Snapdragon X Elite vs. Intel vs. AMD: Which Laptop Reigns Supreme?

Snapdragon X Elite vs. Intel vs. AMD: Which Laptop Reigns Supreme?

In the race for laptop supremacy, Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite has made bold claims about its battery performance, promising near-identical power whether plugged in or on battery, while rivals Intel and AMD allegedly falter. A recent Laptop Mag article, published on May 9, 2025, put these claims to the test, comparing three laptops: the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x (Snapdragon X Elite X1E-78-100), the Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 (Intel Core Ultra 7 256V), and the HP ZBook Ultra G1a (AMD Ryzen AI Max+ Pro 395). The results reveal a clear winner in battery efficiency and performance consistency, but the choice of the "best" laptop depends on your needs. Here's a deep dive into the findings, culminating in a verdict on which laptop comes out on top.

The Contenders and Testing Ground

The article tested three distinct laptops, each powered by a different chip:

• Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x (Snapdragon X Elite): A thin-and-light laptop with a 12-core ARM-based chip, designed for portability and efficiency.

• Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 (Intel Core Ultra 7 256V): A convertible laptop with an 8-core x86 chip, offering versatility for users who value flexibility.

• HP ZBook Ultra G1a (AMD Ryzen AI Max+ Pro 395): A workstation laptop with a 16-core x86 chip, built for heavy professional workloads.

The testing focused on battery performance using benchmarks like Geekbench 6 (CPU performance), Cinebench (rendering), and 3DMark (GPU performance). Laptops were evaluated when plugged in, on battery with Best Performance mode, and on battery with Balanced mode. These stress tests pushed the hardware to its limits, not reflecting typical tasks like web browsing but highlighting how chips handle intensive workloads on battery power.

Key Findings: Snapdragon Shines, But Context Matters

The article's results paint a compelling picture of Snapdragon's strengths, with Intel and AMD trailing in key areas but holding their own in specific scenarios.

On-Battery Performance

Qualcomm claimed that Snapdragon X Elite maintains near-plugged-in performance on battery, while Intel and AMD chips drop to 55-70% of their plugged-in capabilities. The tests largely substantiate this:

• Snapdragon X Elite (Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x): Showed minimal performance drop, especially in single-core tasks in Balanced mode, retaining near-identical performance to plugged-in levels. Multi-core performance also held strong, with only slight declines in intensive tasks.

• Intel Core Ultra 7 256V (Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1): Suffered a significant drop, plummeting to ~55% of plugged-in performance in Balanced mode for single-core tasks and showing notable declines in multi-core tests.

• AMD Ryzen AI Max+ Pro 395 (HP ZBook Ultra G1a): Fared better than Intel but worse than Snapdragon, dropping to ~70% of plugged-in performance in Balanced mode for single-core tasks and showing moderate multi-core declines.

Snapdragon's consistency across benchmarks like Geekbench 6, Cinebench, and 3DMark gives it a clear edge for users who need reliable performance on the go.

Power Efficiency

Power efficiency is where Snapdragon truly excels. The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x's chip delivered strong performance at lower power draw-9W compared to 23W for Intel's Core Ultra 7 in Geekbench, according to X posts cited in the article. Intel and AMD chips required more power to match Snapdragon's output, making them less efficient on battery. This efficiency translates to better battery life in real-world scenarios, a critical factor for mobile users.

Battery Life

The article's stress tests drained all laptops to critical capacity after half a day, offering no clear winner in this intense scenario. However, broader context from Laptop Mag's tests of similar laptops suggests significant differences:

• Snapdragon Laptops: Models like the Dell XPS 13 with Snapdragon X Elite achieve 19+ hours of real-world battery life, implying the Yoga Slim 7x likely performs similarly.

• Intel Laptops: Models like the Dell XPS 14 last 12-15 hours, a respectable but shorter duration.

• AMD Laptops: Laptops like the Acer Swift Go 14 last 12-14 hours, with the ZBook's workstation focus likely yielding even less due to its power-hungry design.

The Yoga Slim 7x's efficiency positions it as the leader for users prioritizing all-day battery life.

App Compatibility

A notable trade-off emerges with app compatibility:

• Intel and AMD (Dell and HP): Their x86 architecture ensures seamless compatibility with legacy Windows apps, a boon for users reliant on specialized software.

• Snapdragon (Lenovo): Its ARM-based chip may face emulation issues for some x86 apps, potentially causing slowdowns or incompatibilities.

For users whose workflows depend on legacy apps, Intel or AMD laptops may be safer choices.

AI Performance

The Snapdragon X Elite's 45 TOPS neural processing unit (NPU) met Microsoft's Copilot+ PC requirements (40+ TOPS) at launch, giving the Yoga Slim 7x an edge for AI-driven features like on-device processing. At the time of testing, Intel's 10 TOPS (Meteor Lake) and AMD's 16 TOPS (Hawk Point) fell short, though newer chips (Intel Lunar Lake, AMD Ryzen AI 300) now qualify, narrowing the gap.

Which Laptop is Better?

Determining the "best" laptop hinges on the article's focus: battery performance, power efficiency, and real-world usability. Here's how the contenders stack up:

• Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x (Snapdragon X Elite):

  • Strengths: Unmatched on-battery performance, minimal drop-off in Balanced mode, superior power efficiency, and likely 19+ hours of real-world battery life. Its 45 TOPS NPU ensures compatibility with Copilot+ PC AI features, making it future-proof for AI-driven tasks. Ideal for mobile professionals, students, or anyone prioritizing portability and all-day battery life.

  • Weaknesses: ARM-based architecture may struggle with some x86 apps, a potential issue for niche software users.

  • Best For: General productivity, travel, and users seeking the longest battery life and AI capabilities.

• Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 (Intel Core Ultra 7 256V):

  • Strengths: x86 compatibility ensures smooth performance with legacy apps, and its convertible design suits users who need a tablet-laptop hybrid. Competitive plugged-in performance.

  • Weaknesses: Significant performance drop on battery (~55% in Balanced mode), shorter implied battery life (12-15 hours), and lower AI performance (10 TOPS at launch).

  • Best For: Users needing a versatile form factor or x86 app compatibility, but who don't prioritize battery life.

• HP ZBook Ultra G1a (AMD Ryzen AI Max+ Pro 395):

  • Strengths: x86 compatibility and a 16-core chip excel for professional workloads like video editing or 3D modeling, especially when plugged in.

  • Weaknesses: Moderate battery performance drop (~70% in Balanced mode), likely the shortest real-world battery life due to its workstation focus, and lower AI performance (16 TOPS at launch).

  • Best For: Professionals with heavy workloads who prioritize performance over battery life.

The Verdict

The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x (Snapdragon X Elite) emerges as the best laptop for most users. Its exceptional on-battery performance, power efficiency, and implied 19+ hours of real-world battery life make it a standout for mobile productivity. The 45 TOPS NPU ensures it's ready for the AI-driven future of Copilot+ PCs, and its thin-and-light design is perfect for users on the move. While its ARM architecture may pose challenges for some x86 apps, this is a minor drawback for most general-purpose users.

The Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 is a strong contender for those who value a convertible form factor or need x86 compatibility, but its battery performance lags significantly. The HP ZBook Ultra G1a is the go-to for workstation tasks, but its battery life and efficiency make it less versatile for everyday use.

Comparison Table

The following table summarizes the wins and losses for each laptop, highlighting why the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x takes the crown:

Final Thoughts

The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x sets a new standard for battery life and efficiency in Windows laptops, making it the top choice for most users in 2025. While Intel and AMD are closing the gap with newer chips like Lunar Lake and Ryzen AI 300, Snapdragon's lead in on-battery performance and AI readiness gives the Yoga Slim 7x the edge today. If battery life and portability are your priorities, look no further. For niche needs like convertible designs or workstation power, the Dell or HP may suit you better-but for the average user, the Yoga Slim 7x is the laptop to beat.

Disclaimer: The article's tests used a limited sample size and stress-test conditions, not fully reflective of real-world use. Always consider your specific needs when choosing a laptop.