LAS VEGAS, Jan 6, 2026, 07:27 PST
- Qualcomm shares rise about 3% as CES announcements spotlight its push beyond smartphones
- Snapdragon X2 Plus targets Windows Copilot+ PCs with an 80 TOPS AI engine; devices due in 1H 2026
- New robotics processor and Toyota RAV4 design win add to the company’s diversification pitch
Qualcomm (QCOM) shares rose about 3% on Tuesday after the chipmaker detailed new PC and robotics products at CES 2026, with the stock trading at $181.64 in morning deals. Semiconductor ETFs rose about 2.7% on the day.
The CES push lands as Qualcomm tries to convince investors its growth can broaden beyond smartphones, even as the stock has trailed much of the sector. Shares have gained 8.2% over the past year versus 35.7% for the broader semiconductor industry, according to a Zacks note that also pointed to margin pressure and China-linked headwinds; Broadcom gained 47% over the same period.
Investors will get another read on that strategy on Feb. 4, when Qualcomm is scheduled to report fiscal first-quarter results and host its earnings conference call.
On the PC side, Qualcomm said its new Snapdragon X2 Plus platform will power Windows 11 “Copilot+ PCs” — Microsoft’s label for systems built to run AI features on-device. The company said the chip includes an 80 TOPS neural processing unit (NPU), a measure of AI compute, and claimed its CPU can be up to 35% faster on single-core tasks while using 43% less power than the prior generation; it expects systems from “leading OEMs” to go on sale in the first half of 2026. “Snapdragon X2 Plus delivers the power, efficiency and intelligence,” said Kedar Kondap, Qualcomm’s head of computing and gaming. PR Newswire
Qualcomm also introduced the Dragonwing IQ10 series for industrial autonomous mobile robots and humanoids, alongside what it called a robotics “comprehensive-stack architecture” spanning hardware, software and AI. “We’re redefining what’s possible with physical AI,” said Nakul Duggal, who runs Qualcomm’s automotive, industrial and robotics unit, while Figure founder and CEO Brett Adcock called Qualcomm’s platform “a valuable building block” as the humanoid company scales. Business Wire
In cars, Toyota has picked Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Digital Chassis for the next RAV4, using Qualcomm’s “Snapdragon Cockpit” for in-vehicle displays, touch interfaces and voice controls, according to a statement cited by Times of San Diego. “We are excited to partner with Toyota to integrate our Snapdragon Digital Chassis into the new RAV4,” said Mark Granger, a vice president at Qualcomm Technologies. Times of San Diego
Simply Wall St said CES headlines and the RAV4 win support a diversification story that investors will test at the February earnings call, but that competition and geopolitics tied to China remain the biggest near-term risks. It also flagged Qualcomm’s stated aim for a multi-year $22 billion automotive pipeline by 2029 and estimated fair value at $191.80 a share, about 11% above the current price, projecting $46.9 billion in revenue and $12.2 billion in earnings by 2028.
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