Intel Core i5-8265U vs Apple M4 (10-CPU)

The Intel Core i5-8265U was introduced in the third quarter of 2018 under the architecture designation Whiskey Lake U.

It is designed as a mobile processor and targets the mainstream laptop market for everyday tasks and office applications. This processor is manufactured using a 14-nm process. It features four cores and eight threads, offering solid multitasking capability for its generation. The L3 cache is 6 MB. In single-core applications, the Intel Core i5-8265U delivers a rock-solid performance.

For multi-core tasks, performance is limited compared to modern processors. For gaming scenarios, the Intel Core i5-8265U, with its integrated Intel UHD Graphics 620, is only suitable for very undemanding titles or older games at low settings. As a U-series processor, it is designed for energy efficiency, enabling longer battery life in laptops.

It was primarily found in budget to mid-range laptops. The Apple M4 (10-CPU) is a state-of-the-art processor introduced in 2024 under the M4 architecture designation.

It targets premium mobile devices, especially high-performance tablets, and is designed for professional users and creative tasks. The processor is manufactured using an advanced 3-nm process. It integrates ten CPU cores and offers a maximum memory bandwidth of 120 GB/s. It features 20 MB of L2 cache.

The Apple M4 (10-CPU) demonstrates significantly superior performance in both single-core and multi-core tasks. It is considerably faster than the Intel Core i5-8265U, making it ideal for computationally intensive applications such as video editing or 3D rendering. With its integrated Apple M4 (10 Core) graphics unit, the Apple M4 (10-CPU) offers excellent performance for mobile gaming scenarios.

Despite its high performance, the Apple M4 (10-CPU) is known for its exceptional energy efficiency. It is not a separately available component but the heart of Apple's premium devices. The Intel Core i5-8265U is suitable for budget-conscious users who need a system for everyday tasks like browsing, office work, and media consumption.

The Apple M4 (10-CPU) is the clear choice for users seeking maximum performance, especially for professional applications, demanding gaming, and creative work, as well as first-class energy efficiency in a mobile form factor.