CPU Comparison
Apple M3 Pro vs Intel Core Ultra 9 288V
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Apple M3 Pro is a 3 nm ARM-based system-on-chip with an 11- or 12-core CPU and 14- or 18-core integrated GPU, designed for professional MacBook Pro workflows that demand strong single-threaded performance, hardware-accelerated ray tracing, and high efficiency rather than maximum multi-core throughput.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Excellent single-core and good multi-core performance for typical pro apps, with snappy responsiveness and very good efficiency.
Excellent single-core performance for office tasks and web apps.
Gaming
Strong 1080p and capable 1440p gaming with good efficiency; GPU core and bandwidth cuts versus M2 Pro mean some titles may not scale as well at higher resolutions.
Arc 140V is a massive leap, allowing 1080p gaming in thin-and-lights.
Virtualization
Capable for light VMs, but memory bandwidth and core count are lower than M2 Pro/M3 Max, which can matter for heavy multi-VM workloads.
Limited by 8 threads and 32GB max memory, but capable of light VMs.
Efficiency
Among the most efficient Pro-class SoCs Apple has shipped; does more CPU work per watt than earlier Pro chips.
Industry-leading performance-per-watt for x86 laptops.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- 16-core Neural Engine up to ~18 TOPS
- Good for on-device inference and Core ML workloads
- Not designed for training large models; GPU-focused workloads may favor M3 Max
- 48 TOPS NPU enables Copilot+ PC features like Recall
- Can run small LLMs locally
- NPU offloads CPU/GPU for better battery during AI tasks
Content Creation
Gaming
- Hardware ray tracing improves lighting and reflections in supported titles
- Strong 1080p and 1440p performance with Metal-optimized games
- Some GPU benchmarks show regressions vs M2 Pro due to fewer cores and lower bandwidth
- Arc 140V iGPU can play modern titles at 1080p Low/Medium
- Massive improvement over previous Intel iGPUs
- Not a replacement for discrete laptop GPUs
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- Strong single-core performance and responsive day-to-day feel
- Excellent efficiency and battery life under pro workloads
- Hardware-accelerated ray tracing and mesh shading on Mac for the first time
- Unified memory architecture simplifies development and memory management
- Very quiet and cool operation in typical MacBook Pro configs
Cons
- 25% lower memory bandwidth than M1/M2 Pro (150 vs 200 GB/s)
- Some M3 Pro variants have fewer GPU cores than equivalent M2 Pro models
- Modest multi-core CPU gains over M2 Pro in many benchmarks
- No user-upgradable RAM or internal PCIe slots; fully soldered SoC
- Platform is now discontinued in favor of M4 Pro
Pros
- Exceptional power efficiency
- 32GB RAM integrated on package
- 48 TOPS NPU for Copilot+ AI
- Powerful Arc 140V integrated graphics
- Silent operation in slim chassis
Cons
- Memory is non-upgradable (soldered to CPU)
- Only 8 threads limits heavy multi-threading
- Expensive, only found in premium laptops
- Low PCIe lane count for expansion
Competitors & Alternatives
Apple M3 Pro
- Intel Core Ultra 7 155HRival
Pro mobile / x86
- AMD Ryzen 7 7840HSRival
Pro mobile / x86
- AMD Ryzen 7 7840URival
Thin-and-light mobile / x86
- Compare head-to-headApple M2 ProRival
Pro mobile / Apple silicon
- Compare head-to-headApple M3Rival
Mainstream mobile / Apple silicon
- Apple M2 Pro MacBook ProAlt
Better GPU core count and memory bandwidth if you don’t need ray tracing or the latest efficiency.
- Apple M3 MacBook ProAlt
Cheaper entry point if you don’t need the extra CPU/GPU headroom of the Pro chip.
- Intel Core Ultra 7 155H laptopAlt
Better if you need x86 Windows compatibility or more PCIe lanes for external GPUs.
- AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS mini PCAlt
More flexible if you want a small-form-factor Windows/Linux box with strong iGPU performance.
- Apple M3 Max MacBook ProAlt
Worth considering if you need significantly more GPU performance, memory bandwidth, or up to 128 GB unified memory.
Intel Core Ultra 9 288V
- AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370Rival
Mobile
- Qualcomm Snapdragon X EliteRival
Mobile
- Compare head-to-headApple M3Rival
Mobile
- Alt
Best alternative if you are open to macOS for premium ultrabooks.
Compare head-to-head - Intel Core Ultra 7 258VAlt
Slightly lower clocked Lunar Lake chip for a better price.
Meteor Lake alternative if you need more cores and discrete GPU.
Compare head-to-head
Our Verdict on Each
M3 Pro is an excellent, efficient chip for most pro workloads, especially if you’re upgrading from Intel or M1, but the step sideways in GPU cores and memory bandwidth versus M2 Pro makes the upgrade from M2 Pro less compelling for some users.
Best for: Upgrading from Intel or M1 MacBook Pro to a modern, efficient Pro laptop for coding, creative work, and general pro use.
Read the full reviewAn engineering marvel that combines memory, CPU, GPU, and NPU into a highly efficient package, redefining laptop battery life and AI capabilities.
Best for: Buying a premium ultrabook for all-day battery life and AI features.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Apple M3 Pro or Intel Core Ultra 9 288V?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core Ultra 9 288V comes out ahead with a score of 9.2/10. 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 M3 Pro or Intel Core Ultra 9 288V?
For gaming, the Intel Core Ultra 9 288V leads with a gaming performance score of 85/100 among Apple M3 Pro and Intel Core Ultra 9 288V.
Which uses less power?
The Intel Core Ultra 9 288V has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Intel Core Ultra 9 288V (30 W).
Do Apple M3 Pro and Intel Core Ultra 9 288V use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Apple M3 Pro: On-package (BGA), Intel Core Ultra 9 288V: BGA 2833), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
Which has more cores?
The Apple M3 Pro has the most cores. Core counts: Apple M3 Pro (12 cores), Intel Core Ultra 9 288V (8 cores).
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Core Ultra 9 288V posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Apple M3 Pro (14,500), Intel Core Ultra 9 288V (15,000). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.