Qualcomm’s push to integrate its Arm-based Snapdragon processors into Windows laptops, including Microsoft’s Surface devices, has sparked significant interest. But how does Snapdragon truly stack up against Intel’s offerings? Recent benchmarks provide compelling insights.
Snapdragon X Elite vs. Intel: Performance Benchmarks Unveiled
Analyst firm Signal65 recently conducted a series of benchmarks comparing the Snapdragon X Elite in the new Surface Laptop against several competitors: the Intel 12th Gen-powered Surface Laptop 5, the MSI Prestige with Intel’s Core Ultra 7 Meteor Lake, Apple’s M3 MacBook Air, and the older Qualcomm SQ3-equipped Surface Pro 9 5G. These tests offer a comprehensive look at performance across various workloads.
Battery Life: Snapdragon Takes the Lead
The Snapdragon X Elite-powered Surface Laptop achieved an impressive 21 hours of local video playback, significantly outperforming all competitors, including the Intel-based Surface Laptop 5 and even Apple’s M3 MacBook Air. While battery size and other factors influence these results, Snapdragon’s efficiency is evident.
Productivity and Multi-Threading: A Close Contest
In Geekbench tests focusing on raw processing power, the Snapdragon X Elite surpassed previous-generation Windows devices and the older SQ3 chip. While Apple’s M3 boasts a slight advantage in single-threaded performance, Snapdragon takes the lead in multi-threaded tasks, crucial for demanding applications. Cinebench results echoed these findings. Surprisingly, Intel’s Core Ultra 7 155H excelled in Handbrake video transcoding, outpacing the Snapdragon X Elite by a significant margin.
Browser Performance: Apple’s M3 Dominates
In browser-based tests using Chrome, Apple’s M3 chip clearly outperformed the competition, including the Snapdragon X Elite. However, the Snapdragon-powered Surface Laptop still managed to narrowly outperform the Intel Core Ultra 7-equipped MSI laptop. Microsoft Office tasks saw a more level playing field, with all devices performing similarly, except for the older Surface Pro 9 5G.
Graphics Performance: Intel and Apple Maintain an Edge
The Snapdragon X Elite’s integrated graphics lagged behind the competition in demanding 3DMark tests. While it outperformed older devices, it fell short of both the Intel Core Ultra 7 and Apple’s M3, particularly in gaming-focused benchmarks. This suggests that for graphically intensive tasks, Intel and Apple currently hold an advantage.
AI Performance: Snapdragon’s NPU Excels
Qualcomm’s focus on neural processing units (NPUs) pays off in AI-focused benchmarks. The Snapdragon X Elite significantly outperformed all competitors, including the Apple M3 and Intel Core Ultra 7, in Procyon’s AI Computer Vision test, highlighting its potential for AI-driven applications.
Conclusion: Snapdragon’s Strengths and Weaknesses
The benchmarks indicate that Snapdragon processors offer compelling performance in everyday tasks and exceptional battery life. However, they still lag behind Intel and Apple in graphics-intensive workloads. The strong AI performance suggests future potential in emerging AI applications. Ultimately, the choice between Snapdragon and Intel depends on individual needs and priorities.
