CPU Comparison
Intel Core i7-1250U vs Core i7-1355U
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i7-1250U is an ultra-low power 9W mobile processor designed for fanless thin-and-light laptops and tablets, featuring a 10-core hybrid architecture.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Snappy for everyday office tasks and web browsing, but struggles under sustained heavy multi-threaded loads.
Flawless performance for office suites, heavy browsing, and video calls.
Gaming
Severely limited by the 9W TDP and potential thermal throttling in fanless designs. Only suitable for very light 2D games.
Handles esports titles and older games at 1080p medium settings reasonably well.
Virtualization
Not recommended for virtual machines due to low core count and strict power limits.
Can run lightweight VMs, but limited by 15W thermal envelope.
Efficiency
Exceptional efficiency, offering some of the best battery life figures in the 12th Gen lineup.
Excellent idle power consumption and efficient multi-core scaling.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- Low power limits restrict AI inference capabilities
- No dedicated NPU
- Uses CPU and integrated GPU for AI tasks
- Supports OpenVINO for optimized inference
- Suitable for background blur and noise cancellation
Content Creation
Gaming
- 9W TDP heavily restricts GPU boost duration
- Only playable for older or 2D indie games
- Not suitable for modern 3D gaming
- Capable of 60fps in games like CS:GO and League of Legends
- Struggles with modern AAA titles
- Shares system memory, so DDR5 improves frame rates
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- Extremely low 9W base power consumption
- Excellent for fanless and silent designs
- Supports fast LPDDR5 memory
- Decent single-core burst performance
- Strong integrated graphics for its power class
Cons
- Severely limited multi-core performance
- Low PL2 ceiling (29W) limits burst duration
- Only 2 P-cores for heavy threads
- Uses BGA 1781 socket, fully soldered
- Not suitable for heavy workloads
Pros
- Strong 5.0 GHz single-core burst
- Excellent power efficiency
- Iris Xe 96EU graphics
- Modern DDR5 and PCIe 4.0 support
- Great value for ultrabook performance
Cons
- Not unlocked
- Limited to 8 PCIe lanes from CPU
- Soldered to motherboard
- Throttles under sustained multi-core loads
- Only 2 P-cores limits heavy multitasking
Competitors & Alternatives
Intel Core i7-1250U
- Compare head-to-headApple M2Rival
Mobile
- AMD Ryzen 7 6800URival
Mobile
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3Rival
Mobile
- Compare head-to-headApple M1Rival
Mobile
- AMD Ryzen 5 6600URival
Mobile
Offers a higher 15W TDP for better sustained performance in slightly thicker laptops.
Compare head-to-head- Intel Core i5-1230UAlt
A cheaper alternative with similar 9W efficiency and slightly lower clocks.
Another 9W option with similar specs for ultra-portables.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 7640UAlt
Excellent efficiency with better integrated graphics.
- Apple M2 MacBook AirAlt
Superior performance-per-watt in a fanless design.
Core i7-1355U
- AMD Ryzen 7 7730URival
Mobile
- AMD Ryzen 5 7530URival
Mobile
- Intel Core i7-1365URival
Mobile
- Compare head-to-headApple M2Rival
Mobile
- Intel Core i5-1345URival
Mobile
- Intel Core i5-1335UAlt
A more affordable option with slightly lower clocks but similar architecture.
- AMD Ryzen 7 7735UAlt
Better raw multi-core performance and efficiency in the same TDP class.
- Apple M1 AirAlt
Offers unmatched fanless efficiency and battery life for basic productivity.
Newer Meteor Lake chip with better idle battery life and integrated AI.
Compare head-to-head
Our Verdict on Each
A highly efficient 9W chip that brings desktop-class hybrid architecture to the thinnest form factors, though multi-core performance is limited by power constraints.
Best for: Buying an ultra-thin tablet or fanless laptop where battery life is the absolute top priority.
Read the full reviewAn excellent mobile CPU that hits the sweet spot between price and performance for everyday ultrabook users.
Best for: Buying a mid-range premium ultrabook for school or office work
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core i7-1250U or Core i7-1355U?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Core i7-1355U comes out ahead with a score of 8.6/10. 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 i7-1250U or Core i7-1355U?
For gaming, the Core i7-1355U leads with a gaming performance score of 65/100 among Intel Core i7-1250U and Core i7-1355U.
Which uses less power?
The Core i7-1355U has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Intel Core i7-1250U (29 W), Core i7-1355U (15 W).
Do Intel Core i7-1250U and Core i7-1355U use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Intel Core i7-1250U: Intel BGA 1781, Core i7-1355U: Intel BGA 1744), so each needs a compatible motherboard.