Snapdragon X2 Elite Impresses in Early Benchmarks
Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X2 Elite chipset has made a notable impression in recent benchmark tests, showcasing significant performance improvements over its predecessor, the Snapdragon X Elite, and even outperforming the M5 chip in several key areas. These results come from early testing conducted on a pre-production ASUS Zenbook powered by the Snapdragon X2 Elite, highlighting Qualcomm’s growing strength in the Windows laptop processor market.
The Snapdragon X2 Elite operates at a 31W power draw, which is only 5W higher than the M5’s 26W, yet it manages to secure a win in three out of five benchmark tests. This is a remarkable feat considering the modest increase in power consumption, suggesting efficient performance gains that could benefit future Windows laptops.
Benchmark Highlights and Performance Details
The benchmarks, shared by the YouTube channel Hardware Canucks with ASUS’s permission, reveal some compelling figures. In Cinebench 2024’s multi-core test, the Snapdragon X2 Elite scored 1,432 points, which is 24.2% faster than the M5’s 1,153 and a striking 48.7% improvement over the Snapdragon X Elite’s 963. However, in the single-core Cinebench test, the M5 leads with 200 points, outperforming the Snapdragon X2 Elite’s 146 and the Snapdragon X Elite’s 108.
Other tests such as Blender 5.01 and Handbrake also show the Snapdragon X2 Elite completing tasks significantly faster than both the Snapdragon X Elite and the M5. For instance, the X2 Elite finished Blender rendering in 3 minutes 31 seconds, compared to 5 minutes 33 seconds on the M5. Similarly, in Handbrake video encoding, the X2 Elite clocked 3 minutes 29 seconds, beating the M5’s 5 minutes 14 seconds.
Interestingly, in DaVinci Resolve 20.3, the M5 still holds a lead with a completion time of 9 minutes 43 seconds, while the Snapdragon X2 Elite took 22 minutes 6 seconds, and the Snapdragon X Elite lagged behind at 33 minutes 16 seconds. This suggests that while the X2 Elite is a strong all-rounder, certain specialised workloads may still favour the M5.
Context and What This Means for Qualcomm
The Snapdragon X Elite marked Qualcomm’s initial foray into the Windows laptop space with a flagship chipset, and the X2 Elite builds upon that foundation with substantial performance enhancements. The improvements indicate Qualcomm’s commitment to competing more aggressively with traditional x86 processors in laptops, especially as Windows devices increasingly explore ARM-based alternatives.
It is worth noting that these benchmark results are based on early drivers and firmware on a pre-production sample, so final retail units may show some variation. Additionally, no battery life tests were performed, partly due to the evolving nature of Windows 11 updates which can influence power efficiency and runtime unpredictably.
Looking Ahead
As Qualcomm continues to refine its Snapdragon X2 Elite platform, it will be interesting to see how commercial devices perform once they reach the market later this year. The promising benchmark results suggest that users could benefit from faster and more efficient ARM-powered Windows laptops. Meanwhile, competition from Intel’s latest Core Ultra processors remains strong, ensuring a dynamic landscape for laptop performance.
For those following the evolution of ARM-based Windows laptops, the Snapdragon X2 Elite’s early showings are a positive sign of progress and innovation to come.