Qualcomm has Unveiled Adreno X2 GPU for Snapdragon X2 Elite Chips
As such, Qualcomm has shared some resources about the Adreno X2, which will be the integrated GPU that brings graphics to Snapdragon X2 Elite processors. Within such resources, the company purports to deliver significant performance advances, potentially gaming benchmarks against the likes of Intel and AMD, as well as support expansions for much-needed anti-cheat software.
Adreno X2: Achitecture and Core Enhancements
The Adreno X2 GPU boasts a four render slice organization, which amounts to 2,048 ALUs altogether. Key architectural updates and feature improvements comprise:
- Performance and Efficiency: It takes an even bigger leap about 2.3x faster than the previous Adreno and at least 125% more efficient in terms of power use.
- On-chip Memory: contains 21 MB of much faster on-chip memory (l3.). All render slices can access it.
- Anti-cheat Compatibility: Some of these anti-cheat software programs, like Denuvo, Tencent ACE, GameGuard, BattleEye, and Uncheater, can be run on the Snapdragon X2 Elite laptops because the GPU also supports kernel-level anti-cheat software. Riot's Vanguard was omitted from this list.
First-Party Gaming Scores
Qualcomm issued its findings comparing the Adreno X2's performance to that of a predecessor and current rivals from Intel and AMD. Results show that the Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme (X2E-96-100) has a GPU substantially superior to that of the variants.
Performance-in-Context Comparisons: Snapdragon X Elite
There is a tremendous increase over the last generation-new GPU, nearly 60fps in Cyberpunk 2077. It doesn't do well in highly demanding titles, although some of them, such as Black Myth: Wukong, show great gains in the playability of lighter ones like War Thunder.
Performance Against Intel and AMD
The Adreno X2 is highly competitive as those two iGPUs left standing, fighting against each other in some titles, such as Diablo IV, Metro Exodus, and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.
Important Issues
So, some of the first-cut numbers are perhaps promising, but there are significant qualifications to note in this regard. The benchmarks were run on a reference device developed by Qualcomm, not on a final retail laptop. That means that the performance of production-ready laptops, expected sometime around early-to-mid 2026, is subject to change.
Finally, the most crucial hurdle for Adreno GPUs has always lain in driver support. It will be a make-or-break factor in the long-term success of the Adreno X2.
