The Snapdragon X Elite could achieve decent gaming performance in AAA games, but it was clear that there was a ton of improvement required, with one of the biggest hurdles being compatibility and optimization. Fortunately, Qualcomm has addressed the majority of those problems with its Snapdragon X2 Elite, with an initial gaming performance comparison showing that the latest SoC records a massive difference in the framerate. Unfortunately, that’s when our praises end because the chipset has immense difficulty against Apple’s M5, which registered up to a 69 percent performance improvement over its newest rival.
Against the Snapdragon X Elite, the Snapdragon X2 Elite offers a substantial uplift with up to an 84 percent bump in the framerate
After showcasing the compute capabilities of the Snapdragon X2 Elite, in which the latter beat the M5 in several CPU tests, Hardware Canucks shows why the Apple Silicon would be the preferred choice for those wanting to experience a blend of work and gaming. Three titles were tested, Counter-Strike 2, Cyberpunk 2077, and Baldur’s Gate 3, but it is important to note that the Snapdragon X2 Elite was running on a pre-production notebook, operating on beta drivers and firmware, so the results can vary when commercial laptops featuring the chipset flood markets later this year.
For now, with the exception of Counter-Strike 2, which cannot run since there’s no native port for the game, the M5 delivers exceptional performance in Cyberpunk 2077 and Baldur’s Gate 3. The Snapdragon X2 Elite managed to extend its lead against its immediate predecessor by up to 84 percent in the average framerate and ‘1% low,’ but there’s a lot of catching up to do from Qualcomm’s side. What’s even more disappointing is that Apple’s M5 Pro and M5 Max have yet to launch, but when they do, Apple will have another win in its column because, technically, the Snapdragon X2 Elite is the direct competitor to the M5 Pro, not the M5.
Counter-Strike 2 (1,200p, highest graphic settings, 4x MSAA, 16x AF)
- Snapdragon X2 Elite - 113.3FPS average, 63FPS 1% low (31% faster than Snapdragon X Elite in average FPS, 7.3% faster in 1% low)
- M5 - Not compatible
- Snapdragon X Elite - 86.5FPS average, 58.7FPS 1% low
Cyberpunk 2077 (1,200p, Medium graphics preset, Low Crowd Density, RT disabled, FSR 3 Performance mode)
- Snapdragon X2 Elite - 40FPS average, 18.4FPS 1% low (81% faster than Snapdragon X Elite in average FPS, 15.7% faster in 1% low)
- M5 - 57.2FPS average, 31.1FPS 1% low (43% faster than Snapdragon X2 Elite in average FPS, 69% faster in 1% low)
- Snapdragon X Elite - 22.1FPS average, 15.9FPS 1% low
Baldur’s Gate 3 (1,200p, Low graphics preset)
- Snapdragon X2 Elite - 54.3FPS average, 47FPS 1% low (83.4% faster than Snapdragon X Elite in average FPS, 84.3% faster in 1% low)
- M5 - 69.8FPS average, 49.1FPS 1% low (28.5% faster than Snapdragon X2 Elite in average FPS, 4.5% faster in 1% low)
- Snapdragon X Elite - 29.6FPS average, 25.5FPS 1% low
While you check out the gaming results above, we’d also like to remind readers that Qualcomm’s fastest chipset right now, the Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme, hasn’t fared any better than the Snapdragon X2 Elite, as Apple’s M4 Max beat it in Cinebench 2024. To add insult to injury, Apple’s higher-binned M4 Pro with a 14-core CPU and 20-core GPU outpaced the same silicon in 3DMark Steel Nomad Light Unlimited and 3DMark Solar Bar Unlimited by up to 45 percent.
About the author: Omar Sohail is a reporter and analyst for Wccftech's mobile section, specializing in the technology and business of the mobile industry. His expertise lies in the intricate hardware supply chain, covering developments in semiconductor manufacturing, chip lithography, and camera sensor technology.
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