CPU Comparison
Apple M4 vs Core i5-13505H
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. Apple M4 is an ARM-based system-on-chip built on TSMC’s second-generation 3nm process, pairing up to 10 CPU cores (4 performance + 6 efficiency) with up to a 10-core GPU, a 16-core Neural Engine, and a new display engine. It introduces hardware-accelerated ray tracing and mesh shading to iPad and Mac, and adds AV1 decode in the media engine, targeting high-performance, power-efficient workloads across tablets, laptops, and desktops.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Very fast single-thread performance and strong multi-core scaling within its power envelope, suitable for demanding productivity workloads on macOS and iPadOS.
Excellent for heavy Excel, large databases, and corporate software.
Gaming
Not targeted at gaming, but Iris Xe handles light titles adequately.
Virtualization
vPro and 16 threads make it great for secure corporate VMs.
Efficiency
High performance-per-watt; Apple claims the same performance as M2 using roughly half the power in tested workloads, and M4 devices typically run cool and quiet.
45W TDP is standard for H-series, requiring decent cooling.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- 16-core Neural Engine delivers up to 38 TOPS for on-device AI.
- Next-generation ML accelerators are integrated into both performance and efficiency CPU cores.
- Hardware-accelerated AI features in OS and apps (e.g., Live Captions, subject isolation) benefit from the NPU and unified memory bandwidth.
- Combined GPU and NPU resources make M4 well suited for client-side inference and media AI workloads.
- Suitable for standard CPU-based AI inference.
- No dedicated NPU for AI acceleration.
Content Creation
Gaming
- The integrated GPU supports modern features like hardware ray tracing and mesh shading.
- On macOS, gaming performance is constrained by title availability and reliance on translation/emulation layers.
- Playability in AAA titles at 1080p is generally limited to low or medium settings on the base M4.
- M4 iPad Pro focuses more on high-end creative and pro apps than AAA gaming libraries.
- Iris Xe 80EU can run older or e-sports titles at low settings.
- Not intended for AAA gaming without a discrete GPU.
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- Industry-leading performance-per-watt in thin-and-light devices.
- Strong single-core performance and fast responsiveness.
- 16-core Neural Engine with high TOPS for on-device AI.
- Hardware-accelerated ray tracing and mesh shading in the GPU.
- Media engine with AV1 decode for efficient streaming.
- Thunderbolt 4/USB 4 and high-bandwidth unified memory on Mac implementations.
- Fanless implementations (e.g., iPad Pro) stay cool and quiet under typical use.
Cons
- Apple does not publish clock speeds, TDP, or detailed cache specs.
- Unified memory is not expandable beyond the configured capacity at purchase.
- No traditional socket or user-accessible PCIe lanes for add-in cards.
- Gaming on macOS remains constrained by software compatibility.
- Some configurations implement fewer CPU or GPU cores (e.g., 8- or 9-core CPU variants).
Pros
- Includes Intel vPro for enterprise management
- Strong 12-core, 16-thread performance
- Good single-threaded speed for office apps
- Supports fast DDR5 memory
Cons
- Lower clock speeds than the 13600H
- 45W TDP limits use in ultra-thin laptops
- Overkill for basic office tasks
- Premium pricing due to vPro licensing
Competitors & Alternatives
Apple M4
- Compare head-to-headApple M3Rival
SoC
- Compare head-to-headApple M4 ProRival
SoC
- Qualcomm Snapdragon X EliteRival
SoC
- AMD Ryzen AI 9 365Rival
Mobile CPU
- Intel Core Ultra 7 155HRival
Mobile CPU
Core i5-13505H
- AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 7640HSRival
Mobile
- AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 7735URival
Mobile
- Intel Core i7-1365URival
Mobile
- Intel Core i5-1345URival
Mobile
- Compare head-to-headApple M2Rival
Mobile
Similar performance without vPro for consumer laptops.
Compare head-to-head- Ryzen 5 PRO 7640HSAlt
AMD equivalent with enterprise features.
Lower TDP for better battery life in office laptops.
Compare head-to-headBetter efficiency for standard business use.
Compare head-to-headMuch lower power consumption for basic tasks.
Compare head-to-head
Our Verdict on Each
The M4 raises the bar for efficiency and single-thread performance while delivering stronger multi-core scaling and a much more capable Neural Engine. It is an excellent fit for iPad Pro and Mac users who want fast, cool, and quiet operation, but platform constraints on some devices and the absence of expandable memory/PCIe remain trade-offs.
Best for: Buying an iPad Pro for creative pro workflows, or a compact Mac (Mac mini/iMac) for efficient everyday performance and light-to-medium content creation.
Read the full reviewA solid 12-core mobile CPU offering excellent enterprise features via vPro, ideal for corporate fleets requiring remote management.
Best for: Business laptops for professionals needing remote IT management.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Apple M4 or Core i5-13505H?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Apple M4 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 M4 or Core i5-13505H?
For gaming, the Core i5-13505H leads with a gaming performance score of 70/100 among Apple M4 and Core i5-13505H.
Which uses less power?
The Core i5-13505H has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Core i5-13505H (45 W).
Which has more cores?
The Core i5-13505H has the most cores. Core counts: Apple M4 (10 cores), Core i5-13505H (12 cores).
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Core i5-13505H posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Apple M4 (0), Core i5-13505H (16,000). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.