Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme Dominates Benchmarks; Unannounced iPad Pro, Windows 11 25H2 Arrive
The tech world buzzed with news from Snapdragon Summit 2025 in Hawaii, where the new Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme benchmarked impressively. Meanwhile, an unannounced iPad Pro with M5 surfaced, and Windows 11 25H2 is now available. In other developments, Xbox Game Pass is restructuring, Amazon refreshed its Alexa devices, and EA changed hands in a $55 billion deal.
Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme, the latest from Qualcomm, made waves at the Snapdragon Summit. It outperformed AMD, Intel, and Apple in early benchmarks, drawing significant attention. This second-generation ARM SoC for Windows 11 on ARM promises up to 31% more performance at the same power or 43% less power at the same performance. Its CPU can reach up to 5 GHz on 18 cores, delivering up to 75% higher CPU performance than its predecessor. The integrated Neural Processing Unit can perform up to 80 TOPS, and the GPU offers 2.3 times better performance per watt.
In other hardware news, an unannounced iPad Pro with the M5 chip was spotted in Russia. Meanwhile, Windows 11 25H2, a 'mini update', is ready for download. On the storage front, Western Digital's CFO revealed that the company could already produce 44-TB HDDs using HAMR technology if they chose to, despite not yet adopting it for economic reasons.
Xbox Game Pass is being rebuilt with new subscriptions costing up to 50 percent more per month. Amazon, meanwhile, refreshed its Alexa speakers and displays with the Echo Dot Max, Studio, Show 8, and Show 11. In the market share race, AMD reached a new record while Intel continued to lose share, according to the Steam hardware survey.
The Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme's impressive benchmarks set the stage for 2026's real products. An unannounced iPad Pro with M5 hints at Apple's upcoming plans, and Windows 11 users can now download the 25H2 update. Western Digital's HAMR technology revelation, Xbox Game Pass restructuring, and Amazon's Alexa refreshes indicate a dynamic tech landscape. Lastly, EA's acquisition by a consortium for $55 billion signals a significant shift in the gaming industry.
