Snapdragon X2 Elite Showcases Surprisingly Impressive Results Against M5, While Registering A 48% Performance Improvement Over Snapdragon X Elite In CPU, GPU Tests

Feb 8, 2026 at 03:30pm EST
Snapdragon X2 Elite takes on its immediate predecessor, the Snapdragon X Elite and Apple's M5 in a series of benchmark comparisons

The Snapdragon X Elite was just the start for Qualcomm as the company made a killer statement by entering the Windows-powered laptop space with its first flagship chipset. The San Diego firm had previously introduced the Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme and Snapdragon X2 Elite last year, with the less powerful SoC taken through its paces in a series of CPU and GPU benchmarks. What’s surprising about the results is that, in some cases, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X2 Elite ends up beating the M5 while running circles around its immediate predecessor.

What’s even more impressive is that the Snapdragon X2 Elite beats the M5 in multiple tests while having just 5W of additional power draw; secures the win in 3 out of 5 benchmarks

The YouTube channel Hardware Canucks was given permission by ASUS to perform a slew of benchmarks on the Zenbook, but keep in mind that the figures provided below are from a pre-production sample with early drivers and firmware. In short, the benchmark numbers may not be representative of the machines powered by the Snapdragon X2 Elite arriving later this year, so keep that in mind.

Related Story Qualcomm Pitches Snapdragon C as the Antidote to Rising Laptop Costs, Promising All-Day Battery & AI at $300

Additionally, all tests were carried out with Qualcomm’s newest silicon operating at 31W, meaning that it consumes just 5W higher than the M5, which tops out at 26W. As for the results, you can check them out below, with the Snapdragon X2 Elite beating the M5 in three out of five benchmarks, while cementing a dominant position over the Snapdragon X Elite.

No battery tests were conducted for the reasons mentioned above, so readers must wait for commercial units to arrive to get a better sense of runtimes. It is also important to note that Windows 11 routinely ships updates from time to time, and they aren’t in the best of shape, with battery timing improving or degrading depending on how lucky you are.

Cinebench 2024 (single-core)

Cinebench 2024 (multi-core)

Blender 5.01 (lower is better)

Handbrake (lower is better)

DaVinci Resolve 20.3 (lower is better)

Intel’s Core Ultra X9 388H results were also shared by Hardware Canucks, but you can check out detailed benchmarks from our coverage of ASUS’ Zenbook Duo, because you’ll be surprised by how a major comeback has been mounted by the x86 processor manufacturer.

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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