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Intel Core Ultra 5 135U vs Intel Core Ultra 5 235U: Comparison

Core Ultra 5 135U vs Core Ultra 5 235U: the p-core boost clock difference

They are built to different briefs, and p-core boost clock shows it, Core Ultra 5 135U 4.4 GHz against Core Ultra 5 235U 4.9 GHz. Memory type is not the same on both, DDR5, LPDDR5/X on the Core Ultra 5 135U versus LPDDR5/x up to 8400 MT/s, DDR5 up to 6400... on the Core Ultra 5 235U. They differ on npu peak tops too, 11 TOPS on the Core Ultra 5 135U versus 12 TOPS on the Core Ultra 5 235U.

Core Ultra 5 135U vs Core Ultra 5 235U: which one fits your build

Buy the Core Ultra 5 135U 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 235U is the one to take for 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. It is the wrong buy for heavy video rendering or code compiling, where H-series chips finish sooner. Our rating of the Core Ultra 5 135U (7.9/10): the Intel Core Ultra 5 135U 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 135U and Core Ultra 5 235U differ on p-core base clock?

Yes. P-Core Base Clock reads 1.6 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 135U versus 2.0 GHz on the Core Ultra 5 235U.

Is the L3 Cache the same on the Core Ultra 5 135U and Core Ultra 5 235U?

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 135U
    Laptop
    Intel Core Ultra 5 235U
    Laptop
  • Codename

    Intel Core Ultra 5 135U
    Meteor Lake
    Intel Core Ultra 5 235U
    Arrow Lake
  • Release Year

    Intel Core Ultra 5 135U
    2023
    Intel Core Ultra 5 235U
    2025
  • TDP

    Intel Core Ultra 5 135U
    15 W
    Intel Core Ultra 5 235U
    15 W
  • iGPU

    Intel Core Ultra 5 135U
    Intel Graphics
    Intel Core Ultra 5 235U
    Intel Graphics
  • Market Segment

    Intel Core Ultra 5 135U
    Laptop
    Intel Core Ultra 5 235U
    Laptop
  • Microarchitecture

    Intel Core Ultra 5 135U
    Meteor Lake
    Intel Core Ultra 5 235U
    Arrow Lake
  • Socket

    Intel Core Ultra 5 135U
    FCBGA2049
    Intel Core Ultra 5 235U
    FCBGA2049
  • Process Node

    Intel Core Ultra 5 135U
    4 nm
    Intel Core Ultra 5 235U
    3 nm
  • Total Cores

    Intel Core Ultra 5 135U
    12
    Intel Core Ultra 5 235U
    12
  • Performance Cores

    Intel Core Ultra 5 135U
    2
    Intel Core Ultra 5 235U
    2
  • Efficiency Cores

    Intel Core Ultra 5 135U
    10
    Intel Core Ultra 5 235U
    10
  • Total Threads

    Intel Core Ultra 5 135U
    14
    Intel Core Ultra 5 235U
    14
  • SMT Enabled

    Intel Core Ultra 5 135U
    Yes
    Intel Core Ultra 5 235U
    Yes
  • P-Core Base Clock

    Intel Core Ultra 5 135U
    1.6 GHz
    Intel Core Ultra 5 235U
    2.0 GHz
  • P-Core Boost Clock

    Intel Core Ultra 5 135U
    4.4 GHz
    Intel Core Ultra 5 235U
    4.9 GHz
  • L3 Cache

    Intel Core Ultra 5 135U
    12 MB
    Intel Core Ultra 5 235U
    12 MB
  • Base Power

    Intel Core Ultra 5 135U
    15 W
    Intel Core Ultra 5 235U
    15 W
  • Max Turbo Power

    Intel Core Ultra 5 135U
    57 W
    Intel Core Ultra 5 235U
    57 W
  • Memory Type

    Intel Core Ultra 5 135U
    DDR5, LPDDR5/X
    Intel Core Ultra 5 235U
    LPDDR5/x up to 8400 MT/s, DDR5 up to 6400 MT/s
  • Integrated Graphics

    Intel Core Ultra 5 135U
    Yes
    Intel Core Ultra 5 235U
    Yes
  • NPU Peak TOPS

    Intel Core Ultra 5 135U
    11 TOPS (NPU 3)
    Intel Core Ultra 5 235U
    12 TOPS (Intel AI Boost)

    Which one should you pick?

    Choose 135U if you want the higher L3 cache (12 MB vs 12 MB).

    Choose 235U if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.

    Verdict

    Intel Core Ultra 5 135U

    7.9 / 10 Expert Rating

    The Intel Core Ultra 5 135U is a efficiency-oriented Meteor Lake mobile chip, well suited to thin-and-light everyday laptops.

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