Qualcomms Flagship Chip Falls Short Against Rival Apple Processor

Qualcomm’s Struggle Against Apple Silicon Continues, as Snapdragon X2 Plus Fails to Beat the Older Apple M4 in Key CPU and GPU Benchmarks

The mobile semiconductor industry has witnessed a significant shift in recent years, with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X2 family of System-on-Chips (SoCs) pitted against Apple’s proprietary Apple Silicon. At CES 2026, Qualcomm announced the latest addition to this family: the Snapdragon X2 Plus. This newer chip is designed to power more affordable Windows notebooks and take on Apple Silicon in the market.

On paper, the Snapdragon X2 Plus seems impressive, with higher cache memory, bandwidth, and a significantly higher on-chip Tokens Per Second (TOPS) compared to its predecessor. However, the overall performance of the chip is where it falls short. In key CPU and GPU benchmarks, the Snapdragon X2 Plus lags behind the older Apple M4, raising concerns about its ability to compete with Apple Silicon.

To understand the significance of these benchmark results, let’s delve deeper into the Geekbench 6, 3DMark Steel Nomad Light, 3DMark Solar Bay, and Cinebench 2024 tests conducted by PCMAG. These synthetic benchmarks provide valuable insights into the processing power and graphics capabilities of each SoC.

In the Geekbench 6 single-core benchmark, the Snapdragon X2 Plus scored 3,311 points, while the Apple M4 managed 3,859 points, representing a difference of 16.55% in favor of Apple’s chip. The multi-core test saw similar results, with the Snapdragon X2 Plus scoring 14,940 and the Apple M4 managing 15,093 points, resulting in a margin of only 1.02%.

The Cinebench 2024 tests showed even more striking differences between the two SoCs. In the single-core test, the Snapdragon X2 Plus scored 133 points, while the Apple M4 secured 173 points, representing a gap of 30.08%. Conversely, in the multi-core test, the Snapdragon X2 Plus managed 1,011 points, which was 1.81% slower than the Apple M4’s score.

The 3DMark Steel Nomad Light and Solar Bay tests revealed similar trends. In the Steel Nomad Light benchmark, the Snapdragon X2 Plus scored 3,067 points, while the Apple M4 secured 3,949 points, representing a difference of 28.76%. The Solay Bay test saw even more dramatic results, with the Snapdragon X2 Plus managing 12,525 points, whereas the Apple M4 secured 15,580 points, resulting in a margin of 24.39%.

Synthetic benchmarks do not provide the complete picture, and real-world comparisons and actual user experiences will offer a more comprehensive understanding of each SoC’s capabilities. The Qualcomm X2 series SoCs have shown impressive performance against Intel and AMD chips, indicating that this family has potential in competing with industry leaders.

However, it appears that Apple’s proprietary silicon remains a formidable force in the market. The Snapdragon X2 Plus-powered Windows notebooks are expected to hit the market in the second quarter of 2026. While these devices will undoubtedly provide improved performance and features compared to their predecessors, they may struggle to gain significant ground against Apple’s offerings.

The significance of these benchmark results cannot be overstated. Qualcomm must continue to improve the performance and power efficiency of its SoCs to stay competitive in an increasingly crowded market. The company’s continued efforts will be crucial in maintaining its market position.

As we move forward, it is essential to monitor the development of both Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X2 series and Apple’s proprietary Silicon, as well as other industry players such as Intel and AMD. The competition between these companies will undoubtedly drive innovation and lead to significant advancements in mobile technology.

In this rapidly evolving landscape, Qualcomm must prioritize research and development, staying at the forefront of innovation to stay ahead of the curve. Strategic partnerships with technology companies will likely continue to provide a strong foundation for Apple’s silicon offerings.

The future of mobile technology is uncertain, but one thing is clear: only time will tell which SoCs will emerge victorious in the ongoing struggle between Qualcomm and Apple Silicon.