In 2020, Apple shocked the industry by switching from Intel to its own M1 chips — and honestly, it worked. The MacBook Air and Pro suddenly became some of the most efficient and powerful laptops ever made. Since then, Apple has had little serious competition in the ultra-thin laptop category.
But now, in 2025, things are changing. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite and X Plus chips are here, and for the first time, Windows laptops on ARM are showing serious potential.
The big question is:
Can Snapdragon laptops actually threaten Apple’s MacBook dominance?
Let’s break it down based on real-world performance, battery life, software support, and market trends.
What Is Snapdragon X Elite?
Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite is a next-generation ARM chip designed to bring Apple M-series levels of performance to Windows laptops.
Key specs of the X Elite:
- 12 high-performance Oryon CPU cores
- Up to 3.8GHz base / 4.3GHz single-core boost
- Integrated NPU (AI Engine) with 45 TOPS
- 5nm architecture
- Up to 136GB/s memory bandwidth
- Support for up to 3 4K external displays
This chip is powering a new wave of Windows laptops from Microsoft (Surface Laptop 7), HP, Lenovo, Acer, and others — all launching under Microsoft’s Copilot+ PC program.
Snapdragon X Elite vs Apple M3: Real Performance
| Spec / Feature | Snapdragon X Elite | Apple M3 (MacBook Air/Pro) |
|---|---|---|
| CPU Cores | 12-core (Oryon, all performance cores) | 8-core (4 perf + 4 efficiency) |
| GPU | Adreno GPU | Apple custom 10-core GPU |
| NPU (AI) | 45 TOPS | 18 TOPS |
| Architecture | ARMv8 | ARMv8 |
| Memory Bandwidth | 136 GB/s | 100 GB/s (M3 Pro) |
| Geekbench 6 (est) | ~14,000 multi-core | ~12,200 multi-core |
| Battery Life (claims) | 18–22 hours real use | 15–18 hours real use |
| OS Support | Windows 11 (ARM64) | macOS Sonoma |
Benchmark Reality
Early benchmark results and reviews (from sites like NotebookCheck, The Verge, and Tom’s Hardware) show:
- CPU performance is on par or better than Apple M3 in multi-threaded tasks.
- Single-core is still slightly behind Apple’s M3.
- AI performance (NPU) clearly beats Apple — Snapdragon’s NPU is designed for real-time on-device AI (e.g., Copilot+, live captions, image generation).
- Battery life claims are real: Some reviewers report 20+ hours with Snapdragon laptops in typical workflows like web browsing, streaming, and Office apps.
Real-World Software Experience: Windows ARM vs macOS
macOS:
- Fully optimized for M1, M2, M3 — every major app (Adobe, Final Cut, MS Office) runs natively.
- Rosetta 2 translates Intel apps smoothly.
- Stable, refined ecosystem.
Windows on ARM (2025 version):
- Microsoft has built a new emulation layer (Prism) — much faster and smoother than before.
- Over 85% of mainstream apps now run natively or via emulation without major issues.
- Adobe apps (Photoshop, Lightroom, etc.) are ARM-native.
- Some niche software and games still don’t work perfectly (especially 32-bit legacy apps or heavy games).
So while Windows on ARM is finally usable and fast, macOS still has the advantage in app compatibility and polish — for now.
Battery Life: Snapdragon Wins (for Now)
Apple is known for incredible battery life, but Snapdragon is pushing the limit. Here’s a real-world comparison:
| Task | Snapdragon Laptop (X Elite) | MacBook Air M3 |
|---|---|---|
| Web Browsing (Wi-Fi) | ~22 hours | ~17 hours |
| YouTube 1080p Streaming | ~20 hours | ~15 hours |
| Productivity (Office) | ~19 hours | ~14–16 hours |
| Full-Load Performance | Fanless, low heat | Fanless, low heat |
So in battery life and thermal efficiency, Snapdragon might be the new leader — especially with passive cooling and no fans.
AI: Snapdragon Is Years Ahead
Apple has an 18 TOPS NPU in the M3, but it barely uses it yet.
Snapdragon laptops are built as Copilot+ PCs — they can do things like:
- AI-powered Recall (timeline search of past activity on your laptop)
- Real-time translations
- AI photo editing directly on the device
- Local chatbot performance without internet
These aren’t future features — they work now, and they run entirely offline, without draining the battery or needing a GPU.
Design and Hardware Comparison
- MacBooks: Clean aluminum build, best-in-class trackpad, amazing speakers. 13″ to 16″, but no touchscreens or 2-in-1s.
- Snapdragon laptops: Huge variety — Surface Laptop 7, HP Spectre x360, Lenovo Yoga, etc. Offer OLED touchscreens, 360° hinges, stylus support, etc.
Windows laptops finally offer design choice without major trade-offs in battery or speed — that’s new.
Price and Value
| Laptop Model | Chip | Price (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| MacBook Air M3 (256GB) | Apple M3 | $1,099 |
| Surface Laptop 7 (512GB) | Snapdragon X Elite | $999 |
| HP EliteBook | Snapdragon X Elite | $1,199+ |
| Lenovo Yoga X Elite | Snapdragon X Elite | $1,099 |
Snapdragon laptops are slightly cheaper or similarly priced — with better specs in some cases (e.g., more RAM/storage/touchscreen).
Final Verdict: Should Apple Be Worried?
In my opinion — yes, Apple should be paying close attention.
Snapdragon X Elite laptops in 2025 are the first real challenge to MacBooks since the M1 launched. They have:
- Competitive performance
- Better battery life
- Leading-edge AI features
- More variety in hardware
BUT — MacBooks still offer:
- Superior software experience
- Better app support
- A loyal ecosystem that keeps people locked in (iPhone, AirDrop, iCloud, etc.)
So… Should You Buy a Snapdragon Laptop?
Buy Snapdragon if:
- You use Windows
- You want a lightweight, long-lasting laptop
- You care about AI features
- You’re NOT deeply invested in Apple’s ecosystem
Stick with MacBook if:
- You already own iPhone/iPad
- You rely on macOS apps (Final Cut, Logic Pro)
- You prefer a more polished and predictable experience
What Do You Think?
Do you believe Snapdragon will be as good as Apple Silicon in the long run?
Let me know your thoughts in the comments — or feel free to reach out anytime at BestTechReviewed.com!