The Snapdragon X Elite, Apple M3, and the Intel Core Ultra series of processors are the most advanced SoCs currently available. So, which processor should power your next laptop?

SoC Design

Qualcomm, Intel, and Apple use anSoC (System on Chip)design to integrate all major processing hardware into one chip, including the CPU, GPU, and theNPU (neural processing unit).

However, while each company uses an SoC design, they’re not one and the same.

Snapdragon X Elite

Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite is a powerful ARM-based SoC designed for Windows. Its ARM architecture allows the X Elite to be significantly more power efficient than its x86 counterparts from Intel and AMD. However, the common problem with ARM-based Windows processors is that they often lack the performance to compete with said x86 offerings—up until the X Elite was released.

The Snapdragon X Elite uses a 12-core ARM v8 Oryon CPU, Adreno X1 GPU, and its Hexagon NPU (which delivers up to 45 TOPS (Trillion Operations Per Second)). Its powerful NPU (and other specs) are why Microsoft partnered with Qualcomm for the launch of itsCopilot+ PC specs.

Intel Core Ultra

Intel’s first generation of Core Ultra SoCs (codenamed Meteor Lake) uses an x86 processor that provides great gaming performance with its 8-core Intel Iris Xe GPU and its 16-core/22 threads CPU with 8 P-cores and 8 E-cores for better battery life.

Using a “multi-chip modular” construction, Intel uses its in-house 7nm process node (for CPU) and TSMC’s 5nm process (for GPU) on one chip. This allowed Intel’s Core Ultra SoCs some flexibility in production cost, power efficiency, and performance. An NPU was also added to the Core Ultra SoC, making it capable of running machine learning models for AI applications like face detection, speech recognition, and text translation.

The Apple M3 is another ARM-based processor with great performance and high power efficiency. The M3 line of SoCs includes the standard M3, the enhanced M3 Pro, and the high-performance M3 Max, and the flagship M3 Ultra, with each successive model offering increased capabilities.

What makes the M3 special is its use of TSMC’s 3nm process node andunified memory architecture, which directly improves performance and power efficiency. Apple’s standard M3 is powered by an 8-core/8thread CPU, a 10-core Apple M3 iGPU, and a 16-core Apple Neural Engine NPU. Although its numbers may seem less impressive than offerings from Intel and Qualcomm, the seamless integration of Apple hardware and software ensures that the M3 processor is utilized to its full potential, reducing bloat and requiring no emulation.

SoC Benchmark and Comparison

Now, let’s check SoC specifications forIntel’s Core Ultra 7 155H,Apple’s M3, andQualcomm’s Snapdragon X Eliteto see which processor is better for specific tasks.

Intel Core Ultra 7 155H

Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E-84-100

Architecture

Process Node

7nm(CPU) 5nm(GPU)

Up to 4.8 GHz (16-Core/22-Threads Redwood Cove and Crestmont)

Up to 4.00GHz (8-Core/8-Threads ARMv9)

Up to 4.2 GHz (12-Core/12-Threads Oryon)

Up to 2.25 GHz (8-Core Intel Arc graphics)

Up to 1.40 GHz (10-Core Apple GPU)

Up to 1.50 GHz 6-Core Qualcomm Adreno X1)

11.5 TOPS INT8

18 TOPS INT8

45 TOPS INT8

Thermal Design Power (TDP)

Media Processing

For media processing tasks such as video editing, rendering, and streaming, the Snapdragon X Elite, Apple M3, and Intel Core Ultra each offer unique strengths.

Web Performance

Web performance is crucial for tasks ranging from browsing to running complex web applications.

Productivity and Day-to-Day

All three SoCs are capable performers in day-to-day productivity tasks such as office applications, email, and general multitasking, but they each have unique advantages.

Gaming Performance

Gaming performance is an important factor for many users, and here, the differences between the SoCs have become more pronounced.

The Snapdragon X Elite offers decent gaming performance, especially with its support for AI-enhanced graphics. However, it struggles with the latest AAA games, often requiring settings to be lowered for smooth gameplay. Thanks to its power efficiency, it excels in mobile gaming and lighter titles.

Overall, we currently don’t recommend the Snapdragon X Elite for gaming since its games are primarily emulated from x86 to ARM. This emulation reduces game performance and is known to introduce frame drops even if the machine should theoretically have no problem running the game. Furthermore, some games just won’t run in emulation mode. For this reason, it’s not worth getting a Snapdragon X Elite PC if you plan to use it solely for gaming.

The Apple M3 provides a solid gaming experience, particularly for games available on macOS. Based on reviews, the M3 seems to be handling 1080p gaming at low to mid-graphic settings pretty well. While it doesn’t match dedicated gaming laptops, its GPU handles a variety of games well, and the overall system efficiency ensures longer play sessions without significant heat buildup. But for more serious gamers wanting a Mac, we recommend the M3 Pro or even the M3 Max, which are significantly more capable with better cooling systems.

Lastly, the Intel Core Ultra series is the top gaming option among the three. It provides the best performance when it comes to single-threaded and multithreaded games. Its Intel Arc GPU also provides the best GPU performance with clock speeds of up to 2.25 GHz and support for Direct X12, OpenGL 4.6, OpenCL 3.0, and hardware ray tracing. Unlike the Snapdragon X Elite, Intel’s Core Ultra SoCs provide native support for most PC games without losing performance on emulation. Furthermore, Intel’s Core Ultra SoCs are often found in laptops with active cooling systems, allowing the SoC to perform at its boosted state for longer periods.

Which Processor Should Power Your Next Laptop?

Choosing the right processor depends on your specific needs and preferences:

Each System on a Chip (SoC) has strengths, and the best choice depends on your specific needs and preferred ecosystem. However, remember that SoCs are just one factor to consider when buying a new laptop. The actual performance of an SoC can vary based on the laptop’s design. Factors like cooling, battery life, heat management, and software all impact performance.