Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E-84-100 wins this laptop processor face-off, 53.5 to 37.8, pulling ahead mainly in Multi-core (+28) and Single-core (+20). Intel Core i7-1255U still makes sense if its price or standout specs fit your needs better.
Editor's note
An upgrade question in disguise: 2022's default ultrabook chip against 2024's Arm challenger. The X Elite more than doubles the multi-core score (15,100 versus 6,600) and does it with better battery behavior. The 1255U's counterargument is compatibility — every x86 app, driver and corporate VPN just works. If your software list is browsers and Office, the Snapdragon machine is the clear win; if it includes anything exotic, check it runs on Arm first.
Which would you pick?
Key differences
Reasons to pick the Intel Core i7-1255U
Stronger platform score: 48 vs 42
100% higher L3 cache: 12 MB vs 6 MB
35% lower Base TDP: 15 W vs 23 W
12% higher Boost clock: 4.7 GHz vs 4.2 GHz
Reasons to pick the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E-84-100
Stronger Single-core score: 56 vs 36
Stronger Multi-core score: 48 vs 20
Stronger efficiency score: 79 vs 75
Stronger iGPU score: 44 vs 34
500% higher Performance cores: 12 vs 2
General
General comparison: Intel Core i7-1255U versus Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E-84-100
Spec
Intel Core i7-1255U
Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E-84-100
Announced
2022
2023
Process
10 nm
4 nm+60%
Base TDP
15 W+35%
23 W
Max TDP
55 W
80 W+45%
Cores & Clocks
Cores & Clocks comparison: Intel Core i7-1255U versus Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E-84-100
Spec
Intel Core i7-1255U
Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E-84-100
Cores
10
12+20%
Performance cores
2
12+500%
Efficiency cores
8
—
Threads
12
12
Base clock
1.7 GHz
3.8 GHz+124%
Boost clock
4.7 GHz+12%
4.2 GHz
L3 cache
12 MB+100%
6 MB
Integrated GPU
Integrated GPU comparison: Intel Core i7-1255U versus Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E-84-100
Spec
Intel Core i7-1255U
Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E-84-100
iGPU
Intel Iris Xe (96 EU)
Qualcomm Adreno X1-85
iGPU clock
1,250 MHz
1,500 MHz+20%
Memory
Memory comparison: Intel Core i7-1255U versus Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E-84-100
Spec
Intel Core i7-1255U
Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E-84-100
Memory support
LPDDR5-5200 / DDR5-4800 / LPDDR4X-4267
LPDDR5X-8448
Max memory
64 GB
64 GB
Benchmarks
Benchmarks comparison: Intel Core i7-1255U versus Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E-84-100
