Intel Core Ultra 9 395K
Panther Lake · 26C · 6.0 GHz
Apple M5
10C CPU · 10C GPU · Next-gen NPU
Apple M5 takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Intel Core Ultra 9 395K lands at 93 and Apple M5 at 94. That puts Apple M5 ahead by 1 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Intel Core Ultra 9 395K if…
- ✓Latest generation silicon
- ✓Improved perf-per-watt
- ✓Full modern feature set
Pick Apple M5 if…
- ✓Perf-per-watt improved ~18% vs M4
- ✓Enhanced ray tracing
- ✓16-core Neural Engine v5 (50 TOPS)
Winner by scenario
Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate testGaming
Intel Core Ultra 9 395KFrame-rate-bound workloads — favours cache and single-thread speed
Intel Core Ultra 9 395K leads on gaming (94 vs 78).
Creators & productivity
Intel Core Ultra 9 395KRendering, compilation, heavy multitasking — favours core count
Intel Core Ultra 9 395K leads on multi (93 vs 90).
Power efficiency
Apple M5Performance per watt — thermals, PSU headroom, electricity cost
Apple M5 leads on efficiency (100 vs 86).
Value for money
Intel Core Ultra 9 395KSpecdex score per dollar at MSRP
Intel Core Ultra 9 395K more score per dollar ($649 vs $1,299).
Score breakdown
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Intel Core Ultra 9 395K | Apple M5 |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Panther Lake | — |
| Cores | ▲ 26 (8P+16E+2LP) | 10 (4P+6E) |
| Threads | 26 | — |
| Socket | LGA1851 | — |
| Release year | 2025 | — |
| Memory bandwidth | — | 150 GB/s |
| Neural engine | — | 16-core, 50 TOPS |
| Process | — | TSMC N3P |
Intel Core Ultra 9 395K
- +Latest generation silicon
- +Improved perf-per-watt
- +Full modern feature set
- −Premium pricing
- −Requires up-to-date platform
- −Initial stock scarcity likely
Apple M5
- +Perf-per-watt improved ~18% vs M4
- +Enhanced ray tracing
- +16-core Neural Engine v5 (50 TOPS)
- −Apple-ecosystem only
- −Limited to first-party products
- −No Windows gaming story
FAQ: Intel Core Ultra 9 395K vs Apple M5
Which is better, Intel Core Ultra 9 395K or Apple M5? +
Apple M5 scores 94 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 1. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Intel Core Ultra 9 395K worth the price? +
At $649, Intel Core Ultra 9 395K delivers a Specdex score of 93 — strongest in single.
Is Apple M5 worth the price? +
At $1,299, Apple M5 delivers a Specdex score of 94 — strongest in single.
Does Intel Core Ultra 9 395K or Apple M5 last longer? +
Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.
Which is better for gaming, Intel Core Ultra 9 395K or Apple M5? +
Intel Core Ultra 9 395K — leads on gaming (94 vs 78). Frame-rate-bound workloads — favours cache and single-thread speed.
Which is better for creator and productivity work, Intel Core Ultra 9 395K or Apple M5? +
Intel Core Ultra 9 395K — leads on multi (93 vs 90). Rendering, compilation, heavy multitasking — favours core count.