Apple M5 Max (18-core) vs Intel Core Ultra 5 225H
92Single-core66.7
96.6Multi-core49.4
93.3Efficiencyspec-based75.7
—iGPU66
61.9Platformspec-based56.8
9 spec wins — Apple M5 Max (18-core)1 spec wins — Intel Core Ultra 5 225H
InnoReviews verdict
Apple M5 Max (18-core) wins this laptop processor face-off, 89 to 60.4, pulling ahead mainly in multi-core (+47) and single-core (+25). Intel Core Ultra 5 225H still makes sense if its price or standout specs fit your needs better.
Which would you pick?
Key differences
Reasons to pick the Apple M5 Max (18-core)
- Stronger single-core score: 92 vs 67
- Stronger multi-core score: 97 vs 49
- 139% higher Geekbench 6 (multi): 29,256 vs 12,222
- 106% higher PassMark: 57,677 vs 28,049
- 58% higher Geekbench 6 (single): 4,322 vs 2,727
Reasons to pick the Intel Core Ultra 5 225H
No decisive spec advantages — this side competes on price and preference.
General
| Spec | Apple M5 Max (18-core) | Intel Core Ultra 5 225H |
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2026 | 2025 |
| Process | 3 nm | 3 nm |
| Base TDP | — | 28 W |
| Max TDP | — | 115 W |
Cores & Clocks
| Spec | Apple M5 Max (18-core) | Intel Core Ultra 5 225H |
|---|---|---|
| Cores | 18+29% | 14 |
| Performance cores | 6+50% | 4 |
| Efficiency cores | 12+20% | 10 |
| Threads | 18+29% | 14 |
| Base clock | — | 1.7 GHz |
| Boost clock | 4.6 GHz | 4.9 GHz+7% |
| L3 cache | 24 MB+33% | 18 MB |
Integrated GPU
| Spec | Apple M5 Max (18-core) | Intel Core Ultra 5 225H |
|---|---|---|
| iGPU | Apple 40-core GPU | Intel Arc 130T |
| iGPU clock | — | 2,200 MHz |
Memory
| Spec | Apple M5 Max (18-core) | Intel Core Ultra 5 225H |
|---|---|---|
| Memory support | LPDDR5X-9600 | LPDDR5X-8400 / DDR5-6400 |
| Max memory | 128 GB | 128 GB |
Benchmarks
| Spec | Apple M5 Max (18-core) | Intel Core Ultra 5 225H |
|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 (single) | 4,322+58%Top 3% | 2,727Top 37% |
| Geekbench 6 (multi) | 29,256+139%Top 2% | 12,222Top 45% |
| Cinebench R23 (single) | — | 1,969Top 22% |
| Cinebench R23 (multi) | — | 14,630Top 37% |
| PassMark | 57,677+106%Top 2% | 28,049Top 26% |
| 3DMark Time Spy Graphics (iGPU) | — | 2,378Top 30% |
Related comparisons
Apple M5 Max (18-core)vs Apple M5 Pro (18-core)VSApple M5 Max (18-core)vs Apple M4 Max (16-core)VSApple M5 Max (18-core)vs Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite ExtremeVSApple M5 Max (18-core)vs Apple M6 (12-core)VSIntel Core Ultra 5 225Hvs Intel Core i7-14700HXVSIntel Core Ultra 5 225Hvs AMD Ryzen 9 8945HSVSIntel Core Ultra 5 225Hvs AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 360VSIntel Core Ultra 5 225Hvs AMD Ryzen AI 7 350VS