Snapdragon X2 Elite Excels in Multicore Benchmarks vs M5

Early benchmarks for Qualcomm's new Snapdragon X2 Elite processor indicate significant performance gains, positioning it as a strong contender against Apple's M5 chip in multicore tasks and productivity workloads, according to tests conducted on prototype laptops.

The Snapdragon X2 Elite, unveiled at CES 2026 alongside a more powerful Extreme variant, targets premium Windows laptops focused on efficiency and speed. Independent testing by the YouTube channel Hardware Canucks on preproduction Asus Zenbook and Vivobook models revealed the chip's capabilities using prerelease drivers and firmware. These tests, performed in early 2026, showed the processor outperforming its predecessor, the Snapdragon X Elite, by substantial margins in several key areas.

In the Cinebench 2024 single-core benchmark, the Snapdragon X2 Elite scored 146, surpassing the previous generation's 108 and edging out Intel's Core Ultra 9 388H at 130 and AMD's Ryzen 9 HX 370 at 112. However, it trailed Apple's M5, which achieved 200. The multicore results painted a different picture, with the X2 Elite reaching 1,432 points, well ahead of the M5's 1,153 and both Intel and AMD chips, which fell below 1,000....