Intel Core i5-5257U vs Apple A18

The Intel Core i5-5257U was released in early 2015 as part of the Broadwell generation for compact notebooks and mini PCs.

Manufactured using the 14-nanometer process, this processor from Intel features two cores and four threads, along with a 3 MB Level 3 cache. In benchmarks, the Intel Core i5-5257U shows stable performance for simple office tasks but lags significantly behind more modern chips in single-core and multi-core computing power.

The integrated Intel Iris Graphics 6100 allows for basic graphical applications but quickly reaches its limits with graphics-intensive games. The thermal design power is specified at 28 watts. Due to its age, the model is primarily found in budget-friendly used systems, resulting in a practical price-performance ratio for basic applications.

The processor is recommended for users who only perform simple digital tasks. The Apple A18 was developed for use in current mobile devices and is aimed at users with high demands.

Manufactured using the modern 3-nanometer process, the chip utilizes the Donan architecture with six cores and a 20 MB Level 2 cache. In relevant benchmarks, the Apple A18 outperforms the comparison model several times over in both single-core and multi-core performance. Thanks to the integrated graphics unit with five cores and a memory bandwidth of 60 GB/s, performance in games is significantly higher.

The architecture is designed for maximum energy efficiency, keeping power consumption very low by comparison. Since the Apple A18 is firmly integrated into high-quality hardware, the purchase price is in the premium segment. This chip is the clear recommendation for compute-intensive applications and demanding mobile gaming.