Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X2 Elite is shaping up to be the company’s strongest challenge to Apple’s laptop silicon to date. Early benchmark results highlighted by Hardware Canucks, running on a pre‑production ASUS Zenbook with early firmware, show the X2 Elite outperforming Apple’s M5 chip in three of the five major tests conducted. While these numbers come from pre‑release hardware, the results offer a meaningful look at how Qualcomm’s second‑generation Windows‑on‑Arm platform is maturing.
The clearest wins come from Blender and HandBrake, two applications that mirror the kinds of demanding tasks everyday users increasingly rely on. Blender is a 3D rendering tool often used to test raw compute power, while HandBrake is a popular video transcoder. In both cases, the Snapdragon X2 Elite finished its tasks significantly faster than Apple’s M5. In Blender, the X2 Elite completed a render in 3 minutes and 31 seconds, compared to the M5’s 5 minutes and 33 seconds. In HandBrake, the X2 Elite again pulled ahead with a 3 minute and 29 second result versus the M5’s 5 minutes and 14 seconds. For a typical user, this translates to noticeably shorter wait times when exporting videos, rendering animations, or processing large media files.
The Cinebench 2024 multi‑core test further highlights the X2 Elite’s advantage. Qualcomm’s chip scored 1,432 points, surpassing the M5’s 1,153. Multi‑core performance matters for anyone who multitasks heavily or uses software that spreads work across many cores, such as photo editors, code compilers, or productivity suites. In practical terms, this means smoother performance when juggling multiple apps or running complex workloads in the background.
Where Apple Still Leads
Apple maintains a clear edge in single‑core performance. In the Cinebench 2024 single‑core test, the M5 scored 200 points while the X2 Elite reached 146. Single‑core strength affects responsiveness in everyday tasks like launching apps, browsing the web, or interacting with lightly threaded software. This suggests that while Qualcomm has made major strides, Apple’s per‑core efficiency remains a strong differentiator.
It’s important to note that the Snapdragon X2 Elite tested by Hardware Canucks was a mid‑tier X2E‑88 model, not the flagship X2E‑96‑100. The laptop ran early drivers and firmware, which means final retail units could perform differently. Even so, the X2 Elite’s ability to beat Apple’s M5 in three major benchmarks while drawing only slightly more power (31W vs. 26W) suggests Qualcomm is closing the performance gap in meaningful ways. For everyday users, this could translate into laptops that feel faster during heavy workloads without sacrificing efficiency.
For most people, benchmarks only matter when they translate into real benefits. In this case, the Snapdragon X2 Elite’s wins in Blender, HandBrake, and multi‑core Cinebench point to faster exports, quicker renders, and smoother multitasking. Apple’s M5 still offers snappier single‑core responsiveness, which will appeal to users who prioritize everyday fluidity over heavy‑duty performance. But Qualcomm’s progress signals a more competitive Windows‑on‑Arm landscape, especially as Microsoft prepares to ship Windows 11 version 26H1 exclusively on Snapdragon X2 devices later this spring.
That leaves one major piece of the performance picture still unresolved, and it is often the deciding factor for anyone choosing a modern ultraportable.
Battery life remains the biggest unanswered question. Hardware Canucks did not conduct runtime tests due to pre‑production firmware, and Qualcomm’s efficiency claims have yet to be validated on shipping hardware. For buyers who value long unplugged sessions, this will be a critical factor once commercial laptops arrive.
