CPU Comparison
Apple M2 vs Core 7 150U
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.
Handles office suites and web applications with ease,得益于 the efficient core layout.
Gaming
Solid for 1080p and many 1440p titles at medium–high settings; not intended for high‑refresh 4K gaming or heavy ray tracing.
Virtualization
Capable of light VM/container use, but limited to 8 threads and not aimed at heavy server workloads.
Efficiency
Outstanding performance per watt; typically around 20 W CPU package power under multi‑threaded load, far below comparable x86 ultrabook chips.
Very competitive power efficiency within the 15W TDP limit.
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
- Lacks a dedicated NPU (Neural Processing Unit).
- Relies on CPU and GPU for AI inference tasks.
- Gaussian NPU acceleration is not present on this silicon.
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 graphics are suitable for esports titles like League of Legends.
- AAA titles will require low settings and 720p resolution.
- Performance heavily dependent on dual-channel memory configuration.
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
- Excellent efficiency for battery life
- Strong single-core burst performance
- 10 cores provide smooth multitasking
- Support for fast DDR5/LPDDR5 memory
- Mature and reliable Intel 7 process node
Cons
- No dedicated Neural Processing Unit (NPU)
- Integrated graphics are limited compared to modern Arc iGPUs
- Performance heavily throttles under sustained loads
- BGA socket means it cannot be upgraded
- Multimedia performance lags behind H-series 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
Core 7 150U
- AMD Ryzen 7 7840URival
Mobile
- AMD Ryzen 7 8840URival
Mobile
- Compare head-to-headApple M2Rival
Mobile
- Intel Core Ultra 7 155HRival
Mobile
- Qualcomm Snapdragon X EliteRival
Mobile
Lower cost option for basic tasks.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 7640UAlt
Better integrated graphics for casual gaming.
Includes NPU and Arc graphics for modern AI workloads.
Compare head-to-head- Apple MacBook Air M3Alt
Superior battery life and efficiency.
- Intel Core i7-1355UAlt
Nearly identical performance at a potentially lower price.
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 reviewA solid incremental update over previous generations, offering excellent multi-core efficiency for a 15W chip, though it lacks the AI capabilities of the newer Core Ultra series.
Best for: Buying a thin-and-light laptop for work or study in 2024.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Apple M2 or Core 7 150U?
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 Core 7 150U?
For gaming, the Apple M2 leads with a gaming performance score of 78/100 among Apple M2 and Core 7 150U.
Which uses less power?
The Core 7 150U has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Core 7 150U (15 W).
Do Apple M2 and Core 7 150U use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Apple M2: On‑Package (BGA), Core 7 150U: Intel BGA 1744), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
Which has more cores?
The Core 7 150U has the most cores. Core counts: Apple M2 (8 cores), Core 7 150U (10 cores).
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Core 7 150U posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Apple M2 (9,800), Core 7 150U (11,500). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.