Core Ultra 5 135H vs M2 Pro 10-Core

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: +20.2% higher average FPS across 49 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (18 MB vs 24 MB).

M2 Pro 10-Core

2023

Why buy it

✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 18 MB).

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 10-Core

2023

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +20.2% higher average FPS across 49 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Why buy it

✅+33.3% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 18 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Smaller total L3 cache (18 MB vs 24 MB).

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 10-Core?

Yes. Core Ultra 5 135H is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 20.2% 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 20.2% 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 20.2% 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 10/10. 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 10-Core Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core Ultra 5 135H	M2 Pro 10-Core
1080p
low	193 FPS	179 FPS
medium	154 FPS	144 FPS
high	126 FPS	119 FPS
ultra	102 FPS	94 FPS
1440p
low	156 FPS	144 FPS
medium	122 FPS	113 FPS
high	98 FPS	91 FPS
ultra	81 FPS	72 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 10-Core

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core Ultra 5 135H	M2 Pro 10-Core
1080p
low	553 FPS	455 FPS
medium	521 FPS	389 FPS
high	422 FPS	314 FPS
ultra	378 FPS	260 FPS
1440p
low	549 FPS	388 FPS
medium	457 FPS	344 FPS
high	379 FPS	283 FPS
ultra	324 FPS	231 FPS
4K
low	337 FPS	245 FPS
medium	283 FPS	219 FPS
high	258 FPS	195 FPS
ultra	226 FPS	162 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 135H Open M2 Pro 10-Core

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core Ultra 5 135H	M2 Pro 10-Core
1080p
low	553 FPS	548 FPS
medium	553 FPS	548 FPS
high	553 FPS	548 FPS
ultra	553 FPS	546 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	419 FPS
medium	441 FPS	326 FPS
high	400 FPS	289 FPS
ultra	321 FPS	231 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 135H Open M2 Pro 10-Core

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core Ultra 5 135H	M2 Pro 10-Core
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	535 FPS
ultra	553 FPS	458 FPS
4K
low	553 FPS	485 FPS
medium	524 FPS	432 FPS
high	473 FPS	386 FPS
ultra	413 FPS	336 FPS

Open Core Ultra 5 135H Open M2 Pro 10-Core

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core Ultra 5 135H and M2 Pro 10-Core

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 10-Core

The M2 Pro 10-Core is manufactured by Apple. It was released in 17 January 2023 (2 years ago). It features 10 cores and 10 threads. Base frequency is 2.42 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 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.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core Ultra 5 135H packs 14 cores / 18 threads, while the M2 Pro 10-Core offers 10 cores / 10 threads — the Core Ultra 5 135H has 4 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.6 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 135H versus 3.7 GHz on the M2 Pro 10-Core — a 21.7% 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 10-Core'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 10-Core.

Feature	Core Ultra 5 135H	M2 Pro 10-Core
Cores / Threads	14 / 18+40%	10 / 10
Boost Clock	4.6 GHz+24%	3.7 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

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core Ultra 5 135H uses the FCBGA2049 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the M2 Pro 10-Core uses none (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.