CPU Comparison
Apple M2 vs Intel Core Ultra 5 325
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
Gaming
Virtualization
Efficiency
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
- 47 TOPS NPU supports Windows Studio Effects and on‑device inference
- 40 TOPS GPU AI compute complements NPU for hybrid workloads
- Total CPU+GPU+NPU TOPS competitive for mainstream thin‑and‑light AI PCs
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
- 4‑core Xe3 iGPU suitable for 1080p low/medium in many titles
- Much faster than older 11th‑gen Xe but slower than 8‑core Xe or Arc B‑series iGPUs
- Best for light and casual gaming rather than high‑refresh or high‑detail AAA
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
- Strong single‑thread and responsiveness for everyday tasks
- Meaningful AI compute with 47 TOPS NPU and 40 TOPS GPU
- Good efficiency on Intel 18A at 25 W base power
- Capable 4‑core Xe3 iGPU with AV1 and modern display outputs
- 12 MB Smart Cache improves gaming and threaded workloads
- Supports DDR5‑6400 and LPDDR5X‑7467 with up to 128 GB RAM
Cons
- Only 8 threads with no SMT; weaker in heavily threaded workloads than higher‑core SKUs
- Locked multiplier limits overclocking headroom
- 12 PCIe lanes may constrain expansion in some designs
- Only four P‑cores; not ideal for sustained all‑core workloads compared to 6+ core rivals
- OEM‑dependent GPU branding (Intel Graphics vs Arc) can be confusing
Competitors & Alternatives
Apple M2
- AMD Ryzen 7 6800URival
Ultrabook
- Intel 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 5 325
- AMD Ryzen AI 7 350Rival
Mainstream Mobile AI APU
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core Ultra 5 332Rival
Mainstream Mobile / Thin-and-Light
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core Ultra 7 355Rival
Mainstream Mobile / Premium Thin-and-Light
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core Ultra 5 322Rival
Entry-Level Mobile / Value
- AMD Ryzen 7 8840URival
Thin-and-Light Mobile
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125HAlt
Older Meteor Lake part with 14 cores/18 threads; more threaded performance but lower efficiency and weaker NPU/GPU AI features.
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 mainstream mobile SoC that delivers meaningful CPU and NPU upgrades over prior Ultra 5 generations, with good efficiency and capable integrated graphics—best for users who want AI features and balanced performance in a thin laptop rather than outright compute headroom.
Best for: Thin‑and‑light AI PC where you want strong efficiency, modern AI features, and better integrated graphics than older Ultra 5 chips, but don’t need the extra cores or GPU power of Core Ultra 7 or X7 SKUs.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Apple M2 or Intel Core Ultra 5 325?
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 uses less power?
The Intel Core Ultra 5 325 has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Intel Core Ultra 5 325 (25 W).
Do Apple M2 and Intel Core Ultra 5 325 use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Apple M2: On‑Package (BGA), Intel Core Ultra 5 325: FCBGA2540), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
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.