Snapdragon X2 Elite performance preview shows 49% multi-core gain vs Snapdragon X Elite and 35% slower single-core performance vs Apple M5
The Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite, X2 Elite Extreme, and X2 Plus SoCs are on their way with promises of massive performance gains, improved efficiency, and better software compatibility. Qualcomm has already thrown out some big performance numbers, which we have reported on extensively, but real-world testing has remained scarce. This has now changed, as Hardware Canucks has published its early Snapdragon X2 Elite performance review.
Before we take a look at the numbers, please keep in mind that the Snapdragon X2 Elite was running inside a pre-production Asus Zenbook A14 with non-final software. So, the performance of the Snapdragon X2 Elite can improve further with patches closer to launch.
Snapdragon X2 Elite Cinebench 2024 performance
Starting with the multi-core Cinebench 2024 results, the Snapdragon X2 Elite reportedly brings a massive 49% lead over the Snapdragon X Elite. The SoC’s performance is also similarly impressive against the Core Ultra X9 388H Panther Lake (47%) and the Apple M5 (24%). The AMD Strix Point Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 also doesn’t stand a chance against the Snapdragon X2 Elite, as Qualcomm’s champ claims a 55% performane gain.
The single-core Snapdragon X2 Elite Cinebench 2024 results also look quite good, with a 35% gen-on-gen improvement over the Snapdragon X Elite. The Snapdragon X2 Elite’s lead over the Intel Panther Lake and Intel Lunar Lake Core Ultra 9 288V is considerably smaller at 12.3% and 14%, respectively. The Apple M5, however, is in a class of its own, as the Snapdragon X2 Elite appears to be 35% slower.
Snapdragon X2 Elite gaming performance
While Qualcomm already had pretty good CPU performance with last year’s Snapdragon X Elite, the processor was not up to the mark in gaming. Qualcomm seems to have made some significant gains in this area, as the Snapdragon X2 Elite can now play games like Cyberpunk 2077 at pretty good frame rates.
Per Hardware Canucks, the Snapdragon X2 Elite can play Cyberpunk 2077 at 40 FPS at 1200p with medium settings and FSR 3 Performance. In the same scenario, the Snapdragon X Elite manages only 22 FPS, while the Arc B390 of the Intel Panther Lake achieves 46 FPS.
An interesting thing to note here is that, even though the Snapdragon X2 Elite averages 40 FPS, the 1% Lows land at only 18 FPS. The Core Ultra X9 388H, on the other hand, manages 1% Lows of 34 FPS. So, the Qualcomm chip seems to be struggling with software issues, which could mean that game compatibility might not be where it should be.
We observe the same pattern with Counter-Strike 2, where the Snapdragon X2 Elite averages more than 113 FPS, but 1% Lows stay at 63 FPS. Compare this to the Core Ultra X9 388H’s average of 188.7 FPS and 1% Lows of 119.8 FPS, and the problem becomes quite clear.
We recommend checking out the full video (linked below), as it also contains more charts, including Blender and Da Vinci Resolve.
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