CPU Comparison

Intel Core Ultra 5 335 vs Core Ultra 7 268V

A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core Ultra 5 335 is an 8-core, 8-thread mobile SoC from Intel’s Panther Lake family, built on the Intel 18A process for thin-and-light and mainstream business laptops with strong AI acceleration and integrated Xe3 graphics.

Intel · Core Ultra Series 3
Intel Core Ultra 5 335
8C / 8T4.6 GHz25 W
8.2
Full review
Top pick
Intel · Core Ultra 7
Core Ultra 7 268V
8C / 8T5 GHz17 W
9.2
Full review

The Bottom Line

Overview & Launch

Brand
Intel
Intel
Market
Mobile
Mobile
Segment
Mobile
Mobile
Generation
Core Ultra Series 3 (Panther Lake)
Ultra 7 (Lunar Lake)
Launched
2026
2024
Status
Launched
Active
Codename
Panther Lake
Lunar Lake
Series
Core Ultra Series 3
Core Ultra 7
Family
Core Ultra
Lunar Lake
Predecessor
Intel Core Ultra 7 258V / Lunar Lake U‑V series
Intel Core Ultra 7 155H

Specifications Compared

Cores & Clocks
Cores
8
8
Threads
8
8
Base Clock
2.2 GHz
2.2 GHz
Boost Clock
4.6 GHz
5 GHz
Cache & Power
L3 Cache
12 MB
12 MB
TDP
25 W
17 W
Architecture
Architecture
Panther Lake (Cougar Cove P‑cores, Darkmont LP E‑cores)
Lunar Lake
Process Node
Intel 18A (compute tile)
3 nm
Memory
Memory Type
LPDDR5X / DDR5
LPDDR5X (Integrated)
Memory Speed
LPDDR5X-7467, DDR5-6400
8533 MT/s
Memory Channels
Dual (2)
Dual (2)
Max Memory
128 GB
32 GB
Platform & I/O
Socket
FCBGA2540
Intel BGA 2833
PCIe Version
PCIe 5.0 and 4.0
Gen 5
PCIe Lanes
12
4
Integrated GPU
Yes
Yes
Unlocked
No
No

Performance Compared

Productivity

Intel Core Ultra 5 33585

Responsive office work, multi‑tab browsing, and light content creation; multi‑threaded workloads benefit from the 8 cores but are limited by 8 threads and no SMT.

Core Ultra 7 268VBest92

32GB of RAM ensures smooth performance even with dozens of tabs and apps open.

Gaming

Intel Core Ultra 5 335Best72

Smooth for esports and older titles at 1080p with reduced settings; modern AAA games will often need a discrete GPU for high settings.

Core Ultra 7 268V70

Similar to other Arc 140V chips, great for light gaming.

Virtualization

Intel Core Ultra 5 33570

Can handle light VM workloads, but memory and core counts are more constrained than on H‑series or desktop chips.

Core Ultra 7 268VBest75

32GB RAM allows for more comfortable VM hosting than the 266V.

Efficiency

Intel Core Ultra 5 33588

Intel 18A and the 25–55 W power envelope enable strong efficiency for thin laptops, with real‑world battery life often matching comparable Snapdragon X Elite systems in early tests.

Core Ultra 7 268VBest98

Maintains class-leading efficiency despite higher memory capacity.

Specialized Performance

AI / ML

Intel Core Ultra 5 335Very Good
  • NPU 5 with up to 50 TOPS INT8 is tailored for on‑device AI features like Windows Studio Effects and local LLM assistants.
  • CPU + GPU + NPU together enable modest AI workloads, but not a replacement for high‑end discrete AI accelerators.
Core Ultra 7 268VExcellent
  • 48 TOPS NPU
  • Total 118 TOPS platform performance
  • Great for running local LLMs thanks to 32GB RAM

Content Creation

Intel Core Ultra 5 335Good
Adobe PhotoshopLightroom ClassicDaVinci Resolve (basic edits)Blender (viewport / light CPU rendering)OBS Studio (NPU‑assisted streaming)
Core Ultra 7 268VVery Good
Adobe Creative CloudLight 4K Video EditingGraphic Design

Gaming

Intel Core Ultra 5 335Fair
  • Xe3 iGPU significantly better than older UHD Graphics but not intended for serious gaming.
  • Esports titles (Valorant, CS2, LoL) generally playable at 1080p medium/high.
  • AAA titles typically require low settings and often upscaling for playable frame rates.
Core Ultra 7 268VModerate
  • Same Arc 140V graphics as the rest of the Ultra 7 V-series
  • Suitable for 1080p low setting gaming
  • Excellent for older or indie titles

Industry Impact

Gaming
Moderate
Low
Workstations
Low
Moderate
Content Creation
Moderate
High
Virtualization
Low
Moderate

Best CPU by Use Case

Business Productivity
Excellent
Excellent
Everyday Office Multitasking
Excellent
Light Photo/Video Editing
Good
Casual Gaming at 1080p Low/Medium
Fair
On‑Device AI Features (Copilot+, NPU)
Very Good
Software Development
Excellent
Heavy Multitasking
Excellent
Local AI Execution
Very Good
Photo Editing
Very Good

Target Audience

Gamers
Content Creators
Targeted
Targeted
Developers
Targeted
Targeted
Workstation Users
Streamers
Office / Productivity
Targeted
Targeted
Students
Targeted
Targeted

Strengths & Weaknesses

Intel Core Ultra 5 335

Pros

  • Intel 18A brings improved performance per watt for mobile designs.
  • 8 cores (4P + 4LP) handle everyday multitasking and light parallel workloads well.
  • NPU 5 enables modern on‑device AI features without heavily loading CPU or GPU.
  • Xe3 iGPU with ray tracing and modern media engines is a big step over older UHD Graphics.
  • 25–55 W configurable TDP fits a wide range of laptop form factors.

Cons

  • Only 8 threads; no SMT limits heavy multi‑threaded throughput versus 12–16 thread rivals.
  • Gaming capability is still modest; not a replacement for a discrete GPU.
  • Soldered BGA package means no CPU upgrades; you’re stuck with what the laptop ships with.
  • Maximum 128 GB memory and 12 PCIe lanes may feel restrictive for high‑end workloads.
  • New platform; early firmware and driver quirks are possible in first‑generation designs.
Core Ultra 7 268V

Pros

  • Integrated 32GB memory for heavy multitasking
  • Class-leading power efficiency
  • 48 TOPS NPU for Copilot+
  • Arc 140V graphics offer great mobile performance
  • 5.0 GHz boost clock

Cons

  • Non-upgradeable memory
  • Expensive laptops required
  • Not meant for heavy 3D rendering

Competitors & Alternatives

Intel Core Ultra 5 335

  • AMD Ryzen AI 7 345

    Mobile AI/Performance

    Rival
  • AMD Ryzen 7 8840U

    Thin-and-Light

    Rival
  • Intel Core Ultra 7 258V

    Premium Thin-and-Light (Lunar Lake)

    Rival
  • Intel Core Ultra 5 235U

    Mainstream Mobile (Arrow Lake U)

    Rival
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite

    ARM-based AI PC

    Rival

Core Ultra 7 268V

  • AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370

    Mobile

    Rival
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite

    Mobile

    Rival
  • Rival
    Compare head-to-head
  • Compare head-to-head
  • AMD Ryzen AI 9 365

    Mobile

    Rival
  • Intel Core Ultra 7 266V
    Alt

    If you only need 16GB of RAM and want to save money.

  • Intel Core Ultra 7 258V
    Alt

    A slightly slower but cheaper 32GB Lunar Lake option.

  • Apple MacBook Pro M3
    Alt

    For a premium alternative ecosystem.

  • Snapdragon X Elite
    Alt

    For a different ARM-based Windows experience.

Our Verdict on Each

A capable mid-range mobile SoC that balances performance, power, and AI features for mainstream laptops, though gamers and heavy creators will still want a dGPU.

Best for: Business and productivity‑focused thin‑and‑light laptops where AI features, modern connectivity, and integrated graphics matter more than heavy gaming or multi‑GPU workloads.

Read the full review

The 268V is the ultimate Lunar Lake chip for power users needing 32GB of RAM in a highly efficient, portable form factor.

Best for: Since the Core Ultra 7 268V is a mobile processor, it is only available inside pre-built laptops. If you are a professional, developer, or power user who needs a highly portable laptop that can handle heavy multitasking, virtualization, or large datasets, a 268V laptop is an outstanding investment. The 32 GB of integrated memory ensures you have plenty of RAM for the lifespan of the device. It is the ideal choice if you want the longest possible battery life without sacrificing performance. However, remember that the RAM and CPU are non-upgradable, so you should buy a laptop with this chip only if you are certain 32 GB is sufficient for your long-term needs.

Read the full review

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, Intel Core Ultra 5 335 or Core Ultra 7 268V?

Based on our editorial ratings, the Core Ultra 7 268V comes out ahead with a score of 9.2/10. 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 5 335 or Core Ultra 7 268V?

For gaming, the Intel Core Ultra 5 335 leads with a gaming performance score of 72/100 among Intel Core Ultra 5 335 and Core Ultra 7 268V.

Which uses less power?

The Core Ultra 7 268V has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Intel Core Ultra 5 335 (25 W), Core Ultra 7 268V (17 W).

Do Intel Core Ultra 5 335 and Core Ultra 7 268V use the same socket?

No. They use different sockets (Intel Core Ultra 5 335: FCBGA2540, Core Ultra 7 268V: Intel BGA 2833), so each needs a compatible motherboard.

Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?

The Core Ultra 7 268V posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Core Ultra 7 268V (0). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.