Where they actually differ
The most decisive specs, ranked by how much they matter — before the full spec table.
| Spec | Apple - M4 Ultra | Intel - Core Ultra 9 285H |
|---|---|---|
| L3 cache | 64 MB | 24 MB |
| Cinebench R23 (multi) | 52600 | 21500 |
| Cores | 32 | 16 |
| TDP | 120 W | 45 W |
| Boost clock | 4.5 GHz | 5.4 GHz |
Between the M4 Ultra and Core Ultra 9 285H, the M4 Ultra comes out ahead in l3 cache / cinebench r23 (multi), while the Core Ultra 9 285H wins on tdp / boost clock. Overall, the M4 Ultra scores 63.1 and the Core Ultra 9 285H scores 51.2 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
The M4 Ultra is the clear pick on raw spec strength, leading by 11.9 points on the Mars Score. The margin is wide enough that the underdog only makes sense if its individual strengths line up with what you specifically need.
Pick the M4 Ultra if you push the hardware — gaming, on-device AI, heavy multitasking — and the extra compute headroom is worth the trade-offs. The biggest gaps in its favor are l3 cache, cinebench r23 (multi), cores. The single most decisive one: L3 cache — 166.67% more. 64 MB vs 24 MB.
Pick the Core Ultra 9 285H if you care most about tdp / boost clock. Its strongest claims are tdp, boost clock. The single most decisive one: TDP — 75.00 W less. 45 vs 120.
There are no meaningful ties on the headline specs — every popular-comparison metric has a winner.
Bottom line: the M4 Ultra is the safer default. The other model is the right choice only when its specific advantages line up with your priorities.
Which should you buy: Apple - M4 Ultra or Intel - Core Ultra 9 285H?
Apple - M4 Ultra leads the current Mars Score by 11.9 points.The more useful decision is the trade-off behind that result: compare cores, boost clock, tdp against the way you will actually use the product.
Choose Apple - M4 Ultra if…
Apple - M4 Ultra has the measurable edge on cache l3 mb, cinebench r23 multi, core count.
Choose Intel - Core Ultra 9 285H if…
Intel - Core Ultra 9 285H has the measurable edge on tdp w, boost clock ghz.
This is a structured comparison of the published catalog values. It is not a claim of identical real-world performance across every workload; use the linked spec drill-downs and methodology page to inspect the inputs.
Why Apple - M4 Ultra wins
- ▲L3 cache — 166.67% more. 64 MB vs 24 MB.
- ▲Cinebench R23 (multi) — 144.65% more. 52600 vs 21500.
- ▲Cores — 100.00% more. 32 vs 16.
Why Intel - Core Ultra 9 285H wins
- ▲TDP — 75.00 W less. 45 vs 120.
- ▲Boost clock — 20.00% more. 5.4 GHz vs 4.5 GHz.
Spec comparison
Cores
| Spec | Apple - M4 Ultra | Intel - Core Ultra 9 285H |
|---|---|---|
| Coresⓘ | 32lead | 16 |
| Threadsⓘ | 32lead | 16 |
| Base clockⓘ | 0 GHz | 2.9 GHzlead |
| Boost clockⓘ | 4.5 GHz | 5.4 GHzlead |
| L3 cacheⓘ | 64 MBlead | 24 MB |
Platform
| Spec | Apple - M4 Ultra | Intel - Core Ultra 9 285H |
|---|---|---|
| Socketⓘ | Soldered | BGA |
| TDPⓘ | 120 W | 45 Wlead |
| Integrated graphicsⓘ | true | true |
| DDR5ⓘ | true | true |
Benchmarks
| Spec | Apple - M4 Ultra | Intel - Core Ultra 9 285H |
|---|---|---|
| Cinebench R23 (multi)ⓘ | 52600lead | 21500 |
| Cinebench R23 (single)ⓘ | 2290lead | 2050 |