- Qualcomm is testing its next-gen Snapdragon X2 Elite processor with 18 Oryon v3 CPU cores. It might support external GPUs as well.
- It’s likely the processor is designed for desktop Arm PCs. The test system features 48GB of on-package RAM and 1TB of SSD.
- The marketing name for the processor might be “Snapdragon X2 Ultra Premium,” according to recent reports.
Since September last year, we have been hearing about Qualcomm working on its next-generation Snapdragon X2 Elite processor for Windows PCs. And recently, Qualcomm revealed that Snapdragon X2 Elite or Gen 2 will feature 3rd-gen Oryon CPU cores, promising superior performance and efficiency. Now, WinFuture reports that Qualcomm is testing a desktop Arm processor with 18 Oryon v3 CPU cores, under the codename “Project Glymur”.
On the first generation of Snapdragon X Elite chipsets, we saw up to 12 Oryon v1 CPU cores, designed for Windows laptops. However, with 18 CPU cores, it’s likely Qualcomm is preparing to enter the desktop PC market. According to import-export databases seen by WinFuture , there is a mention of a “high-TDP” variant, likely referring to a desktop processor.
On top of that, the report mentions that 18 CPU cores are packaged with 48GB of SK Hynix LPDDR5 RAM and 1TB of NVMe SSD storage. In earlier reports, a new name called “Snapdragon X2 Ultra Premium” appeared. Perhaps, this Ultra Premium variant is reserved for the desktop variant, but we can’t know until the Snapdragon Summit in October 2025.
Besides that, it’s unclear whether those 18 CPU cores are all high-performance cores, or Qualcomm is going for some efficiency cores as well, just like Apple M-series SoCs. Not to mention, rumors suggest that Snapdragon X Elite Gen 2 will support external graphics cards as well. If that’s the case, Qualcomm may gain solid market share in the desktop PC market, as the Windows on ARM platform matures.
By the way, Qualcomm canceled its Snapdragon Dev Kit last year as the mini PC couldn’t meet Qualcomm’s “usual standards of excellence.” Now, we are hoping that the upcoming Snapdragon desktop processor won’t share the same fate.
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- Microsoft has teased a Surface Copilot+ PC launch, set for next week on May 6.
- Going by earlier rumors, Microsoft may launch smaller, 12-inch Surface laptops to replace Surface Go and Surface Laptop Go.
- Leaks suggest that the smaller Surface PCs will feature the low-end Snapdragon X chip.
Microsoft is holding a Surface event next week on May 6. The official Microsoft Surface handle on X teased a Copilot+ PC launch, saying “Something new is coming…find out next week” with an eye emoji, raising curiosity. Going by recent reports, Microsoft is likely going to release compact Surface laptops.
Earlier, we reported that a smaller Surface laptop appeared on Geekbench featuring the low-end Snapdragon X chipset. It comes with a 12-inch screen and packs the Snapdragon X (X1P-42-100) processor under the hood. The alleged device achieved 1,462 in single-core and 9,251 in multi-core, in the Geekbench CPU test.
The rumor mill suggests that Microsoft is preparing to replace Surface Go and Surface Laptop Go with two smaller Surface Copilot+ PCs, namely Surface Pro and Surface Laptop. In the latest Q3 earnings call, Microsoft didn’t report Surface revenue separately, so it’s not clear how the Surface series is doing.
Recently, Microsoft released Surface laptops with Intel Lunar Lake chips for business customers. And last year, Surface laptops with Snapdragon X processors were unveiled for consumers. Now, with the smaller Surface laptops, Microsoft appears to be targeting portable devices like the iPad Pro.
Going by the early specs, it seems the new Surface devices will be cheaper and portable, offering good performance and impressive battery life.
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