CPU Comparison
Intel Core Ultra 5 332 vs Intel Core Ultra 7 355
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core Ultra 5 332 is a 6‑core, 6‑thread mainstream mobile SoC from Intel’s Panther Lake (Core Ultra Series 3) family, built on the Intel 18A process and designed primarily for business and professional laptops with integrated Xe3 graphics, NPU5 AI acceleration, and vPro manageability.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Gaming
Virtualization
Efficiency
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- 46 TOPS NPU5 for efficient on‑device AI
- Good for Windows Studio Effects and local AI assistants
- Not aimed at large‑scale model training
- Dedicated 50 TOPS NPU for efficient AI inference
- Accelerates Windows Studio Effects (background blur, eye contact)
- Supports local AI assistant and small model execution
- Not designed for training large AI models
Content Creation
Gaming
- 2‑core Xe3 iGPU is entry‑level for gaming
- Suitable for eSports and older titles at 1080p
- Not intended for AAA gaming at high settings
- Dependent on integrated Xe3 Graphics (512 shading units)
- Suitable for e-sports (CS2, Valorant) and casual titles at 1080p
- Not intended for high-refresh-rate AAA gaming
- Ray tracing is not supported
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- Strong AI capabilities with 46 TOPS NPU5
- vPro enterprise security and manageability
- Efficient 18A process for good battery life
- Modern I/O including PCIe 5.0, Thunderbolt 4, Wi‑Fi 7
- Full AV1 encode/decode and modern display outputs
Cons
- Only 6 cores / 6 threads limits heavy multi‑tasking and rendering
- 2‑core Xe3 iGPU is entry‑level for gaming and GPU compute
- No overclocking headroom
- Higher‑core Panther Lake SKUs offer significantly more multi‑threaded performance
Pros
- Excellent performance per watt from 2nm process
- Strong integrated Xe3 graphics for an iGPU
- Dedicated NPU accelerates AI tasks efficiently
- Good single-core and multi-threaded responsiveness for everyday use
- Supports fast LPDDR5X memory for high bandwidth
- Configurable TDP suits various laptop designs
Cons
- Not intended for CPU-intensive gaming or heavy workloads
- Only 8 threads limit extreme multi-tasking capability
- Locked multiplier prevents enthusiast overclocking
- Soldered BGA socket means no CPU upgrades
- Limited PCIe lanes compared to desktop platforms
Competitors & Alternatives
Intel Core Ultra 5 332
- AMD Ryzen 7 8840HSRival
Mainstream Mobile (Zen 4, 8 cores / 16 threads)
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core Ultra 5 335Rival
Mainstream Mobile (4P+4LP‑E, 8 cores)
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core Ultra 5 325Rival
Mainstream Mobile (4P+4LP‑E, 8 cores, higher clocks)
- AMD Ryzen 5 8640HSRival
Mainstream Mobile (Zen 4, 6 cores / 12 threads)
- Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 PlusRival
Arm‑based Always Connected PC
- Intel Core Ultra 7 355HAlt
Higher‑end Panther Lake SKU with more cores and a stronger iGPU if you need better creator or gaming performance.
- Intel Core Ultra 5 225UAlt
Lower‑power Lunar Lake alternative if you prioritize maximum battery life over AI TOPS and vPro features.
Intel Core Ultra 7 355
- AMD Ryzen AI 7 350Rival
Thin & Light Laptop
- Apple M5 (10-Core)Rival
Premium Laptop
- Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 EliteRival
Always-Connected PC
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core Ultra 7 365Rival
Thin & Light Laptop
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HRival
Thin & Light Laptop (Previous Gen)
- Intel Core Ultra 7 355HAlt
Higher-wattage 'H' variant with better sustained multi-core performance for creator laptops.
- Intel Core Ultra 5 325HAlt
Lower-cost option with similar architecture but fewer cores, suitable for less demanding tasks.
Our Verdict on Each
A capable, efficiency‑focused mobile chip for business and mainstream laptops, offering strong AI and security features via NPU5 and vPro, but not aimed at heavy creators or gamers who need more cores and a stronger iGPU.
Best for: Business or mainstream laptop with vPro, where AI features, security, and battery life matter more than heavy multi‑thread performance or high‑end gaming.
Read the full reviewA capable and efficient mobile processor with a strong feature set for its segment, including integrated Xe3 graphics and an NPU. Its 8-core design offers good multi-threaded responsiveness, though it's not intended for high-end gaming or extreme workstation loads.
Best for: Purchasing a premium thin-and-light laptop (e.g., Dell XPS 14, ASUS Zenbook) where you need strong everyday performance, light creator capability, and excellent battery life in a portable form factor.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core Ultra 5 332 or Intel Core Ultra 7 355?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core Ultra 5 332 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 5 332 or Intel Core Ultra 7 355?
For gaming, the Intel Core Ultra 7 355 leads with a gaming performance score of 65/100 among Intel Core Ultra 5 332 and Intel Core Ultra 7 355.
Which uses less power?
The Intel Core Ultra 5 332 has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Intel Core Ultra 5 332 (25 W).
Do Intel Core Ultra 5 332 and Intel Core Ultra 7 355 use the same socket?
Yes — all of these CPUs use the FCBGA2540 socket, so they share compatible motherboards.
Which has more cores?
The Intel Core Ultra 7 355 has the most cores. Core counts: Intel Core Ultra 5 332 (6 cores), Intel Core Ultra 7 355 (8 cores).
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Core Ultra 7 355 posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core Ultra 7 355 (636). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.