Apple M5 Max (18-core) vs Intel Core Ultra X9 388H
92Single-core74.6
96.6Multi-core61.3
93.3Efficiencyspec-based81.4
—iGPU88.3
61.9Platformspec-based56.4
8 spec wins — Apple M5 Max (18-core)2 spec wins — Intel Core Ultra X9 388H
InnoReviews verdict
Apple M5 Max (18-core) wins this laptop processor face-off, 89 to 69.6, pulling ahead mainly in multi-core (+35) and single-core (+17). Intel Core Ultra X9 388H 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 75
- Stronger multi-core score: 97 vs 61
- 68% higher Geekbench 6 (multi): 29,256 vs 17,395
- 58% higher PassMark: 57,677 vs 36,409
- 50% higher Performance cores: 6 vs 4
Reasons to pick the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H
- 33% lower process: 2 nm vs 3 nm
- 11% higher Boost clock: 5.1 GHz vs 4.6 GHz
General
| Spec | Apple M5 Max (18-core) | Intel Core Ultra X9 388H |
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2026 | 2026 |
| Process | 3 nm | 2 nm+33% |
| Base TDP | — | 25 W |
| Max TDP | — | 80 W |
Cores & Clocks
| Spec | Apple M5 Max (18-core) | Intel Core Ultra X9 388H |
|---|---|---|
| Cores | 18+13% | 16 |
| Performance cores | 6+50% | 4 |
| Efficiency cores | 12 | 12 |
| Threads | 18+13% | 16 |
| Base clock | — | 2.1 GHz |
| Boost clock | 4.6 GHz | 5.1 GHz+11% |
| L3 cache | 24 MB+33% | 18 MB |
Integrated GPU
| Spec | Apple M5 Max (18-core) | Intel Core Ultra X9 388H |
|---|---|---|
| iGPU | Apple 40-core GPU | Intel Arc B390 |
| iGPU clock | — | 2,500 MHz |
Memory
| Spec | Apple M5 Max (18-core) | Intel Core Ultra X9 388H |
|---|---|---|
| Memory support | LPDDR5X-9600 | LPDDR5X |
| Max memory | 128 GB+33% | 96 GB |
Benchmarks
| Spec | Apple M5 Max (18-core) | Intel Core Ultra X9 388H |
|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 (single) | 4,322+42%Top 3% | 3,038Top 19% |
| Geekbench 6 (multi) | 29,256+68%Top 2% | 17,395Top 16% |
| Cinebench R23 (single) | — | 2,201Top 7% |
| Cinebench R23 (multi) | — | 18,911Top 19% |
| PassMark | 57,677+58%Top 2% | 36,409Top 16% |
| 3DMark Time Spy Graphics (iGPU) | — | 6,501Top 3% |
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