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Intel Core Ultra 7 165H vs Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX: Comparison
What is the difference between Core Ultra 7 165H and Core Ultra 7 255HX?
Expect a near tie. The closest thing to a difference is total cores, Core Ultra 7 165H 16 against Core Ultra 7 255HX 20. L3 cache runs the same way, 24 MB on the Core Ultra 7 165H versus 30 MB on the Core Ultra 7 255HX, another win for Core Ultra 7 255HX. They differ on p-core base clock too, 1.4 GHz on the Core Ultra 7 165H versus 2.4 GHz on the Core Ultra 7 255HX. Tdp is not the same on both, 28 W on the Core Ultra 7 165H versus 55 W on the Core Ultra 7 255HX. Socket is not the same on both, FCBGA2049 on the Core Ultra 7 165H versus BGA 2114 on the Core Ultra 7 255HX.
Who each one is for
Buy the Core Ultra 7 165H for everyday laptop computing and on-device AI features, though it is not built for gaming laptops and heavy sustained workloads. The Core Ultra 7 255HX suits high-end gaming laptops and mobile content creation, though it is the wrong buy for thin-and-light laptops and battery-life-focused use. Our rating of the Core Ultra 7 165H (8.7/10): the Intel Core Ultra 7 165H is the highest-binned Meteor Lake H-series chip in this catalog, well suited to premium laptops chasing maximum performance. Our rating of the Core Ultra 7 255HX (8.8/10): the Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX brings desktop-class core counts to a mobile package, suited to high-end gaming and creator laptops that can handle the higher TDP.
Frequently asked questions
Do the Core Ultra 7 165H and Core Ultra 7 255HX differ on performance cores?
Yes. Performance Cores reads 6 on the Core Ultra 7 165H versus 8 on the Core Ultra 7 255HX.
Is the Integrated Graphics the same on the Core Ultra 7 165H and Core Ultra 7 255HX?
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 7 165H
- Laptop
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- Laptop
Codename
- Intel Core Ultra 7 165H
- Meteor Lake
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- Arrow Lake
Release Year
- Intel Core Ultra 7 165H
- 2023
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- 2025
TDP
- Intel Core Ultra 7 165H
- 28 W
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- 55 W
iGPU
- Intel Core Ultra 7 165H
- Intel Arc graphics
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- Intel Graphics (Xe-LPG, reduced EU count)
Market Segment
- Intel Core Ultra 7 165H
- Laptop
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- Laptop
Microarchitecture
- Intel Core Ultra 7 165H
- Meteor Lake
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- Arrow Lake-HX
Socket
- Intel Core Ultra 7 165H
- FCBGA2049
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- BGA 2114 (BGA, soldered)
Process Node
- Intel Core Ultra 7 165H
- 7 nm
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- 3 nm
Total Cores
- Intel Core Ultra 7 165H
- 16
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- 20Best
Performance Cores
- Intel Core Ultra 7 165H
- 6
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- 8Best
Efficiency Cores
- Intel Core Ultra 7 165H
- 10
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- 12Best
Total Threads
- Intel Core Ultra 7 165H
- 22Best
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- 20
SMT Enabled
- Intel Core Ultra 7 165H
- Yes
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- No
P-Core Base Clock
- Intel Core Ultra 7 165H
- 1.4 GHz
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- 2.4 GHz
P-Core Boost Clock
- Intel Core Ultra 7 165H
- 5 GHz
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- 5.2 GHz
L3 Cache
- Intel Core Ultra 7 165H
- 24 MB-20%
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- 30 MBBest
Base Power
- Intel Core Ultra 7 165H
- 28 W
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- 55 W
Max Turbo Power
- Intel Core Ultra 7 165H
- 115 W
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- 160 W
Memory Type
- Intel Core Ultra 7 165H
- DDR5 or LPDDR5X
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- DDR5
Integrated Graphics
- Intel Core Ultra 7 165H
- Yes
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- Yes
NPU Peak TOPS
- Intel Core Ultra 7 165H
- 11 TOPS (NPU 3)
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- 13 TOPS (NPU 3)
Which one should you pick?
Choose 165H if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Choose 255HX if you want the higher L3 cache (30 MB vs 24 MB).
Verdict
Intel Core Ultra 7 165H
8.7 / 10 Expert Rating
The Intel Core Ultra 7 165H is the highest-binned Meteor Lake H-series chip in this catalog, well suited to premium laptops chasing maximum performance.
Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
8.8 / 10 Expert Rating
The Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX brings desktop-class core counts to a mobile package, suited to high-end gaming and creator laptops that can handle the higher TDP.
More comparisons in Processors (CPUs)
- Intel Core Ultra 7 155H vs Intel Core Ultra 7 165H
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX vs Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX vs Intel Core Ultra 9 285H
- Intel Core Ultra 5 238V vs Intel Core Ultra 7 165H
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX vs Intel Core Ultra 7 266V
- Intel Core Ultra 7 165H vs Intel Core Ultra 7 165U


