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Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX vs Intel Core Ultra 7 164U: Comparison
What is the difference between Core Ultra 5 235HX and Core Ultra 7 164U?
Start with l3 cache, because it is the widest measured gap between them: Core Ultra 5 235HX 24 MB against Core Ultra 7 164U 12 MB, 50% in favour of Core Ultra 5 235HX. Tdp is not the same on both, 55 W on the Core Ultra 5 235HX versus 9 W on the Core Ultra 7 164U. There is a split on socket as well, FCBGA2114 on the Core Ultra 5 235HX versus FCBGA2551 on the Core Ultra 7 164U. They differ on release year too, 2025 on the Core Ultra 5 235HX versus 2023 on the Core Ultra 7 164U.
Which should you buy, Core Ultra 5 235HX or Core Ultra 7 164U?
The Core Ultra 5 235HX is the one to take for high-end gaming laptops and mobile content creation, though it is not the pick for thin-and-light laptops and battery-life-focused use. Buy the Core Ultra 7 164U for everyday laptop computing and on-device AI features, though it is not built for gaming laptops and heavy sustained workloads. Our rating of the Core Ultra 5 235HX (8.8/10): the Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX brings desktop-class core counts to a mobile package, suited to high-end gaming and creator laptops that can handle the higher TDP. Our rating of the Core Ultra 7 164U (7.9/10): the Intel Core Ultra 7 164U is a efficiency-oriented Meteor Lake mobile chip, well suited to thin-and-light everyday laptops.
What Core Ultra 5 235HX and Core Ultra 7 164U have in common
Everything else lines up. Total threads, integrated graphics, form factor, igpu and market segment read the same on both, so those are not worth weighing.
Frequently asked questions
Do the Core Ultra 5 235HX and Core Ultra 7 164U differ on total cores?
Yes. Total Cores reads 14 on the Core Ultra 5 235HX versus 12 on the Core Ultra 7 164U.
Specs and benchmarks
Form Factor
- Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX
- Laptop
- Intel Core Ultra 7 164U
- Laptop
Codename
- Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX
- Arrow Lake
- Intel Core Ultra 7 164U
- Meteor Lake
Release Year
- Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX
- 2025
- Intel Core Ultra 7 164U
- 2023
TDP
- Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX
- 55 W
- Intel Core Ultra 7 164U
- 9 W
iGPU
- Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX
- Intel Graphics
- Intel Core Ultra 7 164U
- Intel Graphics
Market Segment
- Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX
- Laptop
- Intel Core Ultra 7 164U
- Laptop
Microarchitecture
- Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX
- Arrow Lake-HX
- Intel Core Ultra 7 164U
- Meteor Lake
Socket
- Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX
- FCBGA2114
- Intel Core Ultra 7 164U
- FCBGA2551
Process Node
- Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX
- 3 nm
- Intel Core Ultra 7 164U
- 4 nm
Total Cores
- Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX
- 14Best
- Intel Core Ultra 7 164U
- 12
Performance Cores
- Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX
- 6Best
- Intel Core Ultra 7 164U
- 2
Efficiency Cores
- Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX
- 8
- Intel Core Ultra 7 164U
- 10Best
Total Threads
- Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX
- 14
- Intel Core Ultra 7 164U
- 14
SMT Enabled
- Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX
- No
- Intel Core Ultra 7 164U
- Yes
P-Core Base Clock
- Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX
- 2.9 GHz
- Intel Core Ultra 7 164U
- 1.1 GHz
P-Core Boost Clock
- Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX
- 5.1 GHz
- Intel Core Ultra 7 164U
- 4.8 GHz
L3 Cache
- Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX
- 24 MBBest
- Intel Core Ultra 7 164U
- 12 MB-50%
Base Power
- Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX
- 55 W
- Intel Core Ultra 7 164U
- 9 W
Max Turbo Power
- Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX
- 160 W
- Intel Core Ultra 7 164U
- 30 W
Memory Type
- Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX
- DDR5
- Intel Core Ultra 7 164U
- LPDDR5/X
Integrated Graphics
- Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX
- Yes
- Intel Core Ultra 7 164U
- Yes
NPU Peak TOPS
- Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX
- 13 TOPS (NPU 3)
- Intel Core Ultra 7 164U
- 11 TOPS (NPU 3)
Which one should you pick?
Choose 235HX if you want the higher L3 cache (24 MB vs 12 MB).
Choose 164U if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Verdict
Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX
8.8 / 10 Expert Rating
The Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX brings desktop-class core counts to a mobile package, suited to high-end gaming and creator laptops that can handle the higher TDP.
Intel Core Ultra 7 164U
7.9 / 10 Expert Rating
The Intel Core Ultra 7 164U is a efficiency-oriented Meteor Lake mobile chip, well suited to thin-and-light everyday laptops.