In context: Qualcomm didn’t unveil its next-generation Snapdragon X chips at Computex final month, selecting as a substitute to focus on the AI capabilities of its present {hardware}. Nonetheless, the corporate is reportedly growing new processors for AI-powered PCs and has already begun testing the Snapdragon X2 Elite, which incorporates a increased core rely and improved reminiscence help.
Based on 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 urged 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 more likely to emerge within the coming weeks.
SC8480XP aka SD X2 Elite in testing with 64GB RAM… trying like 18 core factor increasingly.
– Roland Quandt (@rquandt.bsky.social) Might 30, 2025 at 7:26 PM
After receiving a lukewarm response to its Snapdragon X laptops final 12 months, Qualcomm is aiming to make an even bigger influence on the AI PC market with its second-generation chips. Nonetheless, the corporate’s ambitions are now not restricted to laptops. Latest studies recommend that Qualcomm is eyeing the desktop and server markets with its upcoming processors.
To help 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 could possibly 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. Based on the corporate, these NPUs can deal with a big quantity of AI operations per second, enabling options corresponding to real-time translation, picture era, and extra.
Regardless of Microsoft’s optimism, AI PC gross sales have been underwhelming to date. A report from final 12 months revealed that solely 720,000 Snapdragon X laptops have been offered in Q3 2024 – accounting for lower than one % of the worldwide PC market. The scenario hasn’t improved a lot since, with Intel lately admitting that its AI PC chip gross sales additionally stay considerably beneath expectations.
