Intel
Intel Core Ultra 9 395K
Panther Lake · 26C · 6.0 GHz
93
/ 100
From $649
VS
Apple M5 Pro wins by 3
Apple
Apple M5 Pro
14C CPU · 20C GPU · 300 GB/s
96
/ 100
From $2,199
Specdex verdict
Apple M5 Pro takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Intel Core Ultra 9 395K lands at 93 and Apple M5 Pro at 96. That puts Apple M5 Pro ahead by 3 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 Pro if…
- ✓Creator-tier silicon in a laptop
- ✓Improved memory bandwidth over M4 Pro
- ✓Excellent media engines
Intel Core Ultra 9 395K 93
vs 96 Apple M5 Pro
Score breakdown
Intel Core Ultra 9 395K
93 single 95
multi 93
gaming 94
efficiency 86
Apple M5 Pro
96 single 99
multi 94
gaming 82
efficiency 98
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Intel Core Ultra 9 395K | Apple M5 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Panther Lake | — |
| Cores | ▲ 26 (8P+16E+2LP) | 14 (10P+4E) |
| Threads | 26 | — |
| Socket | LGA1851 | — |
| Release year | 2025 | — |
| GPU cores | — | 20 |
| Memory bandwidth | — | 300 GB/s |
| Neural engine | — | 16-core, 55 TOPS |
Intel Core Ultra 9 395K
Pros
- +Latest generation silicon
- +Improved perf-per-watt
- +Full modern feature set
Cons
- −Premium pricing
- −Requires up-to-date platform
- −Initial stock scarcity likely
Apple M5 Pro
Pros
- +Creator-tier silicon in a laptop
- +Improved memory bandwidth over M4 Pro
- +Excellent media engines
Cons
- −Only in MacBook Pro / Mac mini
- −Premium pricing
- −Windows ARM gap persists
FAQ: Intel Core Ultra 9 395K vs Apple M5 Pro
Which is better, Intel Core Ultra 9 395K or Apple M5 Pro? +
Apple M5 Pro scores 96 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 3. 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 Pro worth the price? +
At $2,199, Apple M5 Pro delivers a Specdex score of 96 — strongest in single.
Does Intel Core Ultra 9 395K or Apple M5 Pro 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.