ASUS And HP Launch Snapdragon X2 Laptops: 48GB RAM And 80 TOPS AI Performance

The commercial rollout of Qualcomm’s second-generation Windows PC platform, the Snapdragon X2, has officially reached retail shelves. Leading the initial wave of availability, major retailers like Best Buy have listed flagship devices from ASUS and HP, signaling a shift toward high-performance, ARM-based computing for the 2026 market.

ASUS Zenbook A16

The ASUS Zenbook A16 is currently positioned as a primary competitor in the premium thin-and-light segment. Priced at $1,599, the laptop features the high-end Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme processor. Notably, this configuration includes 48 GB of memory, a significant increase over standard entry-level Copilot+ PC specifications.

The Zenbook A16 also integrates:

• Display: A 16-inch OLED touch panel with a 2880 x 1800 resolution and a 120 Hz refresh rate.

• Processor Architecture: An 18-core CPU capable of reaching speeds up to 5.0 GHz.

• AI Performance: An NPU rated at 80 TOPS (Tera Operations Per Second), targeting advanced AI-driven workloads.

HP OmniBook Ultra 14

In addition to the ASUS model, HP has launched the OmniBook Ultra 14. This device utilizes the standard Snapdragon X2 Elite chip, paired with 32 GB of RAM and 1 TB of storage, carrying a retail price of $2,049. While both manufacturers target the Copilot+ PC category, the pricing of the ASUS 48GB model is particularly competitive, as high-memory configurations typically command much higher price premiums.

Performance and Efficiency Targets

Announced in late 2025, the Snapdragon X2 platform emphasizes substantial gains in power efficiency. Qualcomm claims the X2 Elite offers up to 31% higher performance at ISO power and up to 43% lower power consumption compared to the previous generation. The platform is divided into multiple tiers: the Elite Extreme for heavy workloads and the Elite variants (available in 18-core and 12-core configurations) for balanced mobile productivity.

While retail pages are live and devices are becoming available for pickup, official reviews and third-party performance benchmarks are expected to follow as the embargo period concludes.