Core Ultra 5 135H vs M2 Pro

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core Ultra 5 135H

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +22.0% higher average FPS across 49 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (18 MB vs 24 MB).
❌No integrated graphics, while M2 Pro can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

M2 Pro

2023

Why buy it

✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 18 MB).
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Apple M2 Pro GPU, while Core Ultra 5 135H needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core Ultra 5 135H across 49 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (21,939 vs 22,116).

Core Ultra 5 135H

2023

M2 Pro

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +22.0% higher average FPS across 49 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Why buy it

✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 18 MB).
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Apple M2 Pro GPU, while Core Ultra 5 135H needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (18 MB vs 24 MB).
❌No integrated graphics, while M2 Pro can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core Ultra 5 135H across 49 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (21,939 vs 22,116).

Quick Answers

So, is Core Ultra 5 135H better than M2 Pro?

Yes. Core Ultra 5 135H is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 22.0% average FPS lead across 49 shared CPU game tests in our data, 0.8% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core Ultra 5 135H is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 22.0% more average FPS across 49 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core Ultra 5 135H is the better fit. You are getting 0.8% better PassMark, backed by 14 cores and 18 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core Ultra 5 135H still looks like the safer overall buy. Core Ultra 5 135H is at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 22.0% average FPS lead across 49 shared CPU game tests in our data.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core Ultra 5 135H is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting more multi-core headroom with 14 cores / 18 threads instead of 12/12. That extra compute headroom should age better as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.

Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.

Core Ultra 5 135H Benchmark Check

M2 Pro Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core Ultra 5 135H	M2 Pro
1080p
low	193 FPS	176 FPS
medium	154 FPS	142 FPS
high	126 FPS	115 FPS
ultra	102 FPS	91 FPS
1440p
low	156 FPS	141 FPS
medium	122 FPS	111 FPS
high	98 FPS	88 FPS
ultra	81 FPS	70 FPS
4K
low	86 FPS	66 FPS
medium	73 FPS	56 FPS
high	59 FPS	44 FPS
ultra	45 FPS	35 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 135H Open M2 Pro

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core Ultra 5 135H	M2 Pro
1080p
low	553 FPS	380 FPS
medium	521 FPS	327 FPS
high	422 FPS	269 FPS
ultra	378 FPS	216 FPS
1440p
low	549 FPS	324 FPS
medium	457 FPS	289 FPS
high	379 FPS	243 FPS
ultra	324 FPS	192 FPS
4K
low	337 FPS	208 FPS
medium	283 FPS	188 FPS
high	258 FPS	161 FPS
ultra	226 FPS	128 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 135H Open M2 Pro

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core Ultra 5 135H	M2 Pro
1080p
low	553 FPS	548 FPS
medium	553 FPS	548 FPS
high	553 FPS	548 FPS
ultra	553 FPS	545 FPS
1440p
low	553 FPS	548 FPS
medium	553 FPS	478 FPS
high	553 FPS	439 FPS
ultra	494 FPS	382 FPS
4K
low	548 FPS	420 FPS
medium	441 FPS	326 FPS
high	400 FPS	289 FPS
ultra	321 FPS	231 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 135H Open M2 Pro

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core Ultra 5 135H	M2 Pro
1080p
low	553 FPS	548 FPS
medium	553 FPS	548 FPS
high	553 FPS	548 FPS
ultra	553 FPS	548 FPS
1440p
low	553 FPS	548 FPS
medium	553 FPS	548 FPS
high	553 FPS	525 FPS
ultra	553 FPS	451 FPS
4K
low	553 FPS	476 FPS
medium	524 FPS	426 FPS
high	473 FPS	380 FPS
ultra	413 FPS	332 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 135H Open M2 Pro

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core Ultra 5 135H and M2 Pro

Core Ultra 5 135H

The Core Ultra 5 135H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 December 2023 (1 year ago). It is based on the Meteor Lake-H (2023) architecture. It features 14 cores and 18 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 18 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA2049. Thermal design power (TDP): + 18 MB. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 22,116 points. Launch price was $342.

M2 Pro

The M2 Pro is manufactured by Apple. It was released in 17 January 2023 (2 years ago). It features 12 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 2.42 GHz, with boost up to 3.5 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB. L2 cache: 36 MB. Built on 5 nm process technology. Socket: none. Thermal design power (TDP): 36 MB + 24 MB. Memory support: LPDDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 21,939 points. Launch price was $299.

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Processing Power

The Core Ultra 5 135H packs 14 cores / 18 threads, while the M2 Pro offers 12 cores / 12 threads — the Core Ultra 5 135H has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 135H versus 3.5 GHz on the M2 Pro — a 27.2% clock advantage for the Core Ultra 5 135H (base: 3.6 GHz vs 2.42 GHz). The Core Ultra 5 135H is built on the Meteor Lake-H (2023) architecture. In PassMark, the Core Ultra 5 135H scores 22,116 against the M2 Pro's 21,939 — a 0.8% lead for the Core Ultra 5 135H. L3 cache: 18 MB (total) on the Core Ultra 5 135H vs 24 MB on the M2 Pro.

Feature	Core Ultra 5 135H	M2 Pro
Cores / Threads	14 / 18+17%	12 / 12
Boost Clock	4.6 GHz+31%	3.5 GHz
Base Clock	3.6 GHz+49%	2.42 GHz
L3 Cache	18 MB (total)	24 MB+33%
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)	36 MB+1700%
Process	7 nm	5 nm-29%
Architecture	Meteor Lake-H (2023)	—
PassMark	22,116	21,939
Geekbench 6 Single	—	2,650
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	14,450

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Memory & Platform

The Core Ultra 5 135H uses the FCBGA2049 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the M2 Pro uses none (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core Ultra 5 135H	M2 Pro
Socket	FCBGA2049	none
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	—	LPDDR5-6400
Max RAM Capacity	—	32 GB
RAM Channels	—	2
ECC Support	—	No
PCIe Lanes	—	0

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Core Ultra 5 135H) / ARM Virtualization (M2 Pro). The M2 Pro includes integrated graphics (Apple M2 Pro GPU), while the Core Ultra 5 135H requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: M2 Pro targets Professional Laptop.