So, what’s not to like? Well, early compatibility issues slowed initial adoption of Snapdragon X, and the processor’s integrated graphics performance turned out to be pretty terrible. And to date, powerful onboard AI capabilities simply haven’t proven to be important because most AI workloads are still done in the cloud. With the second-generation X2, Qualcomm decided to deliver on the initial promise of faster performance.
But what exactly does “faster” mean? As with most claims in PC computing, it’s all about benchmarks. On the Zenbook A16, the tests I carried out indeed showed exemplary performance of the
The performance improvement on Geekbench is particularly striking, with the A16 being 50-100% faster than competing systems from AMD and Intel. It’s even faster than the Apple MacBook M4 Pro, the latest Mac for which I have comparable benchmark scores. However, this Mac beat the Asus on the Cinebench benchmark, but not by much, and the Asus now sits firmly in second place in my testing archives.
Graphics performance is much better than in previous generations of Snapdragon X chips, with frame rates quadrupling on average, according to the test. This is a dramatic and much-needed improvement for the processor, and while no one will accuse the A16 of being a gaming rig, it at least makes for a workable experience with less demanding games and graphics-heavy workloads.
Performance of beige denials
Photography: Chris Null
I’m happy enough with the Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme’s performance to endorse its performance claims, but the Zenbook A16 has much more to offer than its processor.
Under the hood, the Snapdragon A weight of 2.9 pounds is impressive (if not unheard of) for the 16-inch category, and at 0.65 inches (at its thickest) it provides a svelte and fairly portable carrying experience. from Asus Ceralumin The technology (now with added magnesium) is used in the machine’s lid, base and keyboard frame. This helps keep it thin and light, although when adjusted or touched, the screen flickered more than I expected.
