Intel’s Lunar Lake processors have gained attention and excitement in the gaming community. While there are currently no handhelds on the market with Lunar Lake chips, a recent benchmark test conducted by Geekerwan has shed some light on the potential capabilities of these CPUs in gaming handhelds.
Geekerwan tested the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V processor, which belongs to the Lunar Lake lineup, in a Yoga Air 15 laptop. The processor was tested at 15W, which is the power envelope that a gaming portable would require. It was compared against the Steam Deck with its custom AMD Zen 2 chip, and the Asus ROG Ally with AMD’s Z1 Extreme.
The benchmarks revealed that the Lunar Lake CPU was more than twice as fast (2.3x) as the Z1 Extreme and around 35% faster than the Steam Deck’s custom AMD silicon. It also outperformed the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 by 67% in this low-power envelope.
It’s worth noting that the handhelds were drawing less power compared to the Lunar Lake chip. The Z1 Extreme used 9W while the Lunar Lake chip consumed 12W (with the motherboard using the remaining power to stay within the 15W limit). Even with this power difference taken into account, the results clearly show significant performance gains with the Lunar Lake CPU.
Geekerwan’s testing with Cyberpunk 2077 demonstrated that the Core Ultra 7 258V achieved 28 fps (with FSR on), while the Steam Deck and ROG Ally achieved 13 fps and 11 fps respectively (the Ryzen AI HX 370 achieved 13 fps).
Additionally, the laptop chips were also tested at their full power capacity. The Lunar Lake CPU running at 30W in 1080p gaming was not far behind the Ryzen AI HX 370, which is an 80W part. In some games, it even performed on par with the AMD chip.
This early testing provides evidence that Lunar Lake processors could be excellent for gaming handhelds, showcasing their potential to make a significant impact in the handheld gaming market. However, it’s important to remember that these benchmarks represent only one round of testing, and the Core Ultra 7 258V is not currently available in gaming handhelds.
However, the release of gaming handhelds with Lunar Lake processors may not be too far off. Intel’s previous Meteor Lake chips, found in the MSI Claw, will be succeeded by the MSI Claw 8 AI+, which will feature Lunar Lake processors.
The Claw 8 AI+, as demonstrated in our hands-on experience, could be an impressive gaming portable. However, the integrated graphics of Lunar Lake, known as Arc (Battlemage), may pose compatibility issues with older games. Intel’s Arc drivers are relatively new, and older games may not be fully supported, potentially leading to compatibility problems. This is something to consider if you prefer playing classic PC games or indie titles. It’s also important to note that not every PC game runs on the Steam Deck for various reasons.
Another essential aspect for gaming handhelds is battery life. The upcoming MSI Claw 8 AI+ promises significant improvements in this area. In battery longevity testing, the Core Ultra 7 258V in the Yoga Air 15 performed nearly as well as the MacBook Air M3. Lenovo even claims that the Core Ultra 7 outperforms the Apple M3 in terms of battery life for their Yoga Slim notebook.
All signs indicate that Lunar Lake processors could be a game-changer for gaming handhelds. The performance benchmarks and promising battery life suggest that these processors will provide an exceptional gaming experience on portable devices. However, it’s crucial to wait for further testing and the actual release of gaming handhelds with Lunar Lake processors to see if these early signs hold true.
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