CPU Comparison
Apple M2 vs Core i5-1345U
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 for everyday office apps, web, and light coding.
Gaming
Solid for 1080p and many 1440p titles at medium–high settings; not intended for high‑refresh 4K gaming or heavy ray tracing.
Can run older or e-sports titles at low settings via Iris Xe, but not suited for modern AAA games.
Virtualization
Capable of light VM/container use, but limited to 8 threads and not aimed at heavy server workloads.
Can handle light VMs for development, but limited by memory and core allocation.
Efficiency
Outstanding performance per watt; typically around 20 W CPU package power under multi‑threaded load, far below comparable x86 ultrabook chips.
Outstanding power efficiency for all-day battery life in ultrabooks.
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
- Basic AI inferencing on CPU/GPU
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
- Depends heavily on RAM configuration
- Suitable for e-sports at 1080p
- Not a replacement for discrete GPU
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
- 10-core hybrid design
- Low 15W base power
- Iris Xe 80EU graphics
- DDR5 support
- Good single-core boost
Cons
- Limited sustained performance
- Not for gaming
- BGA socket limits upgrades
- Only 8 PCIe 4.0 lanes
- E-cores lack AVX-512
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 i5-1345U
- AMD Ryzen 5 7530URival
Mobile
- AMD Ryzen 5 7535URival
Mobile
- Compare head-to-headApple M2Rival
Mobile
- Intel Core i5-1335URival
Mobile
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3Rival
Mobile
- Intel Core i7-1355UAlt
Better graphics and higher clocks for slightly more money.
- AMD Ryzen 7 7730UAlt
Strong multi-core performance in the same power envelope.
- Apple MacBook Air M1Alt
Better efficiency and integrated graphics if not tied to Windows.
- AMD Ryzen 5 7640UAlt
Newer Zen 4 architecture with RDNA 3 graphics.
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 13th-gen mobile chip offering great battery life and enough burst speed for daily tasks, though not meant for heavy workloads.
Best for: Buying a thin-and-light laptop for school or office work.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Apple M2 or Core i5-1345U?
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 i5-1345U?
For gaming, the Apple M2 leads with a gaming performance score of 78/100 among Apple M2 and Core i5-1345U.
Which uses less power?
The Core i5-1345U has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Core i5-1345U (15 W).
Do Apple M2 and Core i5-1345U use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Apple M2: On‑Package (BGA), Core i5-1345U: Intel BGA 1744), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
Which has more cores?
The Core i5-1345U has the most cores. Core counts: Apple M2 (8 cores), Core i5-1345U (10 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), Core i5-1345U (9,600). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.