Apple M2 vs Intel Core i7-12700H

The Apple M2, manufactured by Apple using the 5 nm process, is optimized for the Apple ecosystem and targets creative professionals and users seeking high efficiency on mobile platforms.

It integrates an 8-core CPU (4 performance cores, 4 efficiency cores) and an Apple M2 (10 Core) graphics unit. The M2 utilizes a Unified Memory Architecture with 20 MB L2 cache and achieves 102 GB/s memory bandwidth. In benchmarks, it shows strong single-core performance, surpassing the Intel Core i7-12700H in some single-core tests, and exhibits excellent energy efficiency, leading to low power consumption.

For gaming, it is powerful, but the macOS game offering is more specific. It is not available separately; its price-performance ratio is part of the overall Apple system. The Intel Core i7-12700H, manufactured by Intel using the 10 nm process (Alder Lake H architecture), is designed for powerful Windows laptops, ideal for gaming and demanding applications.

It features a hybrid architecture with 14 cores (6 performance cores, 8 efficiency cores) and 20 threads, supported by 12 MB L2 cache and 24 MB L3 cache. Its integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics 96 (Alder Lake) and 83 GB/s memory bandwidth are remarkable. In multi-core benchmarks, it significantly outperforms the Apple M2, while its single-core performance is also very high in certain tests.

It consumes more power under load but offers broader gaming compatibility and flexibility on the Windows platform. It is available in various laptop models. For users seeking maximum energy efficiency and optimized performance for creative tasks within the Apple ecosystem, the Apple M2 is the suitable choice.

Conversely, for those requiring top multi-core performance, extensive software and game compatibility on Windows, and the flexibility of the PC ecosystem, the Intel Core i7-12700H offers the better solution.