CPU Comparison
Apple M2 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
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.
Handles everyday office tasks and multitasking smoothly without overheating.
Gaming
Solid for 1080p and many 1440p titles at medium–high settings; not intended for high‑refresh 4K gaming or heavy ray tracing.
Only suitable for very light or older games. Not recommended for modern AAA gaming.
Virtualization
Capable of light VM/container use, but limited to 8 threads and not aimed at heavy server workloads.
Can run basic VMs, but the 2 P-cores limit heavy virtualization performance.
Efficiency
Outstanding performance per watt; typically around 20 W CPU package power under multi‑threaded load, far below comparable x86 ultrabook chips.
Excellent efficiency with a 15W TDP, ensuring long battery life for ultraportables.
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
- 11 TOPS NPU is suitable for background blur and noise cancellation
- Does not meet Copilot+ PC requirements
- Handles lightweight inference 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
- 64 EU graphics are adequate for 2D and indie games
- Can run older AAA titles at 720p low settings
- Not designed for gaming enthusiasts
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 15W power efficiency
- Good multitasking for everyday apps
- Quiet and cool operation
- Includes 2 LP E-cores for background tasks
- Hardware media acceleration
Cons
- Limited to 2 P-cores for heavy lifting
- Only 64 EU graphics
- 11 TOPS NPU is relatively weak
- No PCIe 5.0 support
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 Ultra 5 125U
- AMD Ryzen 5 8640URival
Mobile
- AMD Ryzen 7 8840URival
Mobile
- Intel Core Ultra 7 155URival
Mobile
- Qualcomm Snapdragon X PlusRival
Mobile
- Compare head-to-headApple M2Rival
Mobile
- Core Ultra 5 125HAlt
A better alternative if you need more CPU and graphics performance.
An even more power-efficient option for ultra-thin laptops.
Compare head-to-head- Snapdragon X PlusAlt
An ARM-based alternative offering exceptional battery life.
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, efficient processor for everyday ultrabooks, offering good multitasking capabilities and decent battery life, though its NPU is modest.
Best for: Everyday ultrabook for office work and student use
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Apple M2 or Intel Core Ultra 5 125U?
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 Intel Core Ultra 5 125U?
For gaming, the Apple M2 leads with a gaming performance score of 78/100 among Apple M2 and Intel Core Ultra 5 125U.
Which uses less power?
The Intel Core Ultra 5 125U has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Intel Core Ultra 5 125U (15 W).
Do Apple M2 and Intel Core Ultra 5 125U use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Apple M2: On‑Package (BGA), Intel Core Ultra 5 125U: Intel BGA 2049), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
Which has more cores?
The Intel Core Ultra 5 125U has the most cores. Core counts: Apple M2 (8 cores), Intel Core Ultra 5 125U (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), Intel Core Ultra 5 125U (0). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.