Intel Core i7-1260P vs Apple M4

The Intel Core i7-1260P was introduced in the first quarter of 2022 as a processor for thin and light laptops, offering balanced performance for productivity and lighter creative tasks.

The Apple M4, introduced in May 2024, targets high-end mobile devices like the iPad Pro and is designed for demanding professional applications and AI workloads.

The Intel Core i7-1260P is based on Intel's 10 nm Alder Lake U-architecture with 12 cores (4 P-cores, 8 E-cores) and 16 threads, equipped with 9 MB L2 and 18 MB L3 cache. The Apple M4 is manufactured using a more advanced 3 nm process and integrates up to 10 cores in its optimized ARM architecture with 20 MB L2 cache.

In performance tests, the Apple M4 shows significantly higher performance than the Intel Core i7-1260P in both single-core and multi-core tasks, reflecting superior responsiveness and faster execution of computationally intensive applications. The integrated Apple M4 (10 Core) graphics unit of the Apple M4 significantly outperforms the Intel Iris Xe Graphics 96 (Alder Lake) of the Intel Core i7-1260P, making it better suited for demanding gaming and graphics workloads.

Regarding power consumption, the Apple M4 is known for its high efficiency due to its 3 nm process and SoC design, leading to longer battery life. The Intel Core i7-1260P, with a typical TDP of 20 W to 64 W, is more flexible, but its performance is more dependent on the cooling of the respective device.

The Apple M4 also offers a higher maximum memory bandwidth of 120 GB/s compared to 83 GB/s for the Intel Core i7-1260P. The Intel Core i7-1260P is available in a wide range of Windows laptops and offers good value for money. The Apple M4 is exclusively found in Apple's premium devices, which, while offering excellent performance density per watt, come with higher acquisition costs.

For users who prioritize maximum raw performance, energy efficiency, and strong integrated graphics performance and wish to invest in the Apple ecosystem, the Apple M4 is the better choice. The Intel Core i7-1260P is a good option for users who prefer a Windows system and seek balanced performance for everyday tasks and lighter creative work, with a wider selection of devices at various price points.