CPU Comparison
Apple M2 vs Intel Core Ultra 7 355
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
- Dedicated 50 TOPS NPU for efficient AI inference
- Accelerates Windows Studio Effects (background blur, eye contact)
- Supports local AI assistant and small model execution
- Not designed for training large AI models
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
- Dependent on integrated Xe3 Graphics (512 shading units)
- Suitable for e-sports (CS2, Valorant) and casual titles at 1080p
- Not intended for high-refresh-rate AAA gaming
- Ray tracing is not supported
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 performance per watt from 2nm process
- Strong integrated Xe3 graphics for an iGPU
- Dedicated NPU accelerates AI tasks efficiently
- Good single-core and multi-threaded responsiveness for everyday use
- Supports fast LPDDR5X memory for high bandwidth
- Configurable TDP suits various laptop designs
Cons
- Not intended for CPU-intensive gaming or heavy workloads
- Only 8 threads limit extreme multi-tasking capability
- Locked multiplier prevents enthusiast overclocking
- Soldered BGA socket means no CPU upgrades
- Limited PCIe lanes compared to desktop platforms
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 7 355
- AMD Ryzen AI 7 350Rival
Thin & Light Laptop
- Apple M5 (10-Core)Rival
Premium Laptop
- Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 EliteRival
Always-Connected PC
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core Ultra 7 365Rival
Thin & Light Laptop
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HRival
Thin & Light Laptop (Previous Gen)
- Intel Core Ultra 7 355HAlt
Higher-wattage 'H' variant with better sustained multi-core performance for creator laptops.
- Intel Core Ultra 5 325HAlt
Lower-cost option with similar architecture but fewer cores, suitable for less demanding tasks.
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 capable and efficient mobile processor with a strong feature set for its segment, including integrated Xe3 graphics and an NPU. Its 8-core design offers good multi-threaded responsiveness, though it's not intended for high-end gaming or extreme workstation loads.
Best for: Purchasing a premium thin-and-light laptop (e.g., Dell XPS 14, ASUS Zenbook) where you need strong everyday performance, light creator capability, and excellent battery life in a portable form factor.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Apple M2 or Intel Core Ultra 7 355?
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 7 355?
For gaming, the Apple M2 leads with a gaming performance score of 78/100 among Apple M2 and Intel Core Ultra 7 355.
Do Apple M2 and Intel Core Ultra 7 355 use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Apple M2: On‑Package (BGA), Intel Core Ultra 7 355: 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), Intel Core Ultra 7 355 (636). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.