Should I buy an Intel, AMD or Apple AI CPU?

AI CPU is a specialized computer processor that integrates a Neural Processing Unit (NPU). Designed to help you complete AI tasks on your local device, AI processors are increasingly appearing on many devices and are required to run AI assistants like Copilot and Apple Intelligence.

So, with all the AI ​​CPUs on the market, which one should you buy?

Compare Intel, AMD, Apple, Qualcomm AI processors

Below is a table to compare Intel Lunar Lake, AMD Ryzen AI 300, Apple M4 and Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite:

Based on the table above, we have two AI x86 processors (Lunar Lake and Ryzen AI 300) and two AI ARM processors (M4 and Snapdragon X Elite). ARM processors are generally known to offer better energy efficiency, while x86 has higher performance. However, the gap between performance and energy efficiency seems to be getting closer as the M4 and X Elite become more powerful, and Lunar Lake and Ryzen AI 300 become more power efficient.

In terms of power efficiency for the X86 processor, Intel did it better with a 3nm process node, on-chip memory, disabled hyper-threading, and a lower CPU core count. Meanwhile, AMD's Ryzen AI SoC offers better performance with 24 threads at a slightly higher CPU clock speed, a significantly more powerful GPU, and an FP16-blocking NPU.

As for ARM AI processors, Apple's M4 beats the X Elite in heat, CPU, and even GPU thanks to hardware-accelerated tracking and native support for macOS apps. However, it should be noted that despite the emulation and other software issues, the X Elite chip is still a powerful ARM-based processor that competes with Apple's M3 processor, Intel's Meteor Lake, and the AMD's Ryzen 7000 processor.

Which AI CPU should I buy?

Laptop manufacturers often offer options for different hardware specifications, including processors. So, with new AI-capable SoCs coming to market this year, which AI CPU should you buy?

1. Apple M4 (Donan) : Best for macOS users. Designed and optimized for macOS, delivering competitive performance and long battery life.
2. AMD Ryzen AI 300 (Strix Point) : Ideal for gamers. Its high-performance multi-threaded CPU, combined with a powerful integrated GPU, makes it ideal for gaming and other intensive tasks.
3. Intel Core Ultra 200V (Lunar Lake) : Balanced performance. It offers a good balance between performance and battery efficiency. Suitable for gaming (especially e-sports titles), productivity tasks, media consumption, and general web browsing.
4. Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite : The most battery-efficient Windows AI processor available. This is the first time Windows Co-Pilot Plus is supported. Great for general productivity, web browsing, and media consumption.

While all of these processors have AI capabilities through their integrated NPU, it may be a while before we fully benefit from them. Developers will need more time to create software that makes maximum use of the NPU.

While it may be tempting to buy a new laptop now, the AI ​​capabilities on these new SoCs are significantly better than those released in 2023. So, if AI capabilities is important to you, you'll have to get a Snapdragon X Elite PC now or wait for the upcoming M4, Core Ultra 200V or Ryzen AI laptops later this year.

Micah Soto

Update 05 July 2024