CPU Comparison
Apple M2 vs Intel Core i5-1250P
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.
12 cores handle heavy multitasking, large spreadsheets, and application switching effortlessly.
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 esports titles and older games at 1080p using integrated graphics.
Virtualization
Capable of light VM/container use, but limited to 8 threads and not aimed at heavy server workloads.
Good for running a local VM or two for development purposes.
Efficiency
Outstanding performance per watt; typically around 20 W CPU package power under multi‑threaded load, far below comparable x86 ultrabook chips.
Excellent performance-per-watt, ensuring long battery life during mixed-use workloads.
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
- Suitable for basic edge AI tasks and background blur features.
- Lacks dedicated AI hardware acceleration.
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 handles older or low-demand titles well.
- Not suitable for modern AAA gaming without a discrete GPU.
- Hardware video decoding is excellent for media consumption.
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
- 12 cores and 16 threads in a 28W package
- Iris Xe 80EU graphics with high boost clock
- Excellent performance-per-watt
- Supports DDR5 and LPDDR5 memory
- Great for heavy multitasking
Cons
- Not unlocked for overclocking
- Soldered to the motherboard (BGA)
- Can throttle under sustained 100% load in poorly cooled chassis
- Integrated graphics still limited for serious gaming
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 i5-1250P
- AMD Ryzen 5 6600URival
Mobile
- AMD Ryzen 7 5800URival
Mobile
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i7-1260PRival
Mobile
- Compare head-to-headApple M2Rival
Mobile
- AMD Ryzen 5 5625URival
Mobile
Slightly cheaper with near-identical performance, just a lower iGPU clock.
Compare head-to-headBetter battery life for standard ultrabook use.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 7 6800UAlt
Superior integrated graphics performance.
More power and cores if laptop thickness isn't a concern.
Compare head-to-head- Alt
Better battery life and efficiency in the Apple ecosystem.
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 reviewAn excellent 28W processor that brings 12 cores and Iris Xe graphics to the thin-and-light category, balancing power and portability perfectly.
Best for: Buying a premium thin-and-light laptop for heavy productivity and light content creation.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is faster for gaming, Apple M2 or Intel Core i5-1250P?
For gaming, the Apple M2 leads with a gaming performance score of 78/100 among Apple M2 and Intel Core i5-1250P.
Which uses less power?
The Intel Core i5-1250P has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Intel Core i5-1250P (28 W).
Do Apple M2 and Intel Core i5-1250P use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Apple M2: On‑Package (BGA), Intel Core i5-1250P: Intel BGA 1744), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
Which has more cores?
The Intel Core i5-1250P has the most cores. Core counts: Apple M2 (8 cores), Intel Core i5-1250P (12 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.