CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-10210U vs Intel Core i5-1135G7
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.
Snappy performance for everyday office tasks and multitasking.
Gaming
Limited to very light or older games due to basic UHD Graphics.
Capable of playing e-sports titles and older games at 1080p thanks to Iris Xe graphics.
Virtualization
Can handle light VMs for development, but limited by 4 cores.
Can handle light virtualization but is limited by 4 cores.
Efficiency
Mature 14nm process offers decent, though not class-leading, battery life.
Excellent power efficiency due to the 10nm SuperFIN process.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No dedicated AI hardware
- Relies on CPU AVX2 instructions
- DLBoost and GNA 2.0 provide solid AI acceleration for background blur and noise cancellation.
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
- Iris Xe 80EU allows for smooth e-sports gaming.
- Performance scales heavily with dual-channel memory.
- Not suitable for modern AAA gaming at high settings.
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
- Excellent single-core performance
- Massive leap in integrated graphics (Iris Xe 80EU)
- Great power efficiency
- Supports fast LPDDR4X-4267 memory
- Includes PCIe 4.0 for fast storage
Cons
- Limited to 4 cores
- Integrated graphics still weaker than entry-level discrete GPUs
- Soldered onto the motherboard (BGA package)
- Replaced quickly by 12th Gen P-series and U-series
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 i5-1135G7
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500URival
Mobile
- AMD Ryzen 7 5700URival
Mobile
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-1035G1Rival
Mobile
- Intel Core i7-1165G7Rival
Mobile
- Compare head-to-headApple M1Rival
Mobile
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600UAlt
Provides better multi-core performance with 6 cores.
Budget alternative with 2 cores for basic office tasks.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 7 5800UAlt
Excellent 8-core alternative for heavy multitasking.
Newer 12th gen alternative with more cores and better efficiency.
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 breakthrough mobile chip that brought console-like integrated graphics to thin-and-light laptops, though limited to 4 cores.
Best for: Buying a mid-range ultrabook for everyday use and light gaming.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i5-10210U or Intel Core i5-1135G7?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i5-1135G7 comes out ahead with a score of 8.5/10. 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 i5-1135G7?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-1135G7 leads with a gaming performance score of 75/100 among Intel Core i5-10210U and Intel Core i5-1135G7.
Which uses less power?
The Intel Core i5-1135G7 has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Intel Core i5-10210U (25 W), Intel Core i5-1135G7 (15 W).
Do Intel Core i5-10210U and Intel Core i5-1135G7 use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Intel Core i5-10210U: Intel BGA 1440, Intel Core i5-1135G7: Intel BGA 1449), 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 i5-1135G7 (0). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.