In context: Qualcomm didn’t unveil its next-generation Snapdragon X chips at Computex final month, selecting as an alternative to spotlight the AI capabilities of its current {hardware}. Nonetheless, the corporate is reportedly creating new processors for AI-powered PCs and has already begun testing the Snapdragon X2 Elite, which contains a increased core rely and improved reminiscence assist.
In keeping with dependable tipster Roland Quandt, Qualcomm is testing the Snapdragon X2 Elite – codenamed SC8480XP – in a high-end configuration that includes 64GB of RAM. Quandt additionally claims the brand new chip will embrace 18 cores, marking a 50 percecnt enhance over the 12-core setup within the first-generation Snapdragon X Elite.
An earlier leak from the identical supply recommended that the X2 Elite will incorporate the Oryon V3 CPU structure, promising a major efficiency enhance over its predecessor. Whereas there isn’t any official affirmation but on whether or not the chip will debut on the Snapdragon Summit in September, extra particulars are prone to emerge within the coming weeks.
SC8480XP aka SD X2 Elite in testing with 64GB RAM… wanting like 18 core factor an increasing number of.
– Roland Quandt (@rquandt.bsky.social) Could 30, 2025 at 7:26 PM
After receiving a lukewarm response to its Snapdragon X laptops final yr, Qualcomm is aiming to make a much bigger affect on the AI PC market with its second-generation chips. Nonetheless, the corporate’s ambitions are not restricted to laptops. Latest stories recommend that Qualcomm is eyeing the desktop and server markets with its upcoming processors.
To assist these growth plans, Qualcomm is reportedly testing the SC8480XP with superior cooling options, together with an AiO cooler with a 120mm radiator. The brand new system-in-package (SiP) was initially rumored to incorporate 48GB of SK hynix RAM and 1TB of onboard SSD storage, however the newest leaks recommend that much more built-in reminiscence might be on the desk.
Microsoft, in the meantime, has been betting closely on its Copilot+ PCs, that are geared up with specialised processors that includes devoted NPUs for on-device AI processing. In keeping with the corporate, these NPUs can deal with a big quantity of AI operations per second, enabling options equivalent to real-time translation, picture technology, and extra.
Regardless of Microsoft’s optimism, AI PC gross sales have been underwhelming thus far. A report from final yr revealed that solely 720,000 Snapdragon X laptops have been bought in Q3 2024 – accounting for lower than one p.c of the worldwide PC market. The state of affairs hasn’t improved a lot since, with Intel lately admitting that its AI PC chip gross sales additionally stay considerably beneath expectations.
