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Head-to-head

Apple - M4 Ultra vs Intel - Core Ultra 9 285H

Last updated · How Mars Score works
M4 UltraAPPLERENDER
Probe A
Apple
M4 Ultra
63.1/ 100C
Cores54· 40%
Benchmarks72· 40%
Platform—· 20%
Core Ultra 9 285HINTELRENDER
Probe B
Intel
Core Ultra 9 285H
51.2/ 100D
Cores53· 40%
Benchmarks50· 40%
Platform—· 20%
Quick verdict

Between the M4 Ultra and Core Ultra 9 285H, the M4 Ultra comes out ahead in l3 cache and cinebench r23 (multi), while the Core Ultra 9 285H wins on tdp and boost clock. Overall, the M4 Ultra scores 63.1 and the Core Ultra 9 285H scores 51.2 on our Mars Score.

Buying advice

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.

Pick the Core Ultra 9 285H if you care most about tdp and boost clock. Its strongest claims are tdp, boost clock.

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.

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.
Full readout

Spec comparison

Cores

SpecApple - M4 UltraIntel - Core Ultra 9 285H
Coresⓘ32lead16
Threadsⓘ32lead16
Base clockⓘ0 GHz2.9 GHzlead
Boost clockⓘ4.5 GHz5.4 GHzlead
L3 cacheⓘ64 MBlead24 MB

Platform

SpecApple - M4 UltraIntel - Core Ultra 9 285H
SocketⓘSolderedBGA
TDPⓘ120 W45 Wlead
Integrated graphicsⓘtruetrue
DDR5ⓘtruetrue

Benchmarks

SpecApple - M4 UltraIntel - Core Ultra 9 285H
Cinebench R23 (multi)ⓘ52600lead21500
Cinebench R23 (single)ⓘ2290lead2050
Reader questions

Frequently asked

Drill down

Spec-level deep dives

Cores→Threads→Base clock→Boost clock→L3 cache→Socket→TDP→Integrated graphics→DDR5→Cinebench R23 (multi)→Cinebench R23 (single)→
By manufacturer

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