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Intel Core Ultra 7 266V vs Intel Core Ultra 9 288V: Comparison

Core Ultra 7 266V vs Core Ultra 9 288V: the p-core boost clock difference

They are built to different briefs, and p-core boost clock shows it, Core Ultra 7 266V 5.0 GHz against Core Ultra 9 288V 5.1 GHz. They differ on p-core base clock too, 2.2 GHz on the Core Ultra 7 266V versus 3.3 GHz on the Core Ultra 9 288V. Tdp is not the same on both, 17 W on the Core Ultra 7 266V versus 30 W on the Core Ultra 9 288V. There is a split on base power as well, 17 W on the Core Ultra 7 266V versus 30 W on the Core Ultra 9 288V. They differ on memory type too, LPDDR5X on the Core Ultra 7 266V versus On-Package LPDDR5X on the Core Ultra 9 288V.

Who each one is for

The Core Ultra 7 266V is the one to take for Ultra-thin and light laptops and all-day battery life, though it is not built for heavy sustained multi-core workloads and gaming laptops. Buy the Core Ultra 9 288V for Ultra-thin and light laptops and all-day battery life, though it is the wrong buy for heavy sustained multi-core workloads and gaming laptops. 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 288V (9/10): the Intel Core Ultra 9 288V is one of Intel's most power-efficient Core Ultra chips, built for the longest battery life in ultra-thin laptops.

What Core Ultra 7 266V and Core Ultra 9 288V have in common

Everything else lines up. Total cores, performance cores, efficiency cores, total threads and l3 cache read the same on both, so those are not worth weighing. They match on 10 further specifications as well.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Integrated Graphics the same on the Core Ultra 7 266V and Core Ultra 9 288V?

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 266V
    Laptop
    Intel Core Ultra 9 288V
    Laptop
  • Codename

    Intel Core Ultra 7 266V
    Lunar Lake
    Intel Core Ultra 9 288V
    Lunar Lake
  • Release Year

    Intel Core Ultra 7 266V
    2024
    Intel Core Ultra 9 288V
    2024
  • TDP

    Intel Core Ultra 7 266V
    17 W
    Intel Core Ultra 9 288V
    30 W
  • iGPU

    Intel Core Ultra 7 266V
    Intel Arc 140V GPU
    Intel Core Ultra 9 288V
    Intel Arc 140V GPU
  • Market Segment

    Intel Core Ultra 7 266V
    Laptop
    Intel Core Ultra 9 288V
    Laptop
  • Microarchitecture

    Intel Core Ultra 7 266V
    Lunar Lake
    Intel Core Ultra 9 288V
    Lunar Lake
  • Socket

    Intel Core Ultra 7 266V
    FCBGA2833
    Intel Core Ultra 9 288V
    FCBGA2833
  • Process Node

    Intel Core Ultra 7 266V
    3 nm
    Intel Core Ultra 9 288V
    3 nm
  • Total Cores

    Intel Core Ultra 7 266V
    8
    Intel Core Ultra 9 288V
    8
  • Performance Cores

    Intel Core Ultra 7 266V
    4
    Intel Core Ultra 9 288V
    4
  • Efficiency Cores

    Intel Core Ultra 7 266V
    4
    Intel Core Ultra 9 288V
    4
  • Total Threads

    Intel Core Ultra 7 266V
    8
    Intel Core Ultra 9 288V
    8
  • SMT Enabled

    Intel Core Ultra 7 266V
    No
    Intel Core Ultra 9 288V
    No
  • P-Core Base Clock

    Intel Core Ultra 7 266V
    2.2 GHz
    Intel Core Ultra 9 288V
    3.3 GHz
  • P-Core Boost Clock

    Intel Core Ultra 7 266V
    5.0 GHz
    Intel Core Ultra 9 288V
    5.1 GHz
  • L3 Cache

    Intel Core Ultra 7 266V
    12 MB
    Intel Core Ultra 9 288V
    12 MB
  • Base Power

    Intel Core Ultra 7 266V
    17 W
    Intel Core Ultra 9 288V
    30 W
  • Max Turbo Power

    Intel Core Ultra 7 266V
    37 W
    Intel Core Ultra 9 288V
    37 W
  • Memory Type

    Intel Core Ultra 7 266V
    LPDDR5X
    Intel Core Ultra 9 288V
    On-Package LPDDR5X
  • Integrated Graphics

    Intel Core Ultra 7 266V
    Yes
    Intel Core Ultra 9 288V
    Yes
  • NPU Peak TOPS

    Intel Core Ultra 7 266V
    45 TOPS (NPU 4)
    Intel Core Ultra 9 288V
    45 TOPS (NPU 4)

    Which one should you pick?

    Choose 266V if you want the higher L3 cache (12 MB vs 12 MB).

    Choose 288V if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.

    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 288V

    9 / 10 Expert Rating

    The Intel Core Ultra 9 288V is one of Intel's most power-efficient Core Ultra chips, built for the longest battery life in ultra-thin laptops.

    More comparisons in Processors (CPUs)