The only other option besides Apple Silicon and macOS for experiencing the perks of ARM chips on a Windows laptop comes in the form of the Snapdragon X2 Elite and Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme. For all the flak Qualcomm and Microsoft have received over software compatibility, laptops featuring Intel or AMD processors continue to ship with a truckload of problems, including overheating, stuttering, subpar battery life, and more.
Plagued with one issue after another, one individual ended up returning four x86 laptops and attempted to bite the bullet on ASUS’ Zenbook A16. Thankfully, his gamble paid off, because the notebook and the Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme pairing have fulfilled the majority of his use cases, though there are still some areas that Qualcomm can improve with future releases.
Gaming on a Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme is still a ‘hit or miss,’ but after returning three Intel or AMD-powered machines, one owner is thoroughly satisfied
Impressed by the M4 MacBook Pro, Redditor ‘desiman86’ wanted a laptop that was just as good as Apple’s portable Mac, but after purchasing various options, starting with the Galaxy Book4 Pro 360, all of them exhibited some problem or another that disrupted the workflow. Whether it was the incessant UI stuttering or poorly built trackpads, desiman86 didn’t believe that spending a premium on an x86 laptop was worth it.
Continuing his hunt, he found the ASUS Zenbook A16 and, with its Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme, decided to take a leap of faith. Featuring 48GB of LPDDR5X RAM running at an impressive 9,523MT/s, a 1TB PCIe NVMe Gen 4 SSD, a 3K OLED touchscreen, Wi-Fi 7, and more, this Windows 11 laptop was exactly what the doctor ordered.
According to the Redditor, every workflow app ran comfortably on the ARM platform, with Microsoft’s Prism emulation layer working seamlessly. The app transitions were also said to be buttery smooth, with the performance curve being maintained whether or not the Zenbook A16 was plugged in or not, which is a limitation that has yet to be overcome on Intel or AMD laptops.
The battery life was also claimed to be stellar, lasting for 10 hours on High Performance mode. The only workload where Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme currently struggles is gaming. Despite running circles around the Snapdragon X Elite in various titles, the integrated graphics processor barely holds its own against Apple’s M5. However, since gaming wasn’t a requirement for the Redditor, it wasn’t mentioned as a drawback, but that may not be the case for everyone.
Compared to Qualcomm’s first iteration, the Windows on ARM platform has evolved considerably, with a 30-year Intel loyalist also converting into a believer of these chipsets after experiencing multiple benefits, such as record-breaking battery life and a pricing structure that won’t blow a hole in the customer’s wallet. As for the remaining concerns, such as gaming, it’s possible the Snapdragon X3 Elite Extreme may address them.
News Source: Reddit
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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