In our final episode of Behind the Silicon Season 2, we’re setting our sights higher than ever, as host and tech journalist Lucy Hedges joins Snapdragon Insiders Harriet and Josh in the Aloha state.
Episode 6, aptly titled “A Legendary Leap in Performance,” begins at the University of Hawai'i Maui College observatory, where astronomers are using laptops powered by Snapdragon® X Series to capture and process images of the cosmos in record time. From there, the team heads to Snapdragon Summit 2025, bringing you behind the scenes for the highly anticipated reveal of the Snapdragon X2 Elite compute platforms.
It’s a series finale that captures everything Behind the Silicon has been about: curiosity, innovation, and the Snapdragon Insiders community that’s been with us every step of the way.
Watch below, or on YouTube!
Behind the Silicon and into the stars
Hawai'i is known for its beauty, but for astronomers, it’s also known as one of the best places on Earth to study the skies. At the University of Hawai'i Maui College observatory, astronomy expert J.D. Armstrong and lecturer Alex Meyer welcomed Lucy, Harriet, and Josh into their world.
The team experienced firsthand how laptops powered by the Snapdragon X Series enable astronomers to accurately locate Saturn and precisely align telescopes, capturing breathtakingly detailed images of the planet’s famous rings.
Lucy, Harriet, and Josh also saw how students are creating breathtaking images of distant nebulae by processing dozens — and sometimes hundreds — of exposures. That process used to take up to 10 minutes, but with Snapdragon technology, it now takes just 30 seconds.
This kind of speed and powerful multitasking ability allows the students to explore deeper into the cosmos than ever before.
The next day, focus shifted from the cosmos to the cutting edge at Snapdragon Summit 2025. Joined by Snapdragon Insiders from around the world, Lucy, Josh and Harriet witnessed one of the event’s biggest moments: the reveal of the Snapdragon X2 Elite PC processors.
For Harriet, the potential for on-device AI was one of the big standouts of the announcement. “With Snapdragon X2 Elite being up to 80 TOPS, it's really exciting to see what AI experiences could be unlocked,” she said.
Josh agreed and lit up at the thought of editing content or producing music without compromising. “What really stood out to me is the fact that photo and video editing is going to get a lot better,” he said. “Being a content creator, that's huge. I'm also a musician. So, recording music using these laptops in a live setting, the way it's going to handle all that, it's just amazing.”
The Snapdragon X2 Elite platforms announcement was more than a product launch; they were the start of a new era for creators, developers, and dreamers alike.
From snowy mountain tops to cutting‑edge labs, Behind the Silicon has been an unforgettable ride. And while this finale marks the end of the series, it’s also the beginning of what’s next.
Whether you’ve been with us since Episode 1 or have more recently joined the journey, thank you for being part of the Snapdragon Insiders community.
Relive the adventure with the full Season 2 playlist on YouTube — and stay tuned for the next chapter in redefining what’s possible.
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