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Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX vs Intel Core Ultra 9 285H: Comparison
What is the difference between Core Ultra 7 255HX and Core Ultra 9 285H?
These two are close on paper, and total cores is the only measure that separates them at all: Core Ultra 7 255HX 20 against Core Ultra 9 285H 16. The benchmark result agrees. Cinebench 2024 (Multi-Core) puts Core Ultra 7 255HX 36% ahead, 1,730 against 1,114. Add l3 cache to that, 30 MB on the Core Ultra 7 255HX versus 24 MB on the Core Ultra 9 285H, and the pattern holds. Socket is not the same on both, BGA 2114 on the Core Ultra 7 255HX versus FCBGA2049 on the Core Ultra 9 285H.
Which should you buy, Core Ultra 7 255HX or Core Ultra 9 285H?
The Core Ultra 7 255HX is the one to take for high-end gaming laptops and mobile content creation, though it is the wrong buy for thin-and-light laptops and battery-life-focused use. The Core Ultra 9 285H suits 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 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. Our rating of the Core Ultra 9 285H (8.3/10): the Intel Core Ultra 9 285H is a performance-oriented Meteor Lake mobile chip, well suited to premium laptops.
Where the two are identical
Everything else lines up. Integrated graphics, form factor, release year, market segment and smt enabled read the same on both, so those are not worth weighing.
Frequently asked questions
Do the Core Ultra 7 255HX and Core Ultra 9 285H differ on performance cores?
Yes. Performance Cores reads 8 on the Core Ultra 7 255HX versus 6 on the Core Ultra 9 285H.
Specs and benchmarks
Form Factor
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- Laptop
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285H
- Laptop
Codename
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- Arrow Lake
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285H
- Arrow Lake
Release Year
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- 2025
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285H
- 2025
TDP
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- 55 W
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285H
- 45 W
iGPU
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- Intel Graphics (Xe-LPG, reduced EU count)
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285H
- Intel Arc 140T GPU
Market Segment
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- Laptop
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285H
- Laptop
Microarchitecture
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- Arrow Lake-HX
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285H
- Meteor Lake
Socket
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- BGA 2114 (BGA, soldered)
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285H
- FCBGA2049
Process Node
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- 3 nm
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285H
- 3 nm
Total Cores
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- 20Best
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285H
- 16
Performance Cores
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- 8Best
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285H
- 6
Efficiency Cores
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- 12Best
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285H
- 10
Total Threads
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- 20Best
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285H
- 16
SMT Enabled
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- No
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285H
- No
P-Core Base Clock
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- 2.4 GHz
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285H
- 2.9 GHz
P-Core Boost Clock
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- 5.2 GHz
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285H
- 5.4 GHz
L3 Cache
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- 30 MBBest
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285H
- 24 MB-20%
Base Power
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- 55 W
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285H
- 45 W
Max Turbo Power
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- 160 W
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285H
- 115 W
Memory Type
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- DDR5
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285H
- LPDDR5/X, DDR5
Integrated Graphics
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- Yes
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285H
- Yes
NPU Peak TOPS
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- 13 TOPS (NPU 3)
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285H
- 11 TOPS (NPU 3)
Benchmarks
- General CPU
Cinebench 2024 (Multi-Core)
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- 1,730Best
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285H
- 1,114-36%
Renders a 3D scene on every core. Shows speed in rendering and other heavy work.
Cinebench 2024 (Single-Core)
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- 131Best
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285H
- 124-5%
Renders a 3D scene on one core. Shows how quick the CPU feels in everyday apps and games.
Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- 2,946Best
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285H
- 2,9400%
The same everyday tasks on one core. Tracks how responsive the PC feels.
Which one should you pick?
Choose 255HX if you want the higher L3 cache (30 MB vs 24 MB), the higher cinebench 2024 (Multi-Core) (1,730 vs 1,114) and the higher cinebench 2024 (Single-Core) (131 vs 124).
Choose 285H if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Verdict
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.
Intel Core Ultra 9 285H
8.3 / 10 Expert Rating
The Intel Core Ultra 9 285H is a performance-oriented Meteor Lake mobile chip, well suited to premium laptops.
More comparisons in Processors (CPUs)
- Intel Core Ultra 7 265H vs Intel Core Ultra 9 285H
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX vs Intel Core Ultra 7 265HX
- Intel Core Ultra 7 165H vs Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
- Intel Core Ultra 7 268V vs Intel Core Ultra 9 285H
- Intel Core Ultra 7 256V vs Intel Core Ultra 9 285H
- Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX vs Intel Core Ultra 7 266V