CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-10210U vs Intel Core i5-1038NG7
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-10210U is a quad-core mobile processor from Intel's 10th Generation Comet Lake lineup, designed primarily for thin-and-light laptops. Operating with a base frequency of 1.6 GHz and boosting up to 4.2 GHz, it utilizes Intel's trusted 14nm manufacturing process. With 8 threads and 6MB of L3 cache, it provides a balanced approach to everyday productivity, multitasking, and light content creation. While it lacks the advanced 10nm Sunny Cove architecture found in Intel's Ice Lake chips, the i5-10210U makes up for it with higher peak clock speeds and broad DDR4 and LPDDR3 memory support. This CPU is commonly found in mainstream business and consumer ultrabooks, offering reliable performance for office tasks, web browsing, and media consumption. Its 25W TDP ensures a good balance between battery life and thermal output, making it a practical choice for budget-conscious mobile users who need consistent multi-threaded capability without breaking the bank.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Highly capable for office suites, heavy browsing, and daily multitasking.
The 28W TDP allows for excellent sustained performance in office and creative tasks.
Gaming
Limited to very light or older games due to basic UHD Graphics.
Capable of running macOS-supported games at decent settings thanks to 64 EUs.
Virtualization
Can handle light VMs for development, but limited by 4 cores.
Handles Windows VMs via Boot Camp or Parallels reasonably well.
Efficiency
Mature 14nm process offers decent, though not class-leading, battery life.
Less efficient than 15W models, but Apple's chassis design managed thermals effectively.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No dedicated AI hardware
- Relies on CPU AVX2 instructions
- Features DL Boost 1.0
- Suitable for basic Core ML tasks on macOS
Content Creation
Gaming
- Relies on Intel UHD Graphics
- Only suitable for 2D or highly optimized older games
- Lacks hardware support for modern DirectX 12 Ultimate features
- 64 EUs provide decent graphical horsepower
- Limited by the macOS game library
- Can run older titles smoothly via Boot Camp
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- Reliable performance for everyday tasks
- High boost clock of 4.2 GHz
- Good multitasking with 8 threads
- Wide compatibility with DDR4 and LPDDR3
Cons
- Built on aging 14nm process
- Weak integrated graphics
- No support for PCIe 4.0
- End-of-life status
Pros
- Strong sustained performance for a mobile chip
- Iris Plus graphics with 64 EUs
- Native Thunderbolt 3 support
- Good base clock of 2.0 GHz
- Supports Boot Camp for Windows compatibility
Cons
- End-of-life platform
- Outperformed by Apple M1 in almost every metric
- Soldered and restricted to Apple hardware
- Thermal throttling occurs in the thin MacBook Air chassis
Competitors & Alternatives
Intel Core i5-10210U
- AMD Ryzen 5 3500URival
Mobile
- AMD Ryzen 7 3700URival
Mobile
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i7-10510URival
Mobile
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-1035G1Rival
Mobile
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-8265URival
Mobile
Better efficiency and graphics on 10nm.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 5500UAlt
More cores and better performance.
Cheaper alternative for basic tasks.
Compare head-to-head- Alt
Vastly superior battery life and performance.
Compare head-to-head - AMD Ryzen 3 4300UAlt
Budget-friendly with modern Vega graphics.
Intel Core i5-1038NG7
- AMD Ryzen 5 4600URival
Mobile
- AMD Ryzen 7 4800URival
Mobile
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-1035G7Rival
Mobile
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i7-1065G7Rival
Mobile
- Compare head-to-headApple M1Rival
Mobile
Modern Windows alternative with superior multi-core performance.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 5600UAlt
Strong mobile alternative for Windows laptops.
- Alt
Modern Apple alternative for much better performance.
Compare head-to-head Higher tier Apple Intel alternative if sticking to 2020 MacBooks.
Compare head-to-head
Our Verdict on Each
A dependable 14nm processor that delivered solid value in 2019 laptops, though it lacks the graphical prowess of Intel's 10nm counterparts.
Best for: Purchasing a heavily discounted used laptop for basic office work.
Read the full reviewA custom 28W Intel chip that provided excellent sustained performance for Apple's 2020 MacBooks, though it was quickly overshadowed by Apple Silicon.
Best for: Purchasing a used 2020 Intel MacBook for specific Boot Camp needs or budget constraints.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i5-10210U or Intel Core i5-1038NG7?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i5-1038NG7 comes out ahead with a score of 8.2/10. 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, Intel Core i5-10210U or Intel Core i5-1038NG7?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-1038NG7 leads with a gaming performance score of 65/100 among Intel Core i5-10210U and Intel Core i5-1038NG7.
Which uses less power?
The Intel Core i5-10210U has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Intel Core i5-10210U (25 W), Intel Core i5-1038NG7 (28 W).
Do Intel Core i5-10210U and Intel Core i5-1038NG7 use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Intel Core i5-10210U: Intel BGA 1440, Intel Core i5-1038NG7: Intel BGA 1344), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Core i5-10210U posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i5-10210U (8,540), Intel Core i5-1038NG7 (8,500). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.