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Intel Core Ultra 5 125U vs Intel Core Ultra 5 225U: Comparison
What is the difference between Core Ultra 5 125U and Core Ultra 5 225U?
The first real difference is p-core boost clock: Core Ultra 5 125U 4.3 GHz against Core Ultra 5 225U 4.8 GHz. The benchmark result agrees. Cinebench 2024 (Single-Core) puts Core Ultra 5 225U 9% ahead, 101 against 92. Memory type is not the same on both, DDR5, LPDDR5/X on the Core Ultra 5 125U versus LPDDR5/x up to 8400 MT/s, DDR5 up to 6400... on the Core Ultra 5 225U. They differ on npu peak tops too, 11 TOPS on the Core Ultra 5 125U versus 12 TOPS on the Core Ultra 5 225U.
Who each one is for
The Core Ultra 5 125U suits everyday laptop computing and on-device AI features, though it is the wrong buy for gaming laptops and heavy sustained workloads. Buy the Core Ultra 5 225U for affordable business and student thin-and-light laptops and office work, browsing, video calls and streaming, though it is not built for gaming beyond older or light titles at low settings and copilot+ PC AI features, which need a 40+ TOPS NPU. Avoid it for heavy video rendering or code compiling, where H-series chips finish sooner. Our rating of the Core Ultra 5 125U (7.9/10): the Intel Core Ultra 5 125U is a efficiency-oriented Meteor Lake mobile chip, well suited to thin-and-light everyday laptops.
Where the two are identical
Where they agree, they agree completely, total cores, performance cores, efficiency cores, total threads and tdp included, so the decision does not turn on any of those. They match on 9 further specifications as well.
Do the Core Ultra 5 125U and Core Ultra 5 225U differ on p-core base clock?
Yes. P-Core Base Clock reads 1.3 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 125U versus 1.5 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 225U.
Is the L3 Cache the same on the Core Ultra 5 125U and Core Ultra 5 225U?
It is. Both are listed at 12 MB, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Form Factor
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
- Laptop
- Intel Core Ultra 5 225U
- Laptop
Codename
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
- Meteor Lake
- Intel Core Ultra 5 225U
- Arrow Lake
Release Year
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
- 2023
- Intel Core Ultra 5 225U
- 2025
TDP
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
- 15 W
- Intel Core Ultra 5 225U
- 15 W
iGPU
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
- Intel Graphics
- Intel Core Ultra 5 225U
- Intel Graphics
Market Segment
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
- Laptop
- Intel Core Ultra 5 225U
- Laptop
Microarchitecture
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
- Meteor Lake
- Intel Core Ultra 5 225U
- Arrow Lake
Socket
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
- FCBGA2049
- Intel Core Ultra 5 225U
- FCBGA2049
Process Node
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
- 4 nm
- Intel Core Ultra 5 225U
- 3 nm
Total Cores
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
- 12
- Intel Core Ultra 5 225U
- 12
Performance Cores
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
- 2
- Intel Core Ultra 5 225U
- 2
Efficiency Cores
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
- 10
- Intel Core Ultra 5 225U
- 10
Total Threads
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
- 14
- Intel Core Ultra 5 225U
- 14
SMT Enabled
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
- Yes
- Intel Core Ultra 5 225U
- Yes
P-Core Base Clock
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
- 1.3 GHz
- Intel Core Ultra 5 225U
- 1.5 GHz
P-Core Boost Clock
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
- 4.3 GHz
- Intel Core Ultra 5 225U
- 4.8 GHz
L3 Cache
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
- 12 MB
- Intel Core Ultra 5 225U
- 12 MB
Base Power
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
- 15 W
- Intel Core Ultra 5 225U
- 15 W
Max Turbo Power
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
- 57 W
- Intel Core Ultra 5 225U
- 57 W
Memory Type
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
- DDR5, LPDDR5/X
- Intel Core Ultra 5 225U
- LPDDR5/x up to 8400 MT/s, DDR5 up to 6400 MT/s
Integrated Graphics
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
- Yes
- Intel Core Ultra 5 225U
- Yes
NPU Peak TOPS
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
- 11 TOPS (NPU 3)
- Intel Core Ultra 5 225U
- 12 TOPS (Intel AI Boost)
Benchmarks
- General CPU
Cinebench 2024 (Single-Core)
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
- 92-9%
- Intel Core Ultra 5 225U
- 101Best
Renders a 3D scene on one core. Shows how quick the CPU feels in everyday apps and games.
Which one should you pick?
Choose 125U if you want the higher L3 cache (12 MB vs 12 MB).
Choose 225U if you want the higher cinebench 2024 (Single-Core) (101 vs 92).
Verdict
Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
7.9 / 10 Expert Rating
The Intel Core Ultra 5 125U is a efficiency-oriented Meteor Lake mobile chip, well suited to thin-and-light everyday laptops.