Qualcomm unveils PC chip, humanoid robotics initiative at CES 2026


LAS VEGAS — Qualcomm (QCOM) is continuing to push deeper into the PC market at CES 2026, rolling out its newest entry-level chip for Microsoft (MSFT) Windows laptops.

The Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Plus joins the company’s previously announced Snapdragon X2 Elite and Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme processors as part of the company’s push to take on longtime PC chip leader Intel (INTC) and rival Advanced Micro Devices (AMD).

Qualcomm is seeking to diversify its portfolio of products to ease its dependence on the smartphone space. The company kicked off its effort at last year’s CES with its original Snapdragon X processor.

The chip technology developer reported $44.3 billion in total revenue in 2025. Of that amount, $38.4 billion came from its QCT business, which includes sales related to chips for smartphones, PCs, and autos.

According to Qualcomm, the Snapdragon X2 Plus will be available with either a six-core or 10-core CPU and provides up to 35% faster peak performance versus the prior-generation Plus and requires 43% less power.

The company is also touting the chips’ multiday battery life and built-in neural processing unit, or NPU, which Qualcomm says packs up to 80 trillions of operations per second (TOPS) of performance. TOPS is a general measure of how well a device can run AI apps.

“Modern professionals and creators want to do more, create more, and push the limits of generative AI and all-day performance. Snapdragon X2 Plus platform delivers the power, efficiency and intelligence to surpass their ambitions, making each experience more responsive and personal,” Kedar Kondap, Qualcomm’s SVP and GM of computing and gaming, said in a statement.

Qualcomm’s move into the consumer and business PC space comes as Intel continues its turnaround effort. Once the undisputed leader in the PC chip industry, Intel has been losing market share to AMD.

Qualcomm's booth at CES 2025. (Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Qualcomm’s booth at CES 2025. (Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images) · NurPhoto via Getty Images

But in October, Intel debuted its Core Ultra Series 3, based on its long-gestating 18A technology, which could help stave off further share deterioration and give Qualcomm and AMD a more difficult fight ahead.

In addition to the X2 Plus, Qualcomm unveiled a new robotics initiative at CES 2026, including a drive toward humanoid robots. The company said it believes the market for physical AI, another term for robots, will be worth as much as $1 trillion by 2040, and it’s looking to get a piece of that action.

Part of that includes Qualcomm’s new Dragonwing IQ10 chip for physical AI systems ranging from industrial robotics to humanoid robots.

But Qualcomm isn’t the only company looking to make waves in the robotics industry. Nvidia, Intel, AMD, and a host of other chipmakers are aiming to become the go-to firm for physical AI as the technology continues to mature over the coming years.



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