CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-10210U vs Intel Core i7-10810U
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.
Strong performance in office applications and multitasking.
Gaming
Limited to very light or older games due to basic UHD Graphics.
Basic UHD graphics limit it to non-demanding titles.
Virtualization
Can handle light VMs for development, but limited by 4 cores.
12 threads handle virtualization well for a mobile chip.
Efficiency
Mature 14nm process offers decent, though not class-leading, battery life.
14nm process limits efficiency compared to newer chips.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No dedicated AI hardware
- Relies on CPU AVX2 instructions
- No dedicated AI silicon
- Handles basic inferencing via CPU
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
- Relies on UHD Graphics
- Not intended for gaming
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
- 6 cores and 12 threads
- High 4.9 GHz turbo boost
- Good for multitasking
- 12MB L3 cache
Cons
- OEM exclusive, hard to find in retail
- 14nm process is outdated
- Low base clock
- Basic integrated graphics
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 i7-10810U
- AMD Ryzen 7 Pro 4750URival
Mobile
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i7-10710URival
Mobile
- Intel Core i7-10610URival
Mobile
- AMD Ryzen 5 Pro 4650URival
Mobile
- Intel Core i7-8665URival
Mobile
- Intel Core i7-1165G7Alt
Better single-core IPC and faster integrated graphics.
- AMD Ryzen 7 5800UAlt
Superior multi-core performance and battery life.
More modern architecture often outperforms it in everyday tasks.
Compare head-to-head- Alt
Vastly superior efficiency for similar productivity workloads.
Compare head-to-head - AMD Ryzen 5 5625UAlt
Modern budget alternative with better multi-threading.
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 solid OEM-specific 6-core processor that offers a slight frequency bump over the 10710U, making it excellent for business productivity and multitasking.
Best for: The Core i7-10810U is exclusively found in pre-built laptops, making it a factor only when shopping for used or refurbished business machines. It is a solid choice if you need a multitasking laptop for office work, heavy web browsing, and light content creation at a lower price point. The 6-core configuration ensures it can handle parallel tasks better than older 8th Gen chips. However, due to its 14nm heritage, battery life may suffer compared to newer laptops with 10nm or newer processors. Avoid paying a premium for this chip today; if the price is close to a laptop with an 11th Gen Intel or Ryzen 5000 processor, opt for the latter. It is best suited for budget-conscious buyers needing solid productivity performance.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i5-10210U or Intel Core i7-10810U?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i7-10810U comes out ahead with a score of 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, Intel Core i5-10210U or Intel Core i7-10810U?
For gaming, the Intel Core i7-10810U leads with a gaming performance score of 45/100 among Intel Core i5-10210U and Intel Core i7-10810U.
Do Intel Core i5-10210U and Intel Core i7-10810U use the same socket?
Yes — all of these CPUs use the Intel BGA 1440 socket, so they share compatible motherboards.
Which has more cores?
The Intel Core i7-10810U has the most cores. Core counts: Intel Core i5-10210U (4 cores), Intel Core i7-10810U (6 cores).
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). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.