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Intel Core Ultra 7 266V vs Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX: Comparison
Core Ultra 7 266V vs Core Ultra 9 285HX l3 cache compared
On l3 cache the spread is 67%, Core Ultra 7 266V 12 MB against Core Ultra 9 285HX 36 MB, so Core Ultra 9 285HX takes it. There is a split on tdp as well, 17 W on the Core Ultra 7 266V versus 55 W on the Core Ultra 9 285HX. Socket is not the same on both, FCBGA2833 on the Core Ultra 7 266V versus BGA 2114 on the Core Ultra 9 285HX.
Which should you buy, Core Ultra 7 266V or Core Ultra 9 285HX?
Buy the Core Ultra 7 266V for Ultra-thin and light laptops and all-day battery life, though it is not the pick for heavy sustained multi-core workloads and gaming laptops. The Core Ultra 9 285HX 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. Our rating of the Core Ultra 7 266V (9/10): the Intel Core Ultra 7 266V is a non-vPro Lunar Lake variant for consumer ultra-thin laptops wanting more headroom than the Core Ultra 5 tier. Our rating of the Core Ultra 9 285HX (8.8/10): the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX brings desktop-class core counts to a mobile package, suited to high-end gaming and creator laptops that can handle the higher TDP.
Where the two are identical
Everything else lines up. Integrated graphics, form factor, market segment and smt enabled read the same on both, so those are not worth weighing.
Frequently asked questions
Do the Core Ultra 7 266V and Core Ultra 9 285HX differ on total cores?
Yes. Total Cores reads 8 on the Core Ultra 7 266V versus 24 on the Core Ultra 9 285HX.
Specs and benchmarks
Form Factor
- Intel Core Ultra 7 266V
- Laptop
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- Laptop
Codename
- Intel Core Ultra 7 266V
- Lunar Lake
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- Arrow Lake
Release Year
- Intel Core Ultra 7 266V
- 2024
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- 2025
TDP
- Intel Core Ultra 7 266V
- 17 W
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- 55 W
iGPU
- Intel Core Ultra 7 266V
- Intel Arc 140V GPU
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- Intel Graphics (Xe-LPG, reduced EU count)
Market Segment
- Intel Core Ultra 7 266V
- Laptop
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- Laptop
Microarchitecture
- Intel Core Ultra 7 266V
- Lunar Lake
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- Arrow Lake-HX
Socket
- Intel Core Ultra 7 266V
- FCBGA2833
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- BGA 2114 (BGA, soldered)
Process Node
- Intel Core Ultra 7 266V
- 3 nm
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- 3 nm
Total Cores
- Intel Core Ultra 7 266V
- 8
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- 24Best
Performance Cores
- Intel Core Ultra 7 266V
- 4
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- 8Best
Efficiency Cores
- Intel Core Ultra 7 266V
- 4
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- 16Best
Total Threads
- Intel Core Ultra 7 266V
- 8
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- 24Best
SMT Enabled
- Intel Core Ultra 7 266V
- No
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- No
P-Core Base Clock
- Intel Core Ultra 7 266V
- 2.2 GHz
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- 2.8 GHz
P-Core Boost Clock
- Intel Core Ultra 7 266V
- 5.0 GHz
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- 5.5 GHz
L3 Cache
- Intel Core Ultra 7 266V
- 12 MB-67%
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- 36 MBBest
Base Power
- Intel Core Ultra 7 266V
- 17 W
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- 55 W
Max Turbo Power
- Intel Core Ultra 7 266V
- 37 W
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- 160 W
Memory Type
- Intel Core Ultra 7 266V
- LPDDR5X
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- DDR5
Integrated Graphics
- Intel Core Ultra 7 266V
- Yes
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- Yes
NPU Peak TOPS
- Intel Core Ultra 7 266V
- 45 TOPS (NPU 4)
- Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
- 13 TOPS (NPU 3)
Which one should you pick?
Choose 266V if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Choose 285HX if you want the higher L3 cache (36 MB vs 12 MB).
Verdict
Intel Core Ultra 7 266V
9 / 10 Expert Rating
The Intel Core Ultra 7 266V is a non-vPro Lunar Lake variant for consumer ultra-thin laptops wanting more headroom than the Core Ultra 5 tier.
Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
8.8 / 10 Expert Rating
The Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX brings desktop-class core counts to a mobile package, suited to high-end gaming and creator laptops that can handle the higher TDP.