CPU Comparison
Apple M2 vs Intel Core i5-1135G7 (IPU)
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Apple M2 is a second‑generation 5 nm ARM‑based system‑on‑chip for Macs, with an 8‑core CPU, up to a 10‑core GPU, 16‑core Neural Engine, and 100 GB/s unified memory bandwidth, designed for thin‑and‑light laptops and compact desktops.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Very strong single‑thread and good multi‑thread performance for everyday apps and light creator workloads.
Snappy performance for everyday office tasks and multitasking.
Gaming
Solid for 1080p and many 1440p titles at medium–high settings; not intended for high‑refresh 4K gaming or heavy ray tracing.
Capable of playing e-sports titles at 1080p thanks to Iris Xe graphics.
Virtualization
Capable of light VM/container use, but limited to 8 threads and not aimed at heavy server workloads.
Can handle light virtualization but is limited by 4 cores.
Efficiency
Outstanding performance per watt; typically around 20 W CPU package power under multi‑threaded load, far below comparable x86 ultrabook chips.
Excellent power efficiency, further enhanced by IPU offloading camera tasks.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- 16‑core Neural Engine at 15.8 TOPS
- Good for on‑device inference and Core ML workloads
- No large‑scale training focus; more for consumer features than datacenter AI
- DLBoost and GNA 2.0 provide solid AI acceleration.
- IPU 6.0 accelerates AI-based camera features.
Content Creation
Gaming
- Integrated 8–10 core GPU with up to 3.6 TFLOPS FP32
- Good for 1080p and some 1440p gaming at medium–high settings
- Limited by unified memory bandwidth and 8 CPU threads for CPU‑heavy titles
- Best experienced in macOS; Windows via virtualization or translation has overhead
- Iris Xe 80EU allows for smooth e-sports gaming.
- Performance scales heavily with dual-channel memory.
- Not suitable for modern AAA gaming at high settings.
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- Very strong single‑core performance for an ultrabook‑class chip
- Integrated 8–10 core GPU with up to 3.6 TFLOPS and hardware ProRes acceleration
- Unified memory architecture with 100 GB/s bandwidth simplifies development and avoids CPU–GPU copies
- 16‑core Neural Engine accelerates on‑device ML workloads
- Fanless designs in MacBook Air and very quiet operation under typical loads
Cons
- Not sold as a standalone CPU; only available inside Macs
- No user‑upgradable RAM or PCIe slots; I/O limited to what Apple provides
- Only 8 CPU threads; heavy multi‑threaded workloads are limited compared to higher‑core M2 Pro/Max or x86 chips
- CPU efficiency is slightly worse than M1 at maximum performance due to higher clocks and power
- Gaming performance is constrained by 8 threads and integrated GPU; not a gaming‑focused SoC
Pros
- IPU 6.0 saves CPU cycles during video calls
- Excellent single-core performance
- Iris Xe 80EU graphics
- Great power efficiency
- Supports fast LPDDR4X-4267 memory
Cons
- Only beneficial if the laptop uses a MIPI camera interface
- Limited to 4 cores
- Soldered onto the motherboard
- Replaced quickly by 12th Gen mobile chips
Competitors & Alternatives
Apple M2
- AMD Ryzen 7 6800URival
Ultrabook
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i7‑1260PRival
Ultrabook
- Intel Core i7‑1355URival
Ultrabook
- AMD Ryzen 7 7730URival
Ultrabook
- Compare head-to-headApple M1Rival
Ultrabook
- Alt
More CPU/GPU cores and higher memory bandwidth for heavier creator workloads.
Compare head-to-head - AMD Ryzen 7 7840UAlt
Stronger multi‑threaded performance and better x86 Windows compatibility in ultrabook form factors.
- Intel Core Ultra 7 155HAlt
Good balance of CPU and integrated GPU performance for Windows ultrabooks with NPU‑accelerated AI features.
- Alt
Newer architecture with higher performance and better efficiency if you are buying a new Mac in 2024+.
Compare head-to-head
Intel Core i5-1135G7 (IPU)
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600URival
Mobile
- Intel Core i7-1185G7Rival
Mobile
- AMD Ryzen 7 5800URival
Mobile
- Compare head-to-headApple M1Rival
Mobile
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-1130G7Rival
Mobile
Standard version offers the same performance if IPU isn't needed.
Compare head-to-head- Intel Core i7-1165G7Alt
Offers higher clock speeds and 96 EUs for better graphics.
- Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3Alt
ARM-based alternative for extreme battery life.
- AMD Ryzen 7 6800UAlt
Newer generation with RDNA2 graphics and 8 cores.
Our Verdict on Each
A very efficient, well‑balanced SoC that makes more sense inside a Mac than as a standalone chip; strong single‑core performance, capable integrated graphics, and excellent efficiency, but not a workstation‑class part.
Best for: You are buying a new or refurbished Mac laptop or desktop and want a significant step up from Intel‑based Macs or older M1 models, especially for single‑threaded tasks and GPU‑accelerated apps.
Read the full reviewAn excellent ultrabook chip that offloads camera processing to dedicated hardware, saving battery life during long video calls.
Best for: Buying a premium business laptop where video call quality is paramount.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Apple M2 or Intel Core i5-1135G7 (IPU)?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Apple M2 comes out ahead with a score of 8.8/10. That said, the best choice depends on your workload — check the spec and performance breakdown above for gaming, productivity and efficiency differences.
Which is faster for gaming, Apple M2 or Intel Core i5-1135G7 (IPU)?
For gaming, the Apple M2 leads with a gaming performance score of 78/100 among Apple M2 and Intel Core i5-1135G7 (IPU).
Which uses less power?
The Intel Core i5-1135G7 (IPU) has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Intel Core i5-1135G7 (IPU) (15 W).
Do Apple M2 and Intel Core i5-1135G7 (IPU) use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Apple M2: On‑Package (BGA), Intel Core i5-1135G7 (IPU): Intel BGA 1449), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
Which has more cores?
The Apple M2 has the most cores. Core counts: Apple M2 (8 cores), Intel Core i5-1135G7 (IPU) (4 cores).
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Apple M2 posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Apple M2 (9,800), Intel Core i5-1135G7 (IPU) (0). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.