CPU Comparison
Apple M2 vs Core i5-11400H
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.
Easily handles heavy multitasking and office applications.
Gaming
Solid for 1080p and many 1440p titles at medium–high settings; not intended for high‑refresh 4K gaming or heavy ray tracing.
Excellent 1080p gaming performance when paired with mid-range GPUs.
Virtualization
Capable of light VM/container use, but limited to 8 threads and not aimed at heavy server workloads.
Capable of running light virtual machines efficiently.
Efficiency
Outstanding performance per watt; typically around 20 W CPU package power under multi‑threaded load, far below comparable x86 ultrabook chips.
Strong efficiency metrics due to the 10nm SuperFin node.
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
- AVX-512 support for AI workloads
- GNA 2.0 for background noise cancellation
- No dedicated NPU
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
- Ideal for RTX 3060 / RX 6600M tier laptops
- Strong single-core boost speeds
- Handles modern AAA titles 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
- Strong single-core performance
- 6 cores and 12 threads
- PCIe 4.0 support
- Good power efficiency
Cons
- Locked multiplier
- Soldered to motherboard
- Only supports DDR4 (no DDR5)
- Basic integrated graphics
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 i5-11400H
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600HRival
Mobile
- AMD Ryzen 7 5800HRival
Mobile
- Intel Core i5-11260HRival
Mobile
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i7-11800HRival
Mobile
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600XRival
Desktop
- Intel Core i5-11500HAlt
Offers higher clocks and better integrated graphics (UHD 750).
Better single-core performance for older games.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 7 5700UAlt
Lower power alternative for thin-and-light laptops.
A newer 12th Gen alternative with better multi-core performance.
Compare head-to-head
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 highly balanced 6-core mobile CPU offering excellent mid-range performance for gaming and productivity.
Best for: If you are shopping for a mid-range gaming laptop from the 2021-2022 era, the Intel Core i5-11400H remains a highly viable option. It provides excellent value, delivering 6-core performance that easily handles modern games when paired with a mid-tier GPU like an RTX 3050 Ti or RTX 3060. For students and casual content creators, this processor offers more than enough power for 1080p video editing and coding. However, if you are buying new today, you might find better efficiency and multi-threaded performance in newer Ryzen 6000 or 13th-gen Intel chips. When considering a laptop with the 11400H, prioritize models with robust cooling, as thermal throttling can limit its boost clocks. Overall, for budget buyers who don't need the absolute latest architecture, it remains a solid, cost-effective choice for everyday computing and gaming.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Apple M2 or Core i5-11400H?
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 uses less power?
The Core i5-11400H has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Core i5-11400H (35 W).
Do Apple M2 and Core i5-11400H use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Apple M2: On‑Package (BGA), Core i5-11400H: Intel BGA 1787), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
Which has more cores?
The Apple M2 has the most cores. Core counts: Apple M2 (8 cores), Core i5-11400H (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.