovo has already announced such relatively inexpensive mini PCs at CES. We were able to take a look at it too.
Regardless of whether it is a mini PC, tablet or mid-range notebook: If they are equipped with a chip like the Qualcomm Snapdragon X, numerous AI functions can be used locally, securely and independently. At the CES, Netzwelt was able to attend a demonstration in which the performance of the new CPU generation was shown, for example with the Moises app.
NPU Power: The Moises app was previously dependent on a cloud connection. Now audio tracks can be fine-tuned in real time and locally. (Source: Netzwelt)
The app allows you to adjust individual audio tracks in songs or the audio tracks of films separately. For example, you can remove all noise from a film and only hear the actors' dialogue. To use features like these, users previously had to use the cloud. During the demonstrations, these tasks were now carried out completely locally, with the help of Qualcomm's own NPU.
Windows 11 on Snapdragon already supports more than 50 NPU-based AI applications natively on Snapdragon. In addition to Moises, these native applications also include popular VPN apps, well-known security apps, cloud storage apps and much more. According to Qualcomm, native app development increased threefold in 2024. Further innovations from the CES can be found here at Netzwelt.
Note: Part of the Netzwelt team accepted a CES invitation from manufacturer Qualcomm. Travel and accommodation costs were covered. This circumstance has no influence on our reporting. We explain in detail how we deal with invitations of this type on our transparency pages.
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