Comparison, which is the best chip for laptop?

In a world where Windows laptops are evolving rapidly, the arrival of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon The performance and autonomy of the devices largely depend on it, thus offering users interesting choices for their computing needs.

This year has been tumultuous in the world of Windows laptops. The introduction of chips Snapdragon X from Qualcomm has completely changed the game — and I don’t say that lightly.

They entered the market with such force that AMD et Intel were forced to respond quickly with their own more energy-efficient chips that could compete. The series Core Ultra 2 from Intel, also known as Lunar Lakeattempted to one-up Qualcomm, touting a dramatic improvement in battery life.

But now that the dust has settled a bit, which chipset offers the best laptops you can buy right now? I’ve tested several systems using both chips, and I finally feel like I can see where the performance lies.

Performance

The Snapdragon X from Qualcomm is available in two versions, the Snapdragon X Elite and the Snapdragon X Plus. As the table below shows, they vary widely in core counts, speeds, and Adreno integrated graphics performance. Qualcomm doesn’t release their TDP (thermal design power), but evidence suggests they perform between 15 watts et 80 watts.

The main concern with Qualcomm chipsets is that Windows sur Arm requires applications to be written natively for the platform to achieve the best performance. Although the current version of Windows on Arm has a very capable emulation engine compared to previous versions and is much more compatible with a variety of applications, there may still be a penalty if an important application does not work at all or at full speed.

The series Core Ultra 2 from Intel, or Lunar Lakealso comes in different iterations, but with a more homogeneous design. They all have eight cores, with the same number of performance and efficiency versions. Most operate at 17 wattswhile the Core Ultra 9 288V is a version with 30 watts.

We haven’t tested a laptop with the Core Ultra 9 yet, so we can’t attest to its performance. Lunar Lake is an x86 chipset and therefore uses the same version of Windows as previous Intel and AMD chipsets. There are no compatibility issues or emulation concerns.

Looking at the benchmark results, we see that the Snapdragon X is much faster than the series Core Ultra 2 in tasks requiring a CPU. There are variations, but it is generally true. However, it is not as fast in GPU-demanding tasks. Intel’s Core Ultra 2 series chips offer the best iGPUs (integrated graphics) we’ve ever seen in a Windows laptop, so we have to give back to Caesar what’s Caesar’s. Meanwhile, Qualcomm’s Adreno Graphics ranks last among options, behind AMD et Apple.

None of the laptops equipped with these chips provide a viable gaming platform for AAA games, nor do either chipset really give a significant performance advantage for creative applications. For this, you’ll want a dedicated GPU, and so far this category of laptops doesn’t exist for any of the platforms. You will need to upgrade to the latest chipsetsAMD or go back to the previous generation ofIntel if you want something more powerful.

It is also important to note that the M3 chipset ofApple which runs in thin and light laptops splits the difference in CPU tasks while enjoying faster graphics.

However, in light of my testing results so far, it’s clear that Qualcomm has an edge over Intel in both single-core and multi-core performance — and for these types of laptops, that’s what matters most .

Autonomy

So how do they fare in terms of autonomy? After all, both chipsets are intended to make Windows laptops better equipped to compete with MacBooks fromApplewhich have a significantly longer battery life.

It’s difficult to compare battery life between each platform because they tested laptops with different display technologies and resolutions. The machines offering the best battery life were those with IPS FHD+ displays (1920 x 1200), while those equipped with 2.8K OLED displays (2880 x 1800) showed the worst results. For example, theAcer Swift 14 AIusing Intel Lunar Lake associated with an IPS FHD+ screen of 14.0 incheswas one of the best performers, while theAcer Swift Go 14 used a Snapdragon X Plus with an IPS QHD+ screen (2560 x 1600) and also worked very well. THE HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 combined Lunar Lake with a 2.8K OLED display and wasn’t as impressive.

Generally speaking, it is reasonable to say that the new chipIntel is more likely to provide the best performance when the CPU is under heavy load. This appears best in this test Cinebench R24 which pushes chipsets to their maximum performance. Here, Intel surpasses Qualcomm. Looking at all the scores, the MacBook Air M3 d’Apple remains a solid option, and it is likely that the M4 version arriving in early 2025 will bring even better results.

In summary, chipsets Snapdragon X et Core Ultra 2 represent significant advances for the Windows platform. Unlike in the past, you can easily choose a Windows laptop that will give you battery life for a day and maybe even several days. It’s huge.

Both last a long time, but Qualcomm maintains performance

If you’re going purely on efficiency, both platforms are easy to recommend. The series Core Ultra 2 d’Intel is generally more efficient because it maintains its efficiency when working harder. But both equip Windows laptops which are such more durable.

However, the Snapdragon X from Qualcomm is considerably faster. If you’re a productivity-demanding user, this is a more solid choice. You’ll still want a dedicated GPU if gaming or video editing are your priorities, and we haven’t tested either platform with a dedicated GPU yet. It will take longer for Qualcomm. But for thin and light laptops focused on productivity, the Snapdragon X offers the best combination of speed and battery life at the moment.

However, perhaps the strongest point in Qualcomm’s favor is its price. Yes, it’s been on the market for a while, but currently you can get SnapdragonIntel.