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No—not as a general claim. As of August 16, 2026, the Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 is best described as a powerful, efficient x86 processor for premium thin-and-light laptops, not the fastest laptop CPU overall. Its standout distinction from the closely related HX 370 is a higher-rated NPU, not a major CPU upgrade. For AI work, the laptop’s software support, memory, and GPU can matter more than the NPU’s TOPS rating.
What the Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 is
The HX 375 is part of AMD’s Ryzen AI 300 family, built on the Strix Point platform. AMD lists a 4 nm manufacturing process, a hybrid arrangement of Zen 5 and Zen 5c CPU cores, 12 cores and 24 threads, and a maximum boost clock of up to 5.1 GHz. It has 36 MB of total cache and a configurable 15–54 W TDP range. Graphics come from an integrated Radeon 890M with 16 graphics cores; the XDNA 2 NPU is rated at up to 55 TOPS. These are manufacturer specifications, not guaranteed sustained speeds in every laptop (AMD Ryzen AI 300 specifications; AMD Ryzen AI 300 quick reference).
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
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AMD Ryzen™ 9 9950X 16-Core, 32-Thread Unlocked Desktop Processor | $549.00 | Buy on Amazon |
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AMD Ryzen™ 9 9900X 12-Core, 24-Thread Unlocked Desktop Processor | $332.99 | Buy on Amazon |
“Up to” matters. The boost clock is a peak, and the TDP range describes the processor’s configurable power envelope; neither promises a particular sustained result. Laptop makers choose power settings and cooling, while memory configuration and firmware also affect performance. Two HX 375 laptops can therefore perform differently, especially in long CPU or graphics workloads.
HX 375 versus HX 370: what changes?
AMD’s comparison lists the two chips with the same core count, boost ceiling, TDP range, architecture and integrated graphics. The prominent specification difference is the NPU rating: up to 55 TOPS for the HX 375, versus up to 50 TOPS for the HX 370. Buyers should not expect a large CPU-performance uplift simply from choosing the 375 over the 370.
#1 Best Overall
- The best for creators meets the best for gamers, can deliver ultra-fast 100+ FPS performance in the world's most popular games
- 16 Cores and 32 processing threads, based on AMD "Zen 5" architecture
- 5.7 GHz Max Boost, unlocked for overclocking, 80 MB cache, DDR5-5600 support
- For the state-of-the-art Socket AM5 platform, can support PCIe 5.0 on select motherboards
- Cooler not included, liquid cooler recommended
| Specification | Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 | Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 |
|---|---|---|
| CPU cores / threads | 12 / 24 | 12 / 24 |
| Maximum boost | Up to 5.1 GHz | Up to 5.1 GHz |
| Configurable TDP | 15–54 W | 15–54 W |
| Integrated graphics | Radeon 890M | Radeon 890M |
| NPU rating | Up to 50 TOPS | Up to 55 TOPS |
| CPU architecture | Zen 5 and Zen 5c | Zen 5 and Zen 5c |
Source for the listed comparison: AMD Ryzen AI 300 quick reference. Cooling, memory, and firmware may matter more to real-world speed than this model-number difference. If an HX 370 laptop is substantially cheaper, the 5-TOPS difference alone is a weak reason to pay more unless a particular application supports and benefits from the HX 375’s NPU.
What “AI laptop” means—and what 55 TOPS does not
The label can refer to different things, so it is worth separating three cases:
- NPU-equipped laptop: It has a dedicated neural-processing unit for supported AI tasks. AMD rates the HX 375 NPU at up to 55 TOPS; that is a peak throughput specification, not a measurement of how quickly every AI app responds.
- Copilot+ or local-AI laptop: It meets platform requirements for particular Windows features or applications. Having an NPU does not mean every AI feature runs on it, or that all AI processing stays on the laptop.
- AI-workstation laptop: It is intended for demanding local models, image generation, or other accelerator-heavy work. Such workloads often depend more on a discrete GPU, its memory, and software support than on an NPU.
TOPS figures are not a universal cross-vendor speed score: vendors may use different precisions and measurement conventions, and an application can choose the CPU, NPU, integrated GPU, or discrete GPU. Model size and precision, memory bandwidth, drivers, power limits, and software implementation all affect actual results. AMD’s AI-PC material describes platform capabilities; it is not a complete application-performance ranking (AMD Ryzen AI 300 quick reference).
A supported NPU can be useful for features such as camera effects, transcription, noise suppression, and selected local inference tasks. But a 55-TOPS rating alone cannot establish faster large-language-model generation, image creation, or video processing. For many demanding local-AI workloads, a discrete GPU with suitable VRAM is the more important accelerator.
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In Tom’s Hardware testing of an HP OmniBook Ultra with the HX 375, the system scored 2,847 in Geekbench 6 single-core and 14,838 in multi-core. In that review comparison, it narrowly led a Dell XPS 13 with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite in those CPU scores. This shows that the HX 375 can deliver strong performance in a premium portable Windows system; it does not prove it leads across laptop classes, power settings, operating systems, or processors released later (Tom’s Hardware HP OmniBook Ultra review).
The same review found a substantial battery-life advantage for the Snapdragon-based XPS 13 in its test. That is a comparison between complete laptops, not processors in isolation: battery capacity, display, firmware, power mode, and workload all affect runtime. The HX 375 is a credible choice when strong x86 CPU performance matters in a portable design, but its processor badge does not guarantee the longest battery life.
Rank #2
- The world's best gaming desktop processor that can deliver ultra-fast 100+ FPS performance in the world's most popular games
- 12 Cores and 24 processing threads, based on AMD "Zen 5" architecture
- 5.6 GHz Max Boost, unlocked for overclocking, 76 MB cache, DDR5-5600 support
- For the state-of-the-art Socket AM5 platform, can support PCIe 5.0 on select motherboards
- Cooler not included
How the HX 375 compares with newer processors
By the August 16, 2026 comparison point, newer chips had widened the field. PassMark’s live laptop list places the Ryzen AI Max+ 395, Ryzen AI 9 HX 470, and Intel Core Ultra X9 388H above the HX 375 in aggregate CPU performance. Notebookcheck’s mobile-processor list also records substantially higher multicore results for the Ryzen AI Max+ 395. These databases combine submissions or results from different systems, so they are directional evidence, not controlled same-laptop tests (PassMark laptop CPU list; Notebookcheck mobile-processor benchmark list).
| Alternative | What the available evidence supports | What to verify in the laptop |
|---|---|---|
| Ryzen AI Max+ 395 | PassMark places it substantially above the HX 375 in aggregate laptop CPU performance; Notebookcheck lists much higher multicore results. | Power and cooling, memory capacity and bandwidth, size, and price. The aggregate comparison is not a same-system test. |
| Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 | It is a newer AMD processor generation; PassMark’s laptop list places it above the HX 375. | Exact configuration and power limit, plus the complete laptop’s cooling, battery, memory, and price. |
| Intel Core Ultra X9 388H | PassMark’s list places it above the HX 375; Tom’s Guide tested it against newer AMD chips as a 2026 competitor. | Results for the specific laptop, including sustained power, cooling, battery, and software needs. |
| Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme | Qualcomm publishes NPU and platform claims for newer Snapdragon systems; these are vendor claims, not a neutral universal ranking. | Application compatibility, native support versus emulation, battery behavior, and the exact workload. |
| Apple M5 | The available material here does not establish a directly comparable HX 375-versus-M5 laptop result. | Compare the exact applications and systems you would use, including whether macOS is suitable. |
Sources: PassMark laptop CPU list; Notebookcheck mobile-processor list; AMD Ryzen AI 470 competitive material; AMD Ryzen AI 400 product deck; Tom’s Guide Core Ultra X9 388H testing; Qualcomm Snapdragon AI information. AMD’s comparison material is vendor-produced, and Qualcomm’s performance statements should likewise be read as vendor claims rather than independent rankings.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteThe Ryzen AI Max+ 395 is a more relevant direction if multicore throughput or powerful integrated graphics outranks thinness; the aggregate results do not establish how every Max+ laptop compares. The HX 470 is the newer AMD option to investigate when choosing a current system, but a newer chip is not automatically a better purchase if its laptop has worse cooling, battery, display, or value. The Intel X9 388H belongs on a premium-Windows shortlist, while Snapdragon X2 is most compelling to buyers whose software is compatible and who value its platform’s efficiency. No one processor wins every workload.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where the HX 375 makes sense—and where it does not
Good fit for portable general work
- Office multitasking, many browser tabs, and mixed productivity workloads.
- Software development and compilation where conventional Windows x86 compatibility matters.
- Photo editing and light-to-moderate video work, subject to the chosen applications and laptop configuration.
- Supported NPU features and integrated-graphics gaming at sensible settings.
The Radeon 890M makes the HX 375 more capable than a CPU-only comparison suggests for users who do not need a discrete GPU. It still uses system memory and is not equivalent to a high-end gaming GPU or a universal local-AI accelerator; memory bandwidth and laptop power settings matter.
Look elsewhere for sustained or accelerator-heavy work
- Large local language models that need more memory or GPU acceleration.
- Stable Diffusion and other GPU-heavy image-generation workloads, or tools that require CUDA.
- Heavy 3D rendering and long-duration multicore jobs where a higher-power processor can sustain more performance.
- Gaming where a powerful discrete GPU and its pairing with a high-power CPU determine the result.
- Maximum battery life, if a competing complete system performs better in the tests that match your usage.
- macOS-specific software or an Apple-centered workflow.
How to choose the laptop, not just the processor
Before paying for an HX 375 system—or comparing it with a newer chip—check the complete configuration. These factors can change the result more than the processor name:
- Cooling and power profile: A processor configured near the low end of its 15–54 W range is not equivalent in sustained workloads to one allowed more power with adequate cooling.
- Memory: Check capacity, speed, whether it is soldered, and whether it can be upgraded. Memory capacity can be decisive for local models; bandwidth also affects integrated graphics.
- GPU and software: Confirm whether the application uses the NPU, integrated GPU, or a discrete GPU, and whether its required drivers or framework support that hardware.
- Battery and display: Battery size, screen resolution, refresh rate, panel type, firmware, and Windows power mode can all affect runtime.
- Compatibility: Snapdragon Windows laptops use Arm processors. Some x86 applications can run through emulation, but drivers, plug-ins, games and anti-cheat systems, virtualization, and development tools may have limitations. AMD x86 systems are generally the safer choice when traditional Windows compatibility is a priority.
- Price and region: Availability and street prices change. Tom’s Hardware listed a $1,748.99 reviewed HP OmniBook Ultra configuration and a $1,399.99 starting price for the product line at review time; these are historical U.S. review figures, not guaranteed current prices (Tom’s Hardware HP OmniBook Ultra review).
Which processor should you shortlist?
- HX 375: Consider it for a premium portable Windows x86 laptop with strong CPU capability, integrated graphics, and supported NPU features—especially if the complete laptop is good value.
- HX 370: Consider it when an otherwise suitable system costs less; the listed CPU and graphics specifications are the same, and its NPU rating is 50 rather than 55 TOPS.
- Ryzen AI Max+ 395: Investigate it when multicore performance and stronger integrated graphics matter more than an ultrabook form factor.
- Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 or Intel Core Ultra X9 388H: Compare newer premium systems on measured performance, cooling, battery, memory, and price—not chip generation alone.
- Snapdragon X2: Consider it when the applications you need are confirmed to work well and battery, heat, or quiet operation is a priority.
- Discrete-GPU laptop: Choose this direction for demanding local generative AI, CUDA-dependent software, or GPU-heavy creative work; check VRAM and application support.
The practical verdict is workload-specific: the HX 375 was highly competitive in its original thin-and-light class, but its 55-TOPS NPU does not make it the fastest AI processor by default, and the available 2026 comparisons do not support calling it the fastest laptop CPU overall.
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