Snapdragon X2 Elite Could Make Windows on ARM a Real Gaming Contender

At the annual Snapdragon Summit, Qualcomm revealed its most powerful PC SoC yet, the Snapdragon X2 Elite, promising not only raw gaming performance but also strong efficiency for Windows laptops.

According to the details released, Qualcomm has invested significant time and effort into improving the Windows experience, and the platform now appears capable of handling modern gaming. The Snapdragon X2 Elite’s core improvements are based on the third-generation Qualcomm Oryon CPU, an ARM-compatible powerhouse with up to 18 cores and boost frequencies of up to 5.0 GHz. Qualcomm describes these chips as the “fastest and most efficient processors for Windows PCs,” designed to excel in both plugged-in and mobile scenarios. For gamers, that translates into the ability to run demanding titles with uncompromising responsiveness, whether at a desk or on the move.

The Snapdragon X2 Elite also introduces significant enhancements to the Qualcomm Adreno GPU, a crucial step in enhancing gaming performance on Snapdragon-powered PCs. The GPU now delivers a 2.3-times increase in performance per watt and efficiency compared to previous generations, resulting in smoother gameplay and longer battery life. It supports modern game APIs, including DirectX 12.2 Ultimate and Vulkan 1.4, enabling enhanced visuals and realistic effects across supported titles.

Qualcomm’s focus on efficiency is also notable, with the X2 Elite promising multi-day battery life for gaming laptops. In a statement, Kedar Kondap, senior vice-president and general manager of compute and gaming at Qualcomm Technologies, said: “Snapdragon X2 Elite strengthens our leadership in the PC industry, providing legendary leaps in performance, AI processing and battery life to enable the experiences that consumers deserve.”

At the keynote, Qualcomm highlighted new partnerships that expand the potential of gaming on Snapdragon, including integration with Epic Anti-Cheat. This means Fortnite will soon be playable on Snapdragon devices running Windows, a feature that was previously unavailable but is now in the Canary channel for beta testing and expected to roll out soon. Qualcomm also announced a collaboration with Razer to optimize Razer Synapse for Snapdragon, resulting in improved performance for Razer accessories and removing another barrier to a smoother gaming experience.

AI acceleration is another pillar of the X2 Elite’s gaming promise. The integrated Hexagon NPU delivers up to 80 TOPS, enabling advanced AI-driven features such as real-time upscaling and intelligent frame generation, which boost both visual quality and frame rates. The platform’s bandwidth and memory optimizations also let gamers enjoy titles at high resolutions, supporting up to three 5K monitors at 60 Hz or 4K at 144 Hz without compromising performance.

Qualcomm also outlined ways the NPU can directly enhance gaming. At the keynote, the company announced several partners working closely with Qualcomm to deliver new features, including on-device AI workflows with the NPU. Alien: Rogue Incursion Evolved Edition will utilize these capabilities for real-time character recognition and will be available for Snapdragon on September 30.

Qualcomm is also collaborating with streaming tools such as Voicemod to provide real-time voice changing using the NPU. This allows players to switch voices seamlessly during gameplay without the usual performance hit, since all processing is handled on the Snapdragon NPU. The demonstration highlighted how the feature maintains smooth performance, an exciting advancement for gamers.

Devices featuring the Snapdragon X2 Elite chips are expected in the first half of 2026, offering a blend of speed, graphics quality and uncompromising battery life to a new generation of gaming laptops. For gamers already using first-generation Snapdragon X–based devices, some of the new features and software are beginning to roll out, offering a preview of what Snapdragon on Windows can deliver.