Qualcomm's Speedy Snapdragon Chip Outperforms Intel's Top Offerings

Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X2 Elite: A New Challenger in the Laptop Chip Race

For years, Windows laptops have primarily relied on x86 processors from Intel and AMD. However, recent developments have seen a shift as Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chips begin to make a significant impact. This change is partly driven by the efficiency improvements seen in Apple’s M series processors, which have set new standards for performance and power management.

Now, Qualcomm is stepping up its game with the Snapdragon X2 Elite, positioning it as a top-tier processor for Windows laptops. This chip is directly competing with Intel’s Panther Lake lineup, and early benchmarks suggest that Qualcomm might have the upper hand in this new race.

Early Benchmarks Show Promise for Snapdragon

Recent Geekbench 6 scores for the Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme have been released online, as reported by PCGuide. These results were obtained from testing conducted inside an ASUS Zenbook A16 laptop. The Geekbench test runs a series of simulated workloads and produces scores that can be compared against other processors. The results are divided into single-core and multi-core performance metrics.

The Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme achieved the following scores: - Single core: 4,033 - Multi core: 23,198

In comparison, Intel’s Core Ultra X9 388H scored: - Single core: 3,066 - Multi core: 17,924

While benchmark results don’t always translate directly to real-world performance, these numbers indicate a potential edge for the Snapdragon chip. It's important to note that early tests should be interpreted with caution.

Hardware Specifications and Performance

Looking at the hardware itself, the Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme features an 18-core design, while the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H uses 16 cores. In this specific test, the Snapdragon chip was running at around 4.45GHz, whereas the Intel chip was recorded at approximately 4.0GHz. However, Intel does advertise a maximum boost clock of 5.1GHz on its official website.

Despite these promising specs, there are still some challenges with ARM on Windows. Not all Windows applications are optimized for ARM architecture yet, although PRISM emulation has made significant progress. Native ARM support is gradually increasing, making the experience more seamless for users.

Challenges with Drivers and Compatibility

One of the main limitations of using ARM-based Windows devices is driver compatibility. Unlike apps, older drivers cannot be emulated, which means certain hardware or software may not function properly if they lack an ARM-compatible driver. This issue affects some games that rely on kernel-level anti-cheat systems, such as Riot’s Vanguard used in Valorant. Without native ARM support for these drivers, the game will not run.

Users can check if their favorite games or apps are compatible with Qualcomm chips by visiting the site Works on Windows on Arm. This resource helps users determine whether their software will work on ARM-based Windows devices.

The Future of ARM on Windows

Despite these challenges, the situation is improving. In June 2025, it was reported that 100 of the most popular Windows apps are now ARM-native, and users are spending upwards of 90% of their time in non-emulated apps. Microsoft later highlighted these numbers, but some people who haven’t used a Qualcomm PC still believe there are issues for regular users.

This skepticism seems to be a common narrative, but the reality is that ARM on Windows is becoming more viable with each passing day. As more applications become natively optimized for ARM, the user experience will continue to improve.

What Lies Ahead?

Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme is already showing early numbers that put real pressure on Intel’s upcoming Panther Lake chips. This development sets the stage for one of the most exciting CPU battles in recent years. The question remains: how will Intel respond, and what do these early benchmarks mean for real-world laptops?

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