CPU Comparison
Apple M4 vs Core i7-1355U
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.
Flawless performance for office suites, heavy browsing, and video calls.
Gaming
Handles esports titles and older games at 1080p medium settings reasonably well.
Virtualization
Can run lightweight VMs, but limited by 15W thermal envelope.
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.
Excellent idle power consumption and efficient multi-core scaling.
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.
- Uses CPU and integrated GPU for AI tasks
- Supports OpenVINO for optimized inference
- Suitable for background blur and noise cancellation
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.
- Capable of 60fps in games like CS:GO and League of Legends
- Struggles with modern AAA titles
- Shares system memory, so DDR5 improves frame rates
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
- Strong 5.0 GHz single-core burst
- Excellent power efficiency
- Iris Xe 96EU graphics
- Modern DDR5 and PCIe 4.0 support
- Great value for ultrabook performance
Cons
- Not unlocked
- Limited to 8 PCIe lanes from CPU
- Soldered to motherboard
- Throttles under sustained multi-core loads
- Only 2 P-cores limits heavy multitasking
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 i7-1355U
- AMD Ryzen 7 7730URival
Mobile
- AMD Ryzen 5 7530URival
Mobile
- Intel Core i7-1365URival
Mobile
- Compare head-to-headApple M2Rival
Mobile
- Intel Core i5-1345URival
Mobile
- Intel Core i5-1335UAlt
A more affordable option with slightly lower clocks but similar architecture.
- AMD Ryzen 7 7735UAlt
Better raw multi-core performance and efficiency in the same TDP class.
- Apple M1 AirAlt
Offers unmatched fanless efficiency and battery life for basic productivity.
Newer Meteor Lake chip with better idle battery life and integrated AI.
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 reviewAn excellent mobile CPU that hits the sweet spot between price and performance for everyday ultrabook users.
Best for: Buying a mid-range premium ultrabook for school or office work
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Apple M4 or Core i7-1355U?
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 i7-1355U?
For gaming, the Core i7-1355U leads with a gaming performance score of 65/100 among Apple M4 and Core i7-1355U.
Which uses less power?
The Core i7-1355U has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Core i7-1355U (15 W).