Snapdragon X2 Elite laptops see sudden price increase of up to $350 higher after launch reviews
Some shady pricing changes are already showing up around Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 systems, just hours after reviews went live . ASUS was among the first brands to list laptops based on Qualcomm’s new chips before the review embargo lifted. Then, shortly after the reviews were published, ASUS and Best Buy appear to have raised prices across parts of the Snapdragon X2 Elite lineup without offering any explanation.
Launch-day coverage also looked unusually narrow . Snapdragon X2 reviews were largely limited to bigger media outlets, and almost all of them focused on ASUS hardware (some received HP laptop prototypes).
Hardware Canucks said its review was based on pricing that had been communicated before publication, but those numbers later changed. According to the outlet, systems went up by as much as $350 after the reviews were already live. That means at least some early coverage was published with pricing that no longer matched retail listings a few hours later.
This is BAD for our Snapdragon X2E conclusion. Best Buy & ASUS issued the wrong prices. They're going 🔼 by a LOT 🫠
Zenbook A16: $1,600 ▶️ $1,700
Zenbook A14: $1,150 ▶️ $1,350
Zenbook S16: $1,600 ▶️ $1,900
Zenbook S14: $1,900 ▶️ $2,000
Zenbook 14: $1,000 ▶️ $1,350
— Hardware Canucks (@hardwarecanucks) April 7, 2026
That is not a good look for a launch built around price and positioning. If reviewers were briefed on lower prices and retail listings were updated right after publication, readers have reason to question how launch messaging was handled. Or perhaps they were misled on purpose. Neither ASUS nor Qualcomm has publicly explained whether this was a retailer-side change, a vendor adjustment, or placeholder pricing being replaced.
Source: BestBuy
Comments under yesterday’s stories suggest that some users were already skeptical about the limited review access and ASUS-only focus. The apparent post-review price increase is unlikely to improve that impression, especially when the launch was supposed to show stronger value against x86 systems.
I wouldn’t expect much from ASUS, but Qualcomm should really choose its launch partners better.
