Overview
Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X2 Elite promises a major leap over its predecessor, the Snapdragon X Elite, especially in high‑end gaming scenarios. Early testing shows impressive gains, yet Apple’s M5 still holds a decisive edge in most titles.
Key Improvements Over Snapdragon X Elite
- Up to 84% higher average FPS and 1% low FPS in several games.
- Beta drivers and firmware on a pre‑production notebook, indicating further optimisation potential.
- Better CPU test scores that occasionally surpass the M5 in isolated benchmarks.
Game‑Specific Benchmarks
All tests were run at 1200p with the settings noted in the source.
- Counter‑Strike 2 – Snapdragon X2 Elite: 113.3 FPS avg, 63 FPS 1% low (31% faster than X Elite). The game is not natively compatible with the chipset, so the M5 could not be measured.
- Cyberpunk 2077 – Snapdragon X2 Elite: 40 FPS avg, 18.4 FPS 1% low (81% faster than X Elite). Apple M5: 57.2 FPS avg, 31.1 FPS 1% low (43% faster than X2 Elite, 69% faster at 1% low).
- Baldur’s Gate 3 – Snapdragon X2 Elite: 54.3 FPS avg, 47 FPS 1% low (83.4% faster than X Elite). Apple M5: 69.8 FPS avg, 49.1 FPS 1% low (28.5% faster than X2 Elite, 4.5% faster at 1% low).
Compatibility & Real‑World Considerations
- Counter‑Strike 2 lacks a native port for the Snapdragon X2 Elite, limiting its practical use.
- Testing was performed on beta drivers; performance may improve in final retail laptops.
- Apple’s upcoming M5 Pro and M5 Max are expected to widen the gap further, as the X2 Elite is positioned against the current M5, not the higher‑binned variants.
How It Stacks Up Against Apple’s Higher‑End Chips
- The Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme, Qualcomm’s fastest SKU, was still outperformed by Apple’s M4 Max in Cinebench 2024.
- Apple’s M4 Pro (14‑core CPU, 20‑core GPU) beat the X2 Elite Extreme by up to 45% in 3DMark Steel Nomad Light Unlimited and 3DMark Solar Bar Unlimited.
Conclusion
Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X2 Elite marks a significant step forward from the X Elite, delivering solid gains in average FPS and reduced frame‑time spikes. However, Apple’s M5 remains the superior choice for high‑fidelity gaming today, especially in titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Baldur’s Gate 3 where it leads by a wide margin. Future driver updates and the release of commercial laptops could narrow the gap, but until Apple’s next‑generation M5 Pro/Max arrive, the Snapdragon X2 Elite is still playing catch‑up.