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Head-to-head

Apple - M3 vs Intel - Core Ultra 7 265

Last updated · How Mars Score works
M3APPLERENDER
Probe A
Apple
M3
43.6/ 100D
Cores43· 40%
Benchmarks44· 40%
Platform—· 20%
Core Ultra 7 265INTELRENDER
Probe B
Intel
Core Ultra 7 265
56.2/ 100D
Cores53· 40%
Benchmarks59· 40%
Platform—· 20%
Quick verdict

Between the M3 and Core Ultra 7 265, the M3 comes out ahead in tdp, while the Core Ultra 7 265 wins on cores and cinebench r23 (multi). Overall, the M3 scores 43.6 and the Core Ultra 7 265 scores 56.2 on our Mars Score.

Buying advice

Which should you buy?

The Core Ultra 7 265 is the clear pick on raw spec strength, leading by 12.6 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 M3 if you care most about tdp. The biggest gaps in its favor are tdp.

Pick the Core Ultra 7 265 if you push the hardware — gaming, on-device AI, heavy multitasking — and the extra compute headroom is worth the trade-offs. Its strongest claims are cores, cinebench r23 (multi), l3 cache, among others.

There are no meaningful ties on the headline specs — every popular-comparison metric has a winner.

Bottom line: the Core Ultra 7 265 is the safer default. The other model is the right choice only when its specific advantages line up with your priorities.

Why Apple - M3 wins

  • ▲TDP — 43.00 W less. 22 vs 65.

Why Intel - Core Ultra 7 265 wins

  • ▲Cores — 150.00% more. 20 vs 8.
  • ▲Cinebench R23 (multi) — 134.72% more. 33800 vs 14400.
  • ▲L3 cache — 87.50% more. 30 MB vs 16 MB.
  • ▲Boost clock — 30.86% more. 5.3 GHz vs 4.05 GHz.
Full readout

Spec comparison

Cores

SpecApple - M3Intel - Core Ultra 7 265
Coresⓘ820lead
Threadsⓘ820lead
Base clockⓘ0 GHz2.4 GHzlead
Boost clockⓘ4.05 GHz5.3 GHzlead
L3 cacheⓘ16 MB30 MBlead

Platform

SpecApple - M3Intel - Core Ultra 7 265
SocketⓘSolderedLGA1851
TDPⓘ22 Wlead65 W
Integrated graphicsⓘtruetrue
DDR5ⓘtruetrue

Benchmarks

SpecApple - M3Intel - Core Ultra 7 265
Cinebench R23 (multi)ⓘ1440033800lead
Cinebench R23 (single)ⓘ19502120lead
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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