CPU Comparison
Intel Core Ultra 5 335 vs Intel Core Ultra 7 356H
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.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Gaming
Virtualization
Efficiency
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- 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.
- NPU 5 up to 50 TOPS INT8 aligns with Intel’s Copilot+ PC requirements
- Good for local AI assistants, background blur, noise cancellation, and light on-device inference
- Not aimed at large-scale model training, but very capable for client AI workloads
Content Creation
Gaming
- 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.
- 4-core Xe3 iGPU is a solid step over 11th/12th-gen UHD but below Arc B390/B370
- Suitable for 1080p low/medium in e-sports and older titles
- For serious gaming, pair with a discrete GPU or choose a Panther Lake SKU with more Xe cores
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
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.
Pros
- 16 hybrid cores with strong multi-threaded performance for a 25–80 W mobile SoC
- Intel 18A compute tile and modern core designs improve performance per watt vs prior generations
- Xe3 4-core iGPU is a notable upgrade over UHD/Iris Xe for light gaming and media
- NPU 5 with 50 TOPS INT8 supports Copilot+ and local AI workloads
- 20 PCIe 5.0/4.0 lanes and LPDDR5X-8533/DDR5-7200 support modern laptop and mini-PC designs
Cons
- 4-core Xe3 iGPU is still far behind the 12-core Arc B390/B370 found in higher Panther Lake SKUs
- No unlocked multiplier; performance ceiling depends on OEM power tuning
- Max 96 GB memory may feel limiting for some professional workloads
- Not intended for heavy sustained multi-threaded workloads without robust cooling
- Actual power and behavior can vary significantly between laptop designs
Competitors & Alternatives
Intel Core Ultra 5 335
- AMD Ryzen AI 7 345Rival
Mobile AI/Performance
- AMD Ryzen 7 8840URival
Thin-and-Light
- Intel Core Ultra 7 258VRival
Premium Thin-and-Light (Lunar Lake)
- Intel Core Ultra 5 235URival
Mainstream Mobile (Arrow Lake U)
- Qualcomm Snapdragon X EliteRival
ARM-based AI PC
Intel Core Ultra 7 356H
- AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370Rival
High-Performance Mobile
- AMD Ryzen 7 8840HSRival
Thin-and-Light Performance
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HRival
Prior-Gen Mobile
- Intel Core Ultra 9 275HXRival
High-End Mobile
- Compare head-to-headApple M4 ProRival
Premium Thin-and-Light
Same family with more Xe3 iGPU cores for better integrated gaming performance.
Compare head-to-head- Intel Core Ultra 7 265HAlt
Previous-gen Arrow Lake-H option often at lower prices with still-solid performance.
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 reviewA very capable mobile SoC for users who want strong CPU performance, modern AI acceleration, and good efficiency, but who don’t need the fastest integrated gaming graphics and are comfortable with OEM-configured power limits.
Best for: Premium productivity or AI-focused laptop where you want strong CPU performance, modern NPU, and good efficiency, but don’t rely heavily on integrated gaming graphics.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Intel Core Ultra 5 335 or Intel Core Ultra 7 356H?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Intel Core Ultra 7 356H comes out ahead with a score of 8.4/10. 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 Intel Core Ultra 7 356H?
For gaming, the Intel Core Ultra 5 335 leads with a gaming performance score of 72/100 among Intel Core Ultra 5 335 and Intel Core Ultra 7 356H.
Do Intel Core Ultra 5 335 and Intel Core Ultra 7 356H 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 356H has the most cores. Core counts: Intel Core Ultra 5 335 (8 cores), Intel Core Ultra 7 356H (16 cores).
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Core Ultra 7 356H posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core Ultra 7 356H (33,903). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.