CPU Comparison
Intel Core Ultra 5 225H vs Intel Core Ultra 5 338H
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225H is a thin-and-light mobile processor featuring 14 hybrid cores, including low-power E-cores, and an Arc 130T integrated GPU for balanced performance.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
14 cores provide smooth performance, though the low base clock can cause lag in bursty tasks.
Single-threaded performance is competitive with other mid-range mobile CPUs, and the 12 cores provide solid multi-core throughput for typical productivity workloads.
Gaming
The Arc 130T iGPU handles esports and older AAA titles well at 1080p medium settings.
Arc B370 iGPU is a major improvement over older Intel graphics, enabling 1080p gaming at medium settings in many titles, but still behind low-end discrete GPUs like the RTX 4050 in more demanding games.
Virtualization
Adequate for light VMs, but limited by 28W base power and 8 PCIe lanes.
Capable of running light VMs and containers, but not designed for heavy workstation-class virtualization; memory and core counts are modest for that use case.
Efficiency
LP-E cores ensure exceptional battery life during idle and light tasks.
At 25 W base power, Panther Lake is far more efficient than older Intel H-series chips; real-world battery life will depend heavily on OEM power tuning.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- 83 TOPS easily meets Copilot+ PC requirements
- Arc GPU handles the bulk of AI workloads
- 13 TOPS NPU handles background AI efficiently
- Dedicated NPU 5 with 47 INT8 TOPS accelerates Windows Studio Effects and local AI models.
- CPU and GPU also support DL Boost and XMX-based AI workloads, but TOPS are lower than on higher-end Ultra 7/9 models.
- Well suited for consumer AI features and small models, not for training or large-scale inference.
Content Creation
Gaming
- Arc 130T is a major leap over previous Intel iGPUs
- Best suited for 1080p gaming
- Performance scales well when OEMs allow higher power limits
- Arc B370 10 Xe3 cores at up to 2.4 GHz deliver roughly 70% more performance than Intel’s previous Arc 140V/140T iGPUs and comfortably outpace AMD’s Radeon 890M in synthetic tests.
- At 35 W, the B370’s Time Spy Graphics score is around 5,933 points, placing it between older RTX 3050 Ti and RTX 4050 laptop GPUs in some scenarios.
- Best suited for 1080p medium settings; more demanding AAA titles may require resolution scaling or lower presets.
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- Excellent power efficiency via LP-E cores
- Strong Arc 130T integrated graphics
- Capable 83 TOPS AI performance
- Flexible DDR5 and LPDDR5X support
- Good battery life
Cons
- Low 1.7 GHz base clock limits sustained performance
- Limited to 8 CPU-direct PCIe Gen 5 lanes
- No overclocking support
- Reliant on OEMs for proper power tuning
Pros
- Major leap in integrated GPU performance vs older Intel iGPUs
- Good single-threaded performance for everyday and lightly threaded workloads
- 12-core design provides solid multi-core throughput for the TDP
- NPU accelerates AI features without heavily loading CPU or GPU
- 25 W base power enables thin-and-light designs with decent battery life
- Modern I/O: PCIe 5.0, Thunderbolt 4, LPDDR5X, Wi-Fi 7 (platform dependent)
Cons
- Not intended for heavy sustained multi-threaded workloads like high-end rendering
- iGPU still falls short of low-end discrete GPUs like RTX 4050 in more demanding games
- Locked multiplier limits overclocking headroom
- Actual performance and thermals depend heavily on laptop OEM power tuning
- New platform; early firmware and drivers may still be maturing
Competitors & Alternatives
Intel Core Ultra 5 225H
- AMD Ryzen 7 8840HSRival
Thin-and-Light
- Compare head-to-headApple M3Rival
Premium Mobile
If you need more power and don't mind a thicker laptop with worse battery life.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen AI 9 365Alt
Strong alternative if you prioritize battery life and AI efficiency.
Intel Core Ultra 5 338H
- AMD Ryzen AI 7 350Rival
Mid-Range Mobile AI APU
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core Ultra 7 255HRival
Higher-End Panther Lake Mobile
- AMD Ryzen 7 8840HSRival
Mainstream Mobile APU
- Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E-80-100Rival
Premium Arm-Based Mobile
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core Ultra 5 228VRival
Lower-Power Lunar Lake Mobile
- Laptop with RTX 4050/5050 discrete GPUAlt
If gaming is your priority and you can tolerate a thicker chassis, a low-end discrete GPU will outperform the Arc B370 iGPU in more demanding titles.
Our Verdict on Each
The 225H provides a solid balance of multi-core performance and efficiency for everyday laptops, though its 28W base power limits peak performance compared to HX-series chips.
Best for: Purchasing a premium thin-and-light laptop for work, school, and light gaming.
Read the full reviewA well-rounded mid-range mobile SoC that finally delivers competitive integrated graphics and solid multi-core CPU performance in a reasonable power envelope, though its value depends heavily on laptop design and pricing.
Best for: You want a thin-and-light laptop with strong integrated graphics and AI features for light gaming, content creation, and everyday work, and you value battery life more than maximum CPU/GPU performance.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core Ultra 5 225H or Intel Core Ultra 5 338H?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H comes out ahead with a score of 8.2/10. 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 Ultra 5 225H or Intel Core Ultra 5 338H?
For gaming, the Intel Core Ultra 5 338H leads with a gaming performance score of 78/100 among Intel Core Ultra 5 225H and Intel Core Ultra 5 338H.
Which uses less power?
The Intel Core Ultra 5 338H has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Intel Core Ultra 5 225H (28 W), Intel Core Ultra 5 338H (25 W).
Do Intel Core Ultra 5 225H and Intel Core Ultra 5 338H use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Intel Core Ultra 5 225H: Intel BGA 2049, Intel Core Ultra 5 338H: FCBGA2540), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
Which has more cores?
The Intel Core Ultra 5 225H has the most cores. Core counts: Intel Core Ultra 5 225H (14 cores), Intel Core Ultra 5 338H (12 cores).