CPU Comparison
Apple M2 vs Intel Core i3-1315UE
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 applications, web browsing, and light multitasking smoothly. Stumbles with heavy spreadsheet calculations or large document processing.
Gaming
Solid for 1080p and many 1440p titles at medium–high settings; not intended for high‑refresh 4K gaming or heavy ray tracing.
Not designed for gaming. The UHD 64EU can handle very light e-sports titles at low settings but modern AAA games are unplayable.
Virtualization
Capable of light VM/container use, but limited to 8 threads and not aimed at heavy server workloads.
Limited by 6 cores and 15W TDP. Can run a single lightweight VM but not suitable for serious virtualization work.
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 for its performance class. The hybrid design allows E-Cores to handle background tasks at minimal power draw.
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
- No dedicated NPU or AI acceleration hardware
- CPU-based inference is slow due to low power budget
- Not suitable for running local AI models
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
- UHD Graphics 64EU is not a gaming GPU
- Can manage older 2D games and very light e-sports at 720p low
- No dedicated VRAM limits texture quality severely
- Modern games will experience severe bottlenecking
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
- Hybrid architecture brings better multi-threading to entry-level mobile
- Very low 15W base power for thin chassis designs
- Supports modern LPDDR5-6400 memory
- PCIe 4.0 support for faster NVMe storage
- Capable UHD Graphics 64EU for a 15W chip
Cons
- Very low 1.2 GHz base clock leads to sluggishness at sustained loads
- Only 8 PCIe lanes directly from the CPU
- No overclocking support
- Not suitable for gaming or content creation
- BGA package means no upgrade path
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 i3-1315UE
- AMD Ryzen 5 7530URival
Mobile
- AMD Ryzen 3 7320URival
Mobile
- Apple M2 (base)Rival
Mobile
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500URival
Mobile
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3Rival
Mobile
- Intel Core i5-1335UAlt
Significantly more P-Cores (4 vs 2) for better sustained performance with similar power characteristics.
- Intel Core i3-1215UEAlt
Nearly identical performance at potentially lower cost if found in a discounted laptop.
- Alt
Dramatically better efficiency and GPU performance in a similar power class.
Compare head-to-head - AMD Ryzen 3 7330UAlt
Competitive efficiency with RDNA 2 integrated graphics for light gaming.
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 capable low-power hybrid processor that brings Intel's P-Core and E-Core design to the entry-level mobile segment, though its 15W base power envelope limits sustained performance under heavy workloads.
Best for: Purchasing a pre-built thin-and-light laptop where this CPU is included by the OEM.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Apple M2 or Intel Core i3-1315UE?
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 i3-1315UE?
For gaming, the Apple M2 leads with a gaming performance score of 78/100 among Apple M2 and Intel Core i3-1315UE.
Which uses less power?
The Intel Core i3-1315UE has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Intel Core i3-1315UE (15 W).
Do Apple M2 and Intel Core i3-1315UE use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Apple M2: On‑Package (BGA), Intel Core i3-1315UE: BGA 1744), 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 i3-1315UE (6 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). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.