Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon X2 Elite isn’t the most extreme chip in its lineup, but it’s delivering performance that feels far more aggressive. In a series of benchmarks conducted on a pre-production ASUS Zenbook, the chip has shown itself to be a formidable competitor—not just against its predecessor, the Snapdragon X Elite, but even against Intel’s high-end M5 processor in some key tests.
The results are striking. While the M5 remains a powerhouse, the Snapdragon X2 Elite is closing the gap with just a modest increase in power consumption—31W compared to the M5’s 26W. That extra 5W isn’t just for show; it’s fueling a 48% jump in multi-core performance over the Snapdragon X Elite alone. And in some benchmarks, the X2 Elite is actually pulling ahead of the M5, a feat that underscores how quickly ARM-based chips are catching up in the laptop space.
The benchmarks, conducted by Hardware Canucks with permission from ASUS, reveal the following
- Cinebench 2024 (Single-Core): Snapdragon X2 Elite scores 146 (35.2% faster than Snapdragon X Elite), while the M5 leads with 200 (37% faster than X2 Elite).
- Cinebench 2024 (Multi-Core): Snapdragon X2 Elite dominates with 1,432 (24.2% faster than M5, 48.7% faster than Snapdragon X Elite). The M5 scores 1,153.
- Blender 5.01 (Lower is better): Snapdragon X2 Elite at 3:31, Snapdragon X Elite at 5:24, M5 at 5:33.
- Handbrake (Lower is better): Snapdragon X2 Elite at 3:29, Snapdragon X Elite at 5:32, M5 at 5:14.
- DaVinci Resolve 20.3 (Lower is better): Snapdragon X2 Elite at 22:06, Snapdragon X Elite at 33:16, M5 at 9:43.
One notable outlier is DaVinci Resolve, where the M5 still holds a significant lead—9:43 compared to the X2 Elite’s 22:06. However, in most other tests, the X2 Elite is either competitive or outright superior, particularly in multi-core workloads where its 48% improvement over the X Elite is most pronounced.
It’s important to note that these benchmarks come from a pre-production sample, meaning final results could vary slightly once drivers and firmware are optimized. Battery life tests weren’t included, so real-world efficiency remains untested—but the power draw difference is minimal, suggesting the X2 Elite won’t sacrifice too much runtime for its performance gains.
What’s clear is that Qualcomm isn’t just iterating; it’s redefining what ARM chips can do in Windows laptops. The Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme may still hold the crown for raw power, but this version is proving that even mid-tier ARM chips can now challenge Intel’s best—without the need for extreme power budgets.
Reaction in tech circles has been mixed but largely positive, with many highlighting the chip’s efficiency as a standout feature. While some question whether the M5’s lead in specialized workloads like video editing will hold, the overall trend is undeniable: ARM is no longer just keeping up—it’s setting the pace.
