CPU Comparison
Intel Core i3-10110U vs Intel Core i3-10110Y
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i3-10110U is a 10th-generation, dual-core mobile processor designed primarily for budget-friendly laptops and Chromebooks. Launched in August 2019, it was part of the Comet Lake-U family, though it heavily mirrored the previous generation's architecture. It features 2 physical cores coupled with Hyper-Threading for 4 total threads, running at a base clock of 2.1 GHz and boosting up to 4.1 GHz. With a 25W TDP and a 72°C Tcase max, it was intended for thin-and-light chassis designs that required active but minimal cooling. The chip included only 4MB of L3 cache and relied on basic UHD integrated graphics. Notably, it supported both legacy DDR3L and newer DDR4 memory types, giving OEMs flexibility in sourcing cheaper components for entry-level laptops. It is now officially listed as End-of-Life, having been replaced by newer 11th and 12th-generation U-series parts that offer dramatically more cores and significantly better power efficiency.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Can handle a single Word document or spreadsheet, but opening multiple browser tabs alongside office apps will cause severe slowdowns.
Can handle basic embedded UI tasks, but modern Windows interfaces will feel sluggish due to the 1 GHz base clock.
Gaming
The basic UHD graphics cannot handle any modern games. Even older e-sports titles will struggle at low settings.
Gaming is impossible. The combination of 2 cores, low power limits, and DDR3L memory bandwidth ensures zero playable frame rates.
Virtualization
2 cores and 4 threads are fundamentally inadequate for running virtual machines.
Fundamentally incapable of running virtual machines.
Efficiency
While 25W is low, modern ARM chips and newer Intel chips do far more work per watt.
While 9W is low, modern ARM chips like the Apple M1 deliver vastly more performance at similar or lower power draws.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No AI hardware
- No AVX-512
- Cannot handle AI tasks
- No AI hardware
- No AVX-512
- Cannot perform AI tasks
Content Creation
Gaming
- No dedicated gaming capability
- Integrated UHD graphics are severely limited
- CPU bottlenecks even the lightest games
- No gaming capability whatsoever
- DDR3L memory severely starves the integrated GPU
- Thermal throttling will occur almost instantly in 3D loads
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- Very cheap on the used market
- Low 25W power draw
- Supports both DDR3L and DDR4
- 4.1 GHz boost provides okay single-task speed
- Sufficient for basic offline typing
Cons
- Only 2 cores and 4 threads
- 4MB L3 cache is very small
- End-of-Life and no longer manufactured
- UHD graphics are extremely weak
- Struggles with modern web applications
Pros
- True 9W fanless operation
- Can boost to 4.0 GHz for brief moments
- Low cost for industrial repair parts
- Sufficient for static digital signage
- Low heat generation at idle
Cons
- DDR3L memory only, a massive bottleneck
- 1.0 GHz base clock is agonizingly slow
- Only 2 cores and 4 threads
- Completely obsolete for consumer use
- Outperformed by cheap ARM chips
Competitors & Alternatives
Intel Core i3-10110U
- AMD Ryzen 3 3200URival
Budget Mobile
- AMD Athlon 300URival
Budget Mobile
- Intel Pentium Gold 5405URival
Entry Mobile
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 7cRival
Budget Mobile
- MediaTek Kompanio 500Rival
Budget Mobile
- AMD Ryzen 3 5300UAlt
Offers 4 cores and 8 threads, completely solving the multitasking issues of the 10110U.
11th-gen successor with much better single-core performance and Iris Xe graphics.
Compare head-to-headA massive leap in performance and efficiency for thin-and-light laptops.
Compare head-to-head- Alt
If buying a premium laptop, the M1 offers exponentially better battery life and performance.
Compare head-to-head - Any Modern ARM ChromebookAlt
For basic web browsing, a cheap ARM Chromebook will feel faster and last longer on a charge.
Our Verdict on Each
Obsolete for modern use. Its 2 cores struggle heavily with today's web applications, making it suitable only for the lightest, most basic computing tasks.
Best for: You should avoid purchasing any new laptop containing the Intel Core i3-10110U in today's market. With only 2 cores and 4 threads, this processor struggles heavily with modern web browsing habits, where having dozens of tabs open alongside streaming video or communication apps will quickly saturate its processing capability. If you are looking at the used or refurbished market, laptops with this chip should only be considered if they are exceptionally cheap (under $150) and if your usage is strictly limited to lightweight tasks like writing documents, watching offline video, or basic web surfing. For a new budget laptop, even the most basic ARM-based Chromebook or an AMD Ryzen 3 powered Windows laptop will provide a vastly superior, longer-lasting experience due to having more CPU cores and significantly better integrated graphics. Do not buy this chip for any form of multitasking.
Read the full reviewCompletely obsolete for consumers. The reliance on DDR3L and a 2-core design makes it unable to handle modern computing tasks efficiently.
Best for: There is virtually no consumer scenario in 2026 where purchasing a device with the Intel Core i3-10110Y makes sense. If you are buying a new tablet or ultra-thin laptop, Apple's iPad, Microsoft's Surface Pro with a Snapdragon or Intel Core Ultra chip, or any modern AMD-powered alternative will offer exponentially better performance, battery life, and display quality. If you are looking at the used market, be extremely cautious: the reliance on DDR3L RAM means the entire platform is obsolete, and the 2-core/4-thread configuration will struggle to load modern websites efficiently. The only justifiable reason to acquire this chip today is for repairing a specific legacy industrial panel PC or a specialized kiosk that was originally designed around this exact motherboard and thermal profile. For general computing, it is effectively a paperweight.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i3-10110U or Intel Core i3-10110Y?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core i3-10110U comes out ahead with a score of 3/10. 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 i3-10110U or Intel Core i3-10110Y?
For gaming, the Intel Core i3-10110U leads with a gaming performance score of 5/100 among Intel Core i3-10110U and Intel Core i3-10110Y.
Which uses less power?
The Intel Core i3-10110Y has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Intel Core i3-10110U (25 W), Intel Core i3-10110Y (9 W).
Do Intel Core i3-10110U and Intel Core i3-10110Y use the same socket?
Yes — all of these CPUs use the BGA 1440 socket, so they share compatible motherboards.