CPU Comparison
Apple M2 vs Core i5-13500H
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.
Great for heavy multitasking and standard office workflows.
Gaming
Solid for 1080p and many 1440p titles at medium–high settings; not intended for high‑refresh 4K gaming or heavy ray tracing.
Handles modern games well, pairing perfectly with RTX 4050/4060 mobile GPUs.
Virtualization
Capable of light VM/container use, but limited to 8 threads and not aimed at heavy server workloads.
16 threads handle local development containers efficiently.
Efficiency
Outstanding performance per watt; typically around 20 W CPU package power under multi‑threaded load, far below comparable x86 ultrabook chips.
Standard 45W efficiency; battery life depends heavily on laptop tuning.
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 NPU; relies on CPU/GPU for AI tasks.
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
- High clock speeds prevent bottlenecking mid-range GPUs.
- Good cache size for esports titles.
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 price-to-performance ratio
- 12 cores and 16 threads handle multitasking well
- Supports fast DDR5 and LPDDR5 memory
- Good single-core boost for gaming
Cons
- 45W TDP requires active cooling
- Locked multiplier
- Only 8 PCIe 5.0 lanes
- Lower boost than the 13600H
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 i5-13500H
- AMD Ryzen 5 7640HSRival
Mobile
- AMD Ryzen 7 7735HSRival
Mobile
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i7-13700HRival
Mobile
- Intel Core i5-1340PRival
Mobile
- Compare head-to-headApple M2Rival
Mobile
Slightly higher clocks for a small price premium.
Compare head-to-head- Ryzen 5 7640HSAlt
Strong competitor with good integrated graphics.
Lower TDP for better battery life in thin laptops.
Compare head-to-head- Core i5-12500HAlt
Older but similar performance, often cheaper.
- Core i7-1260PAlt
Better efficiency for non-gaming workloads.
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 value-focused 45W mobile CPU that balances clock speeds and core counts for everyday gamers and creators.
Best for: Budget to mid-range gaming laptops around $800-$1100.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Apple M2 or Core i5-13500H?
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 i5-13500H?
For gaming, the Core i5-13500H leads with a gaming performance score of 84/100 among Apple M2 and Core i5-13500H.
Which uses less power?
The Core i5-13500H has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Core i5-13500H (45 W).
Do Apple M2 and Core i5-13500H use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Apple M2: On‑Package (BGA), Core i5-13500H: Intel BGA 1744), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
Which has more cores?
The Core i5-13500H has the most cores. Core counts: Apple M2 (8 cores), Core i5-13500H (12 cores).
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Core i5-13500H posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Apple M2 (9,800), Core i5-13500H (15,800). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.