Intel Core i7-8650U vs Apple M1

The Intel Core i7-8650U is based on the Kaby Lake U Refresh architecture and was primarily designed for mobile business laptops.

Manufactured using the 14 nm process, this processor offers four cores and eight threads. In synthetic comparisons, the computing power lags significantly behind the competition. The differences in single-core and multi-core performance are significant and far exceed the ten percent mark. In gaming scenarios, the integrated Intel UHD Graphics 620 is only suitable for simple tasks or older titles.

With a thermal design power of 15 watts, the processor is designed for mobility. The Intel Core i7-8650U is primarily found in inexpensive, used business notebooks, which keeps the price-to-performance ratio stable for simple basic applications. The Apple M1 architecture marks the transition to efficient system-on-a-chip solutions for mobile devices.

Manufactured using the 5 nm process, this processor has eight cores and uses a memory bandwidth of 68 GB/s. In single-core and multi-core performance, the Apple M1 achieves results that clearly outperform the Intel Core i7-8650U in all categories. The integrated Apple M1 (8-core) graphics unit offers a higher frame rate in graphical applications but falls behind dedicated graphics cards.

Despite the high computing capacity, the power consumption remains low, leading to low heat generation. The Apple M1 offers a more advantageous ratio of performance to energy consumption. It is therefore recommended for users who need high system speed and efficiency with modern software.