Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme Benchmarked: CPU Dominance, but GPU Trails Apple

Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme: A Promising Contender with a Nuanced Performance Profile

Qualcomm has unveiled its latest powerhouse, the Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme, a processor poised to significantly boost the performance segment of Windows on Arm devices. The company trumpeted impressive claims of up to 75% greater CPU performance and a remarkable 2.3x improvement in energy efficiency. However, as the dust settles from the grand unveiling, independent benchmarks are beginning to paint a more detailed, and in some areas, a less universally triumphant picture, revealing aspects that Qualcomm chose not to highlight from the stage. German publication ComputerBase has provided a deep dive into the chip's capabilities, confirming the company's CPU performance gains while also shedding light on why the spotlight might have been intentionally kept off raw graphical prowess.

CPU and NPU Shine, Outpacing Key Competitors

In the realm of multi-core performance, the Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme has demonstrated a commanding lead. Benchmarks show it decisively outperforming not only its predecessor but also formidable rivals like Apple's M4 Pro, Intel's Core Ultra 9 285H, and AMD's Ryzen AI 9 HX 370. Specifically, it notched an impressive 1,964 in Cinebench 2024's multi-core test and a staggering 23,693 in Geekbench 6.3's multi-core benchmark. These figures are undeniably compelling, positioning Qualcomm as a serious contender in the high-performance computing space.

The single-core performance presents a more balanced scenario. While the Apple M4 Pro managed to edge out the Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme by a modest 7% in Cinebench 2024, the tables turned in Geekbench 6.5, where Qualcomm's chip reclaimed a similar 7% lead. This seesaw effect suggests that while both processors are remarkably capable, their architectural nuances lead to slight variations across different synthetic benchmarks. What's particularly noteworthy is the NPU (Neural Processing Unit) performance. With a stated 80 TOPS of AI processing power, the Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme delivered a stunning 128% leap in performance compared to the Intel Core Ultra 9 288V found in the ASUS Zenbook S 14. This significant advantage in AI acceleration promises a substantial boost for AI-driven applications and features on Windows devices.

GPU Struggles to Keep Pace with Apple's Silicon

Despite the formidable CPU and NPU gains, the Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme's integrated GPU falls short when directly compared to Apple's M4 Pro. In graphics-intensive tests like 3DMark Steel Nomad Light Unlimited and 3DMark Solar Bay Unlimited, the Qualcomm chip lagged behind, scoring 5,687 and 22,946 respectively. This translates to a 37-40% disadvantage compared to the Apple M4 with its 10-core iGPU, and an even more significant 37-46% deficit against the more potent M4 Pro. While Qualcomm has indeed doubled the graphical performance from its previous X Elite generation, the practical implications for demanding tasks like gaming at high resolutions and settings remain somewhat subdued. Achieving a conditional 60 fps in Full HD at low settings is a step forward, but the true gaming experience on Windows on Arm, which still grapples with emulation layers for many titles, remains an open question.

Lingering Concerns: Battery Life and Software Compatibility

Beyond raw performance metrics, several aspects of the Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme warrant further discussion, if not outright concern. Qualcomm's relative silence on battery life, offering only a vague promise of "several days," is peculiar, especially considering the inherent strength of Snapdragon processors in energy efficiency. This reticence raises eyebrows, making one wonder if the real-world battery performance matches the impressive efficiency claims.

Furthermore, the persistent ghost of Windows on Arm's software compatibility issues continues to loom. While progress has been made, many older business applications and printer drivers still present challenges. Gaming, in particular, remains a thorny issue, with a considerable number of titles still refusing to run natively or even through emulation on Arm-based systems. This fragmentation can be a significant deterrent for potential adopters who rely on a wide range of software.

Adding to the discourse, the processor's moniker, Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme, has drawn some criticism, with its complexity evoking memories of Microsoft's own sometimes convoluted naming conventions. Observers also point to Qualcomm's development cadence, with Intel and AMD iterating on their architectures annually, while the X-lineup's predecessor, the X1 Elite, debuted as recently as 2023. Nevertheless, the introduction of the Snapdragon X-series has undeniably spurred increased innovation from its competitors. Even if Qualcomm doesn't immediately capture a dominant market share, the emergence of a third significant player alongside Intel and AMD undoubtedly injects healthy competition into the processor industry, a win for consumers and technological advancement alike.