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Intel Core Ultra 5 125U vs Intel Core Ultra 5 226V: Comparison
Core Ultra 5 125U vs Core Ultra 5 226V: the l3 cache difference
On l3 cache the spread is 33%, Core Ultra 5 125U 12 MB against Core Ultra 5 226V 8 MB, so Core Ultra 5 125U takes it. The benchmark result agrees. Cinebench 2024 (Multi-Core) puts Core Ultra 5 226V 7% ahead, 554 against 516. P-core base clock is not the same on both, 1.3 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 125U versus 2.1 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 226V. They differ on tdp too, 15 W on the Core Ultra 5 125U versus 17 W on the Core Ultra 5 226V. Socket is not the same on both, FCBGA2049 on the Core Ultra 5 125U versus FCBGA2833 on the Core Ultra 5 226V.
Core Ultra 5 125U vs Core Ultra 5 226V: which one fits your build
The Core Ultra 5 125U is the one to take for everyday laptop computing and on-device AI features, though it is the wrong buy for gaming laptops and heavy sustained workloads. The Core Ultra 5 226V suits Ultra-thin and light laptops and all-day battery life, though it is not built for heavy sustained multi-core workloads and gaming laptops. 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. Our rating of the Core Ultra 5 226V (8.9/10): the Intel Core Ultra 5 226V is a non-vPro Lunar Lake chip built for consumer ultra-thin laptops prioritizing battery life.
Frequently asked questions
Do the Core Ultra 5 125U and Core Ultra 5 226V differ on total cores?
Yes. Total Cores reads 12 on the Core Ultra 5 125U versus 8 on the Core Ultra 5 226V.
Is the Integrated Graphics the same on the Core Ultra 5 125U and Core Ultra 5 226V?
It is. Both are listed at Yes, 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 226V
- Laptop
Codename
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
- Meteor Lake
- Intel Core Ultra 5 226V
- Lunar Lake
Release Year
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
- 2023
- Intel Core Ultra 5 226V
- 2024
TDP
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
- 15 W
- Intel Core Ultra 5 226V
- 17 W
iGPU
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
- Intel Graphics
- Intel Core Ultra 5 226V
- Intel Arc 130V GPU
Market Segment
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
- Laptop
- Intel Core Ultra 5 226V
- Laptop
Microarchitecture
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
- Meteor Lake
- Intel Core Ultra 5 226V
- Lunar Lake
Socket
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
- FCBGA2049
- Intel Core Ultra 5 226V
- FCBGA2833
Process Node
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
- 4 nm
- Intel Core Ultra 5 226V
- 3 nm
Total Cores
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
- 12Best
- Intel Core Ultra 5 226V
- 8
Performance Cores
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
- 2
- Intel Core Ultra 5 226V
- 4Best
Efficiency Cores
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
- 10Best
- Intel Core Ultra 5 226V
- 4
Total Threads
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
- 14Best
- Intel Core Ultra 5 226V
- 8
SMT Enabled
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
- Yes
- Intel Core Ultra 5 226V
- No
P-Core Base Clock
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
- 1.3 GHz
- Intel Core Ultra 5 226V
- 2.1 GHz
P-Core Boost Clock
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
- 4.3 GHz
- Intel Core Ultra 5 226V
- 4.5 GHz
L3 Cache
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
- 12 MBBest
- Intel Core Ultra 5 226V
- 8 MB-33%
Base Power
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
- 15 W
- Intel Core Ultra 5 226V
- 17 W
Max Turbo Power
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
- 57 W
- Intel Core Ultra 5 226V
- 37 W
Memory Type
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
- DDR5, LPDDR5/X
- Intel Core Ultra 5 226V
- LPDDR5X
Integrated Graphics
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
- Yes
- Intel Core Ultra 5 226V
- Yes
NPU Peak TOPS
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
- 11 TOPS (NPU 3)
- Intel Core Ultra 5 226V
- 45 TOPS (NPU 4)
Benchmarks
- General CPU
Cinebench 2024 (Multi-Core)
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
- 516-7%
- Intel Core Ultra 5 226V
- 554Best
Renders a 3D scene on every core. Shows speed in rendering and other heavy work.
Cinebench 2024 (Single-Core)
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
- 92-16%
- Intel Core Ultra 5 226V
- 110Best
Renders a 3D scene on one core. Shows how quick the CPU feels in everyday apps and games.
Cinebench R23 (Single-Core)
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
- 1,567-11%
- Intel Core Ultra 5 226V
- 1,755Best
Renders a 3D scene on one core. Shows how quick the CPU feels in everyday apps and games.
Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
- 9,011-10%
- Intel Core Ultra 5 226V
- 9,963Best
Everyday tasks like photo editing, compression and compiling, run on all cores.
Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)
- Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
- 2,151-17%
- Intel Core Ultra 5 226V
- 2,590Best
The same everyday tasks on one core. Tracks how responsive the PC feels.
Which one should you pick?
Choose 125U if you want the higher L3 cache (12 MB vs 8 MB).
Choose 226V if you want the higher cinebench 2024 (Multi-Core) (554 vs 516), the higher cinebench 2024 (Single-Core) (110 vs 92) and the higher cinebench R23 (Single-Core) (1,755 vs 1,567).
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.
Intel Core Ultra 5 226V
8.9 / 10 Expert Rating
The Intel Core Ultra 5 226V is a non-vPro Lunar Lake chip built for consumer ultra-thin laptops prioritizing battery life.