Qualcomm has announced its new Snapdragon X Elite chip, which is poised to compete with Intel’s Core processors and AMD Ryzen chips in PCs and indirectly with Apple’s M-series processors. The new chip features a 12-core CPU based on Qualcomm’s custom architecture, called Oryon. It is designed for high-performance and power efficiency, with peak speeds of up to 3.8 GHz and the ability to match the performance of Intel’s Core i7 processors while using 68 percent less power. Qualcomm claims that the Snapdragon X Elite can run up to twice as fast as Intel or Apple chips at the same power level, offering improved battery life and lower temperatures. The X Elite’s GPU is reportedly up to twice as fast as Intel’s Iris Xe and up to 80 percent faster than AMD’s Radeon 780M, while using significantly less power. The chip also includes a Hexagon neural processing unit (NPU) for AI and machine learning tasks, as well as a Snapdragon X65 5G modem for high-speed connectivity. The Snapdragon X Elite is expected to arrive in PCs starting in mid-2024.