Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX vs Intel Core Ultra 7 356H Comparison

The Verdict

The recorded data presents an unusually clear split between these two mobile processors. The Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX wins 16 of the 17 head-to-head benchmark comparisons, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 356H claims only a single victory. The average benchmark score for the Ultra 5 235HX is 52073, placing it in the 91st percentile of all CPUs, while the Ultra 7 356H averages 41215, sitting in the 87th percentile. The Ultra 5 235HX sits within 0.7% of rivals like the Intel Core i9-13900F and AMD Ryzen 9 5950X, while the Ultra 7 356H tracks within 0.6% of the Intel Core Ultra X7 358H and matches the AMD Ryzen AI 5 PRO 440 exactly. For users prioritizing raw compute throughput, the Ultra 5 235HX is the clear selection from the database. The Ultra 7 356H, however, offers a different profile: 16 cores versus 14, a 25 W TDP versus 55 W, and a newer Panther Lake architecture on Intel's own 3 nm process. The data indicates that the Ultra 7 356H trades substantial peak performance for a more power-conscious design, making it the sensible pick for sustained mobile workloads where the Ultra 5 235HX's higher power envelope may not be desirable.

Where Each One Wins

The Ultra 5 235HX dominates every Cinebench test. In Cinebench R23 multicore, it scores 34731 against the Ultra 7 356H's 18395, an 88.8% advantage. The single-core gap is even more pronounced: 4903 versus 2040 in Cinebench R23 single-core, a 140.3% delta. These are not marginal differences; they represent a fundamentally higher performance tier. Across the Passmark suite, the Ultra 5 235HX also wins every test except one, including data compression (426417 vs 336177, 26.8% ahead), floating point math (129819 vs 103128, 25.9% ahead), and multithread (40849 vs 33978, 20.2% ahead). The sole win for the Ultra 7 356H comes in Passmark physics, where it scores 2895 against 2550, an 11.9% advantage. This isolated result suggests that the Ultra 7 356H's architecture, despite lower peak clocks, handles certain physics simulation workloads more efficiently. For all other measured tasks, from integer math to encryption to random string sorting, the Ultra 5 235HX delivers higher scores, with deltas ranging from 10.4% in find prime numbers to 24.8% in extended instructions.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different architectural generations and foundries. The Ultra 5 235HX uses Arrow Lake, specifically the Arrow Lake-HX variant, built on a 3 nm process at TSMC. It integrates 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm² die. The Ultra 7 356H uses Panther Lake, built on Intel's own 3 nm process; the database does not list its transistor count or die size. Both have the same L1 cache at 192 KB per core, but the L2 and L3 allocations differ. The Ultra 5 235HX has 3 MB of L2 per core and 24 MB of shared L3, while the Ultra 7 356H has 2.5 MB of L2 per core and 18 MB of shared L3. The Ultra 5 235HX offers 14 cores and 14 threads, while the Ultra 7 356H offers 16 cores and 16 threads, meaning neither uses simultaneous multithreading. Clock speeds differ substantially: the Ultra 5 235HX runs a 2.90 GHz base and 5.10 GHz boost, while the Ultra 7 356H runs a 1.90 GHz base and 4.70 GHz boost. The TDP figures also diverge, with the Ultra 5 235HX rated at 55 W and the Ultra 7 356H at 25 W. Memory support differs as well: the Ultra 5 235HX supports DDR5 only, while the Ultra 7 356H supports both DDR5 and LPDDR5X. The memory bandwidth is higher for the Ultra 7 356H at 115.2 GB/s versus 102.4 GB/s for the Ultra 5 235HX. PCIe lane counts differ, with the Ultra 5 235HX providing Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes and the Ultra 7 356H providing Gen 5 with 12 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics also differ: the Ultra 5 235HX uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics with 48 execution units, while the Ultra 7 356H uses Intel Xe3 Graphics. The sockets are incompatible: Intel BGA 2114 for the Ultra 5 235HX and Intel BGA 2540 for the Ultra 7 356H. The Ultra 5 235HX has an unlocked multiplier, while the Ultra 7 356H does not. Release dates are distinct, with the Ultra 5 235HX launching in January 2025 and the Ultra 7 356H in January 2026.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 235HX has an average benchmark score of 52073, which is 26.3% higher than the Intel Core Ultra 7 356H's 41215.

Q: How much faster is the Ultra 5 235HX in Cinebench R23 single-core?

A: The Ultra 5 235HX scores 4903 versus the Ultra 7 356H's 2040, a 140.3% advantage.

Q: Does the Ultra 7 356H win any benchmark at all?

A: Yes, the Ultra 7 356H wins the Passmark physics test with a score of 2895 against the Ultra 5 235HX's 2550, an 11.9% margin.

Q: What are the core and thread counts for each?

A: The Ultra 5 235HX has 14 cores and 14 threads, while the Ultra 7 356H has 16 cores and 16 threads. Neither processor uses simultaneous multithreading.

Q: Which processor has the larger L3 cache?

A: The Ultra 5 235HX has 24 MB of shared L3 cache, while the Ultra 7 356H has 18 MB of shared L3.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The Ultra 7 356H offers 115.2 GB/s of memory bandwidth, which is higher than the Ultra 5 235HX's 102.4 GB/s. The Ultra 7 356H also supports LPDDR5X in addition to DDR5, while the Ultra 5 235HX supports only DDR5.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single-core margin in the entire dataset appears in Cinebench R23 single-core, where the Ultra 5 235HX scores 4903 against the Ultra 7 356H's 2040. That 140.3% delta indicates that the Ultra 5 235HX's 5.10 GHz boost clock, combined with its Arrow Lake architecture, delivers far superior per-thread performance. The Cinebench R15 single-core test shows a similar pattern at 494 versus 303, a 63% delta. In multicore workloads, the Ultra 5 235HX also leads decisively. Cinebench R23 multicore shows 34731 versus 18395, an 88.8% gap, while Cinebench R20 multicore shows 14587 versus 12153, a 20% delta. The Cinebench R15 multicore test yields 3500 versus 3055, a 14.6% delta. These results show that the Ultra 5 235HX's higher clock speeds and larger cache configuration outweigh the Ultra 7 356H's two extra cores in rendering workloads. The Passmark suite reinforces the Ultra 5 235HX's dominance. In data compression, the Ultra 5 235HX scores 426417 versus 336177, a 26.8% lead. Data encryption shows 32697 versus 26345, a 24.1% delta. Extended instructions show 34808 versus 27898, a 24.8% margin. Floating point math shows 129819 versus 103128, a 25.9% lead. Integer math shows 97177 versus 83111, a 16.9% delta. Multithread shows 40849 versus 33978, a 20.2% margin. Random string sorting shows 50929 versus 40990, a 24.2% lead. Single-thread tests show 4683 versus 4072, a 15% delta in both the Passmark single_thread and singlethread entries. The only reverse result is in Passmark physics, where the Ultra 7 356H scores 2895 versus 2550, an 11.9% advantage. This single win suggests that the Panther Lake architecture, despite lower clocks, handles physics computation more efficiently than Arrow Lake. The find prime numbers test shows a modest 10.4% lead for the Ultra 5 235HX at 361 versus 327, the smallest delta in the dataset aside from the physics outlier.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification field. The Ultra 5 235HX has 14 cores and 14 threads, while the Ultra 7 356H has 16 cores and 16 threads. Base clocks are 2.90 GHz for the Ultra 5 235HX and 1.90 GHz for the Ultra 7 356H. Boost clocks are 5.10 GHz and 4.70 GHz respectively. TDP is 55 W for the Ultra 5 235HX and 25 W for the Ultra 7 356H. The socket differs: Intel BGA 2114 for the Ultra 5 235HX, Intel BGA 2540 for the Ultra 7 356H. The architecture differs: Arrow Lake for the Ultra 5 235HX, Panther Lake for the Ultra 7 356H. The codenames are Arrow Lake-HX and Panther Lake respectively. The generations are listed as Ultra 5 (Arrow Lake-HX) and Ultra 7 (Panther Lake-H). Both use the same 3 nm process node, but the foundry differs: TSMC for the Ultra 5 235HX, Intel for the Ultra 7 356H. The Ultra 5 235HX lists 17,800 million transistors and a 243 mm² die size, while the Ultra 7 356H lists neither. L2 cache is 3 MB per core for the Ultra 5 235HX and 2.5 MB per core for the Ultra 7 356H. L3 cache is 24 MB shared versus 18 MB shared. Memory support is DDR5 for the Ultra 5 235HX and DDR5 plus LPDDR5X for the Ultra 7 356H. Memory bandwidth is 102.4 GB/s versus 115.2 GB/s. PCIe lanes are Gen 5 with 20 CPU lanes versus Gen 5 with 12 CPU lanes. Integrated graphics are Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 48EU versus Intel Xe3 Graphics. The Ultra 5 235HX has an unlocked multiplier, while the Ultra 7 356H is locked. Part numbers are SRVFL for the Ultra 5 235HX and SA4RGQ9EU for the Ultra 7 356H. Release dates are January 2025 for the Ultra 5 235HX and January 2026 for the Ultra 7 356H. Neither processor supports ECC memory, and neither has a listed launch MSRP.