Snapdragon X2 might make me ditch my MacBook for Windows

Qualcomm unveiled the Snapdragon X2 family at CES 2026 (X2 Plus, X2 Elite and X2 Elite Extreme), and the author says hands-on demos and device previews have made them more open to switching from a MacBook to a Windows laptop.

I have long preferred MacBooks, and past Windows laptops often disappointed me when unplugged. Qualcomm flew the author to CES 2026 to show the new Snapdragon X2 line, and the demos and hands-on time have made the author more open to the idea of using a Windows laptop. Key points: - Qualcomm announced three Snapdragon X2 chips: X2 Plus, X2 Elite and X2 Elite Extreme, all said to use a third-generation Oryon CPU architecture. - Qualcomm says the X2 Plus is built on a 3nm process and delivers up to 35% faster single-core performance while using 43% less power versus the prior Snapdragon generation. - The Elite and Elite Extreme are reported to add more CPU cores and higher top speeds, with Qualcomm stating the Elite Extreme can reach boost clocks around 5.0 GHz in some configurations. - Qualcomm says all three chips include the same neural processing hardware, capable of about 80 trillion operations per second, enabling local AI tasks such as transcription and summarisation. - Several OEM laptops were shown at CES, including Lenovo’s Yoga Slim 7x (offered with X2 Plus or X2 Elite), and announcements from HP and Asus; Qualcomm says first Snapdragon X2 Plus laptops are expected in the first half of 2026 and pricing has not been announced. - The author reports hands-on impressions from the show floor, noting machines that felt quiet, lightweight and cool while running creative apps, and initial battery-life estimates that put X2 laptops ahead of many current Windows models. Summary: The Snapdragon X2 series is presented as an efficiency-focused set of chips with on-device AI capabilities and OEM support demonstrated at CES 2026. Devices based on these chips are expected to appear in the first half of 2026, and the author says real-world daily-driver testing will be needed before deciding whether to switch from a MacBook.