CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-8265U vs Intel Core i7-8560U
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-8265U is a 4-core, 8-thread low-power mobile processor from the Whiskey Lake family, designed for thin-and-light laptops prioritizing battery life.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Good for daily office tasks and web apps.
Handles heavy multitasking and office applications effortlessly.
Gaming
Only capable of very light or old games.
Only suitable for very light or older games on low settings.
Virtualization
Can run light VMs but limited by RAM and power.
Can run light VMs, but limited by 15W power constraints.
Efficiency
Excellent efficiency for all-day battery life.
Outstanding power-to-performance ratio for battery life.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- Not suitable for AI workloads
- No dedicated AI hardware
- Basic CPU inference only
Content Creation
Gaming
- Integrated graphics too weak for modern gaming
- Good for indie games
- No dedicated gaming features
- Relies on Intel UHD Graphics 620
- Only suitable for indie or older titles
- Not recommended for modern AAA gaming
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- Excellent power efficiency
- 4 cores and 8 threads
- Good burst performance
- Wide OEM adoption
Cons
- Soldered to motherboard
- Weak integrated graphics
- Only PCIe 3.0
- End-of-life
Pros
- Excellent power efficiency
- Good burst performance
- Quad-core multitasking
- Widely supported in business laptops
Cons
- Weak integrated graphics
- Older 14nm process
- Locked multiplier
- Soldered to motherboard
Competitors & Alternatives
Intel Core i5-8265U
- AMD Ryzen 5 3500URival
Thin-and-Light Mobile
- Intel Core i7-8565URival
Thin-and-Light Mobile
- AMD Ryzen 7 3700URival
Thin-and-Light Mobile
- Intel Core i5-8250URival
Thin-and-Light Mobile
- AMD Ryzen 5 2500URival
Thin-and-Light Mobile
Slightly faster with better efficiency.
Compare head-to-headModern dual-core with vastly better single-core speed.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 5500UAlt
Hex-core mobile chip with much better performance.
Massive IPC and iGPU upgrade with modern features.
Compare head-to-head
Intel Core i7-8560U
- AMD Ryzen 7 2700URival
Mobile
- AMD Ryzen 7 2800HRival
Mobile
- Intel Core i5-8250URival
Mobile
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i7-8550URival
Mobile
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i7-8650URival
Mobile
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500UAlt
Better integrated graphics and efficiency.
Significantly faster single-core and better iGPU.
Compare head-to-head- Intel Core i7-1165G7Alt
Stronger overall performance and newer architecture.
- AMD Ryzen 7 4700UAlt
More cores and better battery life.
- Alt
Incredible performance per watt for ultrabooks.
Compare head-to-head
Our Verdict on Each
A reliable and efficient mobile CPU that brought 4 cores to thin-and-light laptops, still serviceable for basic tasks today.
Best for: Buying a cheap used laptop for basic tasks
Read the full reviewA capable quad-core mobile CPU that offers excellent battery life and sufficient power for everyday productivity, though it struggles with heavy rendering or modern gaming.
Best for: Purchasing a used, premium ultrabook for study or light office work.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is faster for gaming, Intel Core i5-8265U or Intel Core i7-8560U?
For gaming, the Intel Core i7-8560U leads with a gaming performance score of 30/100 among Intel Core i5-8265U and Intel Core i7-8560U.
Do Intel Core i5-8265U and Intel Core i7-8560U use the same socket?
Yes — all of these CPUs use the Intel BGA 1528 socket, so they share compatible motherboards.
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Core i7-8560U posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i7-8560U (8,500). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.