Snapdragon X2 Elite Delivers Significant Gaming Performance Boost
Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X2 Elite chipset marks a notable improvement in gaming performance compared to its predecessor, the Snapdragon X Elite. Early benchmarks reveal that the X2 Elite achieves up to an 84 percent increase in average framerates across several demanding AAA titles. This leap is a promising sign for gamers anticipating devices powered by this new silicon, although it is important to note that these tests were conducted on pre-production hardware with beta drivers, so final performance may vary once commercial laptops arrive later this year.
Key Gaming Benchmarks and Comparisons
Testing conducted by Hardware Canucks focused on three popular games: Counter-Strike 2, Cyberpunk 2077, and Baldur’s Gate 3. The Snapdragon X2 Elite managed to outperform the Snapdragon X Elite substantially. For instance, in Cyberpunk 2077 running at 1,200p with medium graphics settings, the X2 Elite delivered an average of 40 FPS, which is an 81 percent improvement over the older chip. Similarly, in Baldur’s Gate 3, the new chipset achieved 54.3 FPS on average, nearly doubling the performance of the Snapdragon X Elite.
However, despite these gains, Apple’s M5 chip still holds a clear advantage in gaming performance. The M5 outpaced the Snapdragon X2 Elite by up to 69 percent in average framerates, particularly in Cyberpunk 2077 and Baldur’s Gate 3. It’s worth noting that Counter-Strike 2 currently lacks a native port for Apple silicon, so the M5 was unable to run that title during testing.
Context and Broader Performance Landscape
These results come after Qualcomm showcased the Snapdragon X2 Elite’s strong compute performance, where it even outperformed Apple’s M5 in certain CPU benchmarks. Nevertheless, when it comes to gaming, Apple’s silicon appears to maintain a lead, especially with the forthcoming M5 Pro and M5 Max variants expected to push performance even further. The Snapdragon X2 Elite is positioned as a direct competitor to the M5 Pro, so the competition is likely to intensify once those chips launch.
Adding to the competitive landscape, Qualcomm’s top-tier Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme has not yet managed to surpass Apple’s M4 Max in graphics benchmarks like Cinebench 2024. Moreover, Apple’s M4 Pro, featuring a 14-core CPU and 20-core GPU, has demonstrated up to a 45 percent advantage over Qualcomm’s silicon in 3DMark tests, underscoring the challenge Qualcomm faces in matching Apple’s integrated GPU performance.
What to Expect Moving Forward
While the Snapdragon X2 Elite represents a meaningful step forward for Qualcomm in gaming performance, Apple’s silicon continues to set a high bar. As commercial laptops equipped with the Snapdragon X2 Elite become available later this year, it will be interesting to see how optimisation and real-world performance evolve. Meanwhile, the launch of Apple’s M5 Pro and M5 Max chips will likely further shift the balance in favour of Apple’s ecosystem for users seeking a blend of productivity and gaming prowess.
Overall, Qualcomm has made commendable progress, but the race to deliver the best gaming experience on mobile and portable devices remains highly competitive.
Source: Wccftech