CPU Comparison
Apple M2 vs Core i7-1185G7
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.
Excellent single-core performance makes everyday tasks and moderate multitasking extremely responsive.
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 e-sports titles and older games at 1080p, but struggles with AAA titles at high settings.
Virtualization
Capable of light VM/container use, but limited to 8 threads and not aimed at heavy server workloads.
Adequate for light virtualization, but 4 cores limit running multiple heavy VMs.
Efficiency
Outstanding performance per watt; typically around 20 W CPU package power under multi‑threaded load, far below comparable x86 ultrabook chips.
10nm process provides excellent performance per watt for ultrabook form factors.
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
- Features DLBoost for AI inference
- Suitable for light edge AI tasks
- 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
- Iris Xe 96EU is a major upgrade
- Dependent on system memory configuration
- Not suitable for high-end gaming
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 single-thread performance
- Integrated Iris Xe 96EU graphics
- 10nm SuperFin efficiency
- PCIe 4.0 support
- vPro enterprise features
Cons
- Only 4 cores limits multi-threading
- End-of-life status
- Limited PCIe lanes (4x)
- Locked multiplier
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 i7-1185G7
- AMD Ryzen 7 5800URival
Mobile
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600URival
Mobile
- Compare head-to-headApple M1Rival
Mobile
- Intel Core i7-1165G7Rival
Mobile
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3Rival
Mobile
Better value for similar daily performance.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 5500UAlt
More cores for multi-threaded workloads.
Newer architecture with more cores.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 7 5825UAlt
Superior integrated graphics and cores.
- Alt
Better efficiency and single-thread speed.
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 capable 4-core mobile processor that brought significant single-thread and integrated graphics improvements to the ultrabook market.
Best for: Buying a used or refurbished premium ultrabook.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Apple M2 or Core i7-1185G7?
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 i7-1185G7?
For gaming, the Apple M2 leads with a gaming performance score of 78/100 among Apple M2 and Core i7-1185G7.
Which uses less power?
The Core i7-1185G7 has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Core i7-1185G7 (28 W).
Do Apple M2 and Core i7-1185G7 use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Apple M2: On‑Package (BGA), Core i7-1185G7: BGA 1449), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
Which has more cores?
The Apple M2 has the most cores. Core counts: Apple M2 (8 cores), Core i7-1185G7 (4 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 i7-1185G7 (6,800). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.