It would not be true to say that laptops can be as strong as desktop PCs. The GPUs and CPUs that come with these devices just don’t have enough strength to be similar. However, modern mobile processors are stronger and use less power than they used to, so they are closer to desktop processors than many people believe.
With Intel and AMD consistently introducing newer and fresher generations, keeping up with the processors must be challenging.
That is why we are writing this guide. We want to ensure that you and anyone else looking to purchase a new laptop will make the right choice by picking the correct mobile processor.
The ideal way we can assist is with a laptop CPU hierarchy list based on gaming/productivity performance and power efficiency.
Here’s the list!
Table of ContentsShow
S Tier
The premium is where you will find the processors fit into the most costly laptops. The processors in these laptops are usually matched with a powerful discrete GPU, so if you want the fastest gaming experience on a laptop, the premium is for you.
These S-tier processors also fit into Ultrabooks, which is a good choice for anyone that doesn’t prioritize gaming. Thin, light, and incredibly fast laptops that are dedicated to day-to-day productivity work. Ultrabooks can handle anything from everyday browsing, Excel sheets, code compiling, and other similar tasks.
At the top of the chart, you can find CPUs like Intel Core i9-13980HX or AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX. These SKUs can be found in laptops that cost $1500 and upward.
The Ryzen 7045 Series are AMD’s higher TDP CPUs that go up to 16 cores and you can find them in gaming laptops as they are some of the fastest processors right now.
For ultrathin laptops, look for the Ryzen 7040 Series, which go up to 45W and 8 cores.
Intel’s latest 13th Gen mobile CPUs, particularly the lower TDP CPUs like the i7-13700H, i7-13800H, and i9-13900H are also an outstanding choice.
Another factor that needs to be considered is the integrated graphics card. AMD’s RDNA 2 iGPUs are considerably faster in this segment than Intel.
Naturally, the M2 processor also gets a spot in the S-tier because it is a no-nonsense upgrade over the M1 chip. The M2 MacBook Pro outperforms multiple 45W Intel and AMD CPUs.
Apple doesn’t end there however. The M2 Pro and M2 Max are presently among the top 20 speediest and most efficient laptop CPUs with a 30W TDP.
AMD’s Ryzen 6000 Series CPUs like the AMD’s Ryzen 9 6900HX, Ryzen 9 6980HS, Ryzen 9 6980HX, 6800H, and 6800HS are still very rapid, so they’ll stay in the S-tier chart, but they are a bit obsolete as the Ryzen 7000 Series and Intel 13th Gen are newer and faster alternative.
Overall Performance – Gaming, Productivity, And Efficiency
| Model | Base Clock | Boost Clock | Cores/Threads | TDP | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX | 2.5 GHz | 5.4 GHz | 16/32 | 55W |
| 2. | Intel Core i9-13980HX | 2.2 GHz | 5.6 GHz | 24/32 | 55W |
| 3. | AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX | 3.0 GHz | 5.2 GHz | 12/24 | 55W |
| 4. | Intel Core i9-13900HX | 2.2 GHz | 5.4 GHz | 24/32 | 55W |
| 5. | Intel Core i9-13950HX | 2.2 GHz | 5.5 GHz | 24/32 | 55W |
| 6. | Intel i9-12900HX | 2.5 GHz | 5.0 GHz | 16/24 | 55W |
| 7. | AMD Ryzen 7 7745HX | 3.6 GHz | 5.1 GHz | 8/16 | 55W |
| 8. | Intel i9-12900HK | 2.5 GHz | 5.0 GHz | 14/20 | 45W+ |
| 9. | Intel Core i7-13650HX | 2.6 GHz | 4.9 GHz | 14/20 | 55W |
| 10. | AMD Ryzen 9 7940H | 4.0 GHz | 5.2 GHz | 8/16 | 35-54W |
| 11. | Intel Core i9-13900H | 2.6 GHz | 5.4 GHz | 14/20 | 45W |
| 12. | Intel Core i7-13700H | 2.4 GHz | 5.0 GHz | 14/20 | 45W |
| 13. | Apple M2 Max | 2.42 GHz | 3.7 GHz | 12/12 | 30W |
| 14. | Apple M2 Pro | 2.42 GHz | 3.5 GHz | 12/12 | 30W |
| 15. | Intel Core i5-13600HX | 2.6 GHz | 4.8 GHz | 14/20 | 55W |
| 16. | Intel Core i7-13620H | 2.4 GHz | 4.9 GHz | 10/16 | 45W |
| Outdated 2022 List | – | – | – | – | |
| 1. | AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX | 3.3 GHz | 4.9 GHz | 8/16 | 45W+ |
| 2. | Intel i9-12900HX | 2.5 GHz | 5.0 GHz | 16/24 | 55W |
| 3. | AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS | 2.6 GHz | 4.9 GHz | 8/16 | 35W+ |
| 4. | Intel i9-12900H | 2.5 GHz | 5.0 GHz | 14/20 | 45W+ |
| 5. | AMD Ryzen 9 6980HX | 3.3 GHz | 5.0 GHz | 8/16 | 45W |
| 6. | Intel i9-12900HK | 2.5 GHz | 5.0 GHz | 14/20 | 45W+ |
| 7. | AMD Ryzen 9 6980HS | 3.3 GHz | 5.0 GHz | 8/16 | 35W |
| 8. | Intel i7-12700H | 2.3 GHz | 4.7 GHz | 14/20 | 45W+ |
| 9. | Apple M1 Pro 10-Core | 2.0 GHz | 3.2 GHz | 10/10 | 60W |
| 10. | Apple M1 Max 10-Core | 2.0 GHz | 3.2 GHz | 10/10 | 90W |
| 11. | Apple M2 (MacBook Pro) | 2.0 GHz | 3.4 GHz | 8/8 | 20W |
| 12. | AMD Ryzen 7 6800H | 3.2 GHz | 4.7 GHz | 8/16 | 45W |
| 13. | AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS | 3.2 GHz | 4.7 GHz | 8/16 | 45W |
A Tier
You can find processors with near S-tier performance in this A-tier category while costing significantly less.
CPUs like the Ryzen 9 5900HS, 5900HX, and i9-11900H are paired with expensive laptops like ASUS’ Zephyrus lineup but can also be found in more affordable models.
With AMD’s Ryzen 6000 Series released, we also recommend checking out the Ryzen 5 6600H and 6600HS.
Even though the 5980HX and 11980HK are last-generation processors, they are still some of the most powerful chips and end up only in the most costly laptop models. Usually in ASUS’ ROG laptop models.
The i7-1270P has a lower TDP than the rest of the mobile processors, so naturally, you can find it in more budget-oriented laptops. Alternatively, check out HP EliteBook 840 G9, Lenovo ThinkBook13x Gen 2, and Gen 4+.
Here’s a swift 15-minute comparison of an M1 MacBook Pro versus an ASUS ROG Strix with a 5900HX.
Note: All laptop CPU rankings (B-tier, C-tier, D-tier) below are based on the PassMark – CPU Mark – Laptop & Portable CPU performance chart. Revised: Note: All laptop CPU rankings (B-grade, C-grade, D-grade) below are based on the PassMark – CPU Mark – Laptop & Portable CPU performance chart.
| Model | Base Clock | Boost Clock | Cores/Threads | TDP | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX | 3.3 GHz | 4.8 GHz | 8/16 | 45W+ |
| 2. | Intel Core i9-11980HK | 2.6 GHz | 5.0 GHz | 8/16 | 45W+ |
| 3. | AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX | 3.3 GHz | 4.6 GHz | 8/16 | 45W+ |
| 4. | Intel Core i7-1270P | 2.2 GHz | 4.9 GHz | 12/16 | 28W |
| 5. | Intel Core i9-11950H | 2.6 GHz | 5.0 GHz | 8/16 | 45W+ |
| 6. | AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS | 3.0 GHz | 4.6 GHz | 8/16 | 35W |
| 7. | Intel Core i9-11900H | 2.5 GHz | 4.9 GHz | 8/16 | 45W |
| 8. | AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS | 3.0 GHz | 4.8 GHz | 8/16 | 35W |
| 9. | Intel i7-11800H | 2.3 GHz | 4.6 GHz | 8/16 | 45W |
| 10. | Intel i7-11850H | 2.5 GHz | 4.8 GHz | 8/16 | 45W |
| 11. | AMD Ryzen 7 5800H | 3.2 GHz | 4.4 GHz | 8/16 | 45W |
| 12. | AMD Ryzen 7 6600H | 3.3 GHz | 4.5 GHz | 6/12 | 45W |
| 13. | AMD Ryzen 7 6600HS | 3.3 GHz | 4.5 GHz | 6/12 | 35W |
| 14. | Intel i5-12450H | 1.5 GHz | 3.3 GHz | 8/12 | 45W |
| 15. | AMD Ryzen 9 5900H | 3.1 GHz | 4.6 GHz | 8/16 | 45W |
| 16. | AMD Ryzen 7 5800HS | 2.8 GHz | 4.4 GHz | 8/16 | 35W |
B Tier
Processors running at a lower TDP like the Ryzen 7 5800U, PRO 5850U, or the 4800U end up in the B-tier list. Apple’s 8-core M1 Pro also fits this category primarily because it has only 8 cores and 12 threads.
AMD’s 4th iteration 8-core CPUs also fit into this category. Keep in mind; all of these processors listed above are swift and can handle most tasks you throw at them, but they end up in this category simply because they are now outdated.
Intel’s 10th generation i7s and i9s are also fast enough to fit in the B-tier.
Here are some laptop recommendations: Asus ROG Zephyrus G14, ASUS TUF Gaming A17, Lenovo Yoga Slim 7, HP ProBook 445 G8, Apple 2021 MacBook Pro, etc.
Apple’s M1 Pro and M1 Max descend to the second tier despite being highly efficient. The M2, M2 Pro and M2 Max are significantly swifter with almost the same power consumption level.
| Model | Base Clock | Boost Clock | Cores/Threads | TDP | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | AMD Ryzen 9 4900HS | 3.0 GHz | 4.3 GHz | 8/16 | 35W |
| 2. | AMD Ryzen 9 4900H | 3.3 GHz | 4.4 GHz | 8/16 | 45W |
| 3. | AMD Ryzen 7 4800H | 2.9 GHz | 4.2 GHz | 8/16 | 45W |
| 4. | AMD Ryzen 5 6800U | 2.7 GHz | 4.7 GHz | 8/16 | 15-28W |
| 4. | AMD Ryzen 7 5800U | 1.9 GHz | 4.4 GHz | 8/16 | 15W |
| 5. | AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS | 2.9 GHz | 4.2 GHz | 8/16 | 45W |
| 6. | Apple M1 Pro 8-core | 2.0 GHz | 3.2 GHz | 8/8 | 30W |
| 7. | AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5850U | 1.9 GHz | 4.4 GHz | 8/16 | 15W |
| 8. | AMD Ryzen 5 5600H | 3.3 GHz | 4.2 GHz | 6/12 | 45W |
| 9. | AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 4800U | 1.8 GHz | 4.2 GHz | 8/16 | 15W |
| 10. | Intel i9-10980HK | 2.4 GHz | 5.3 GHz | 8/16 | 45W |
| 11. | Intel i7-10700E | 2.9 GHz | 4.5 GHz | 8/16 | 65W |
| 12. | Intel i7-11600H | 2.4 GHz | 5.3 GHz | 8/16 | 45W |
| 13. | Intel i9-10885H | 2.9 GHz | 4.6 GHz | 6/12 | 45W |
C Tier
With so many different laptop CPUs available, some are bound to end up in this C-tier category. However, that does not immediately translate to a bad processor. In fact, every single one of these CPUs listed above is powerful enough to handle gaming, productivity work, or daily browsing.
For example, Intel’s 11th Gen i5s are still 6-core, 12-thread processors with a TDP of 45W, so they definitely can output high FPS in gaming.
Our picks for this category are the Ryzen 7 5700U, i7-11700TE, Apple’s M1, Ryzen 4700U, and Intel’s i5-11400H. You can find these in Acer’s Nitro 5, MacBook Pro, Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5, ASUS TUF Gaming, and others.
Here’s a benchmark video of the Ryzen 7 Pro 4750U processor without a discrete GPU:
| Model | Base Clock | Boost Clock | Cores/Threads | TDP | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Intel i5-11500H | 2.9 GHz | 4.6 GHz | 6/12 | 45W |
| 2. | Intel i5-11400H | 2.7 GHz | 4.5 GHz | 6/12 | 45W |
| 3. | Intel i9-10980HK | 2.9 GHz | 4.6 GHz | 6/12 | 45W |
| 5. | AMD Ryzen 7 5700U | 1.8 GHz | 4.3 GHz | 8/16 | 15W |
| 6. | Intel i7-10700TE | 2.0 GHz | 4.4 GHz | 8/16 | 35W |
| 7. | AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 4750U | 1.7 GHz | 4.1 GHz | 8/16 | 15W |
| 8. | Intel i9-10885H | 2.4 GHz | 5.3 GHz | 8/16 | 45W |
| 9. | AMD Ryzen 5 5600U | 2.3 GHz | 4.2 GHz | 6/12 | 15W |
| 10. | AMD Ryzen 5 5650U | 2.3 GHz | 4.2 GHz | 6/12 | 15W |
| 11. | Apple M1 8-Core | 2.0 GHz | 3.2 GHz | 8/8 | 15W |
| 12. | Intel i7-10870H | 2.2 GHz | 5.0 GHz | 8/16 | 45W |
| 13. | Intel i5-11260H | 2.6 GHz | 4.4 GHz | 6/12 | 45W |
| 14. | AMD Ryzen 5 4600H | 3.0 GHz | 4.0 GHz | 6/12 | 45W |
| 15. | AMD Ryzen 7 4700U | 2.0 GHz | 4.1 GHz | 8/8 | 15W |
| 16. | AMD Ryzen 5 5500U | 2.1 GHz | 4.0 GHz | 6/12 | 15W |
| 17. | AMD Ryzen 5 4600U | 2.1 GHz | 4.0 GHz | 6/12 | 15W |
D Tier
The D-tier category lists the slowest laptop processors of Intel’s and AMD’s last three generations. However, even though we are in the lowest tier, some of these processors can be great as daily drivers.
The i7-1260P is a 12th-gen processor with 12 cores and 16 threads, which will perform pretty well. The i7-10750H, i5-10400H, and i7-10710U are also good choices with 6 cores and 12 threads.
The rest are 4-core, 8-thread CPUs, which might not be enough for 2022. Of course, it depends on what you plan on working on with your laptop. But, since these are lower TDP CPUs (just 15W or lower), those 4 cores won’t be too fast.
Fortunately, these D-tier processors have something going for them, and that’s their pricing. Additionally, these CPUs fit into cheaper laptops.
Check out Dell’s Inspiron 13 5310, HP 14″ i3-1125G4, ASUS X415, and other similarly priced laptops.
To understand how low-end CPUs perform, check out this video where the i3-10110U was examined in 20 various games.
| Model | Base Clock | Boost Clock | Cores/Threads | TDP | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Intel i7-10750H | 2.6 GHz | 5.0 GHz | 6/12 | 45W |
| 2. | Intel i7-11370H | 3.3 GHz | 4.8 GHz | 4/8 | 35W |
| 3. | AMD Ryzen 3 5325U | 2.7 GHz | 4.1 GHz | 4/8 | 15W |
| 4. | Intel i7-1260P | 2.1 GHz | 4.7 GHz | 12/16 | 28W |
| 5. | AMD Ryzen 3 5400U | 2.6 GHz | 4.0 GHz | 4/8 | 15W |
| 6. | Intel i7-1185G7E | 2.8 GHz | 4.4 GHz | 4/8 | 15W |
| 7. | Intel i5-10500H | 2.5 GHz | 4.5 GHz | 6/12 | 45W |
| 8. | AMD Ryzen 5 4500U | 2.3 GHz | 4.0 GHz | 6/6 | 15W |
| 8. | Intel i7-11300H | 3.1 GHz | 4.4 GHz | 4/8 | 35W |
| 9. | Intel i7-1185G7 | 3.0 GHz | 4.8 GHz | 4/8 | 15W |
| 10. | Intel i5-1145G7 | 2.6 GHz | 4.4 GHz | 4/8 | 28W |
| 11. | AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 4200GE | 1.7 GHz | 3.5 GHz | 4/8 | 35W |
| 12. | Intel i7-1068NG7 | 2.3 GHz | 4.1 GHz | 4/8 | 28W |
| 13. | AMD Ryzen 3 5300U | 2.6 GHz | 3.8 GHz | 4/8 | 15W |
| 14. | Intel i7-10710U | 1.1 GHz | 4.7 GHz | 6/12 | 15W |
| 15. | Intel i3-1125G4 | 2.0 GHz | 3.7 GHz | 4/8 | 28W |
| 16. | Intel i5-10200H | 2.4 GHz | 4.1 GHz | 4/8 | 45W |
| 17. | Intel i5-1035G7 | 1.2 GHz | 3.7 GHz | 4/8 | 15W |
| 18. | Intel i5-1030NG7 | 1.1 GHz | 3.5 GHz | 4/8 | 10W |
| 19. | Intel i3-1005G1 | 1.2 GHz | 3.4 GHz | 2/4 | 15W |
| 20. | Intel i5-10210Y | 1.0 GHz | 4.0 GHz | 4/8 | 7W |
| 21. | Intel i3-10110Y | 1.1 GHz | 4.0 GHz | 2/4 | 7W |
Final Words On Laptop CPU Hierarchy
This inventory of laptop processors includes roughly 80 various choices. We may have omitted specific Intel or AMD models, but these are the majority. They are additionally the most frequently selected ones. It’s worth mentioning that only the latest three generations of Intel and AMD CPUs are included.
Our laptop CPU rankings are based on diverse reviewers and benchmark charts like Hardware Unboxed, PassMark, MKBHD, etc.
