Intel Core Ultra 5 135U

Intel Core Ultra 5 135U: Balancing Mobility and Performance in 2025 Ultrabooks

Modern laptops require a compromise between power and battery life, and Intel’s Meteor Lake processors aim to find that sweet spot.

The new Intel Core Ultra 5 135U is a prime example from the lineup, targeting users who value portability but are not willing to sacrifice performance. Let’s delve into what this chip can do, who it’s suitable for, and how it stacks up against competitors.

Architecture and Process Technology: A Hybrid Approach and 7nm Nuances

Meteor Lake is Intel's first processor to fully transition to 7nm technology (Intel 4). This has allowed for reduced power consumption and increased transistor density. The Core Ultra 5 135U is built on a hybrid architecture featuring three types of cores:

- 2 Performance-cores (P-cores) based on Redwood Cove: support Hyper-Threading (4 threads), with a base frequency of 1.6 GHz and a maximum turbo frequency of 4.4 GHz.

- 8 Efficient-cores (E-cores) from Crestmont: 8 threads, operating at frequencies up to 3.6 GHz.

- 2 Low Power Efficient-cores (LP E-cores) — additional cores for background tasks, reducing the load on the main E-cores.

In total: 12 cores (2P + 8E + 2LP E) and 14 threads. This approach optimizes task distribution: heavy applications (like Photoshop) load onto the P-cores, while background synchronization or browser tabs are handled by the E-cores.

Integrated Intel Arc Xe-LPG graphics with 7 execution units (EUs) is a significant step forward. It supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, hardware-accelerated AI, and AV1 decoding. This makes the chip suitable for video editing at up to 4K resolution and light gaming.

Cache memory: 12MB L3 — a sufficient amount for minimizing latency in office and multimedia tasks.

Power Consumption and TDP: How Intel Saves Battery

TDP is 15W, a classic figure for ultrabooks. However, in turbo mode, the processor can briefly consume up to 55W, requiring an efficient cooling system.

Power-saving technologies:

- Intel Dynamic Load Balancing (DLB) — automatically distributes tasks across cores, minimizing energy costs.

- Adaptix AI Boost — neural network-based algorithms predict workload and adjust frequencies. For instance, when working in Word, the processor lowers the P-core frequency to 2 GHz, switching tasks to LP E-cores.

- Deep integration with Windows 11 — the OS uses Thread Director to optimize thread distribution.

In practice, this means that even with active use of Chrome with 20+ tabs and simultaneous running of Zoom, power consumption rarely exceeds 10–12W.

Performance: From Office to Gaming

Geekbench 6:

- Single-Core: 1632 — comparable to Apple M2 (1580) and AMD Ryzen 5 7640U (1650).

- Multi-Core: 6868 — 18% higher than the previous generation Core i5-1240P.

Real-world scenarios:

- Office tasks (Excel, PowerPoint): rendering complex charts in Excel with 50,000 rows takes 3–4 seconds.

- Multimedia: converting a 30-minute 1080p video to 4K in HandBrake takes about 22 minutes (compared to 25 minutes on Ryzen 5 7640U).

- Gaming: in Dota 2 on medium settings (1080p) — 45–55 FPS; Cyberpunk 2077 (Low, 720p) — 28–32 FPS. For a more comfortable gaming experience, it’s better to connect an eGPU.

Turbo mode: Under load on 1–2 cores, the frequency jumps to 4.4 GHz, but this lasts no longer than 28 seconds. In benchmarks, this provides a boost of up to 12%, but in real tasks (like opening a heavy PDF), the difference is almost imperceptible.

Use Cases: Who Is the Ultra 5 135U For?

1. Students and office workers — quick document processing, video conferencing, multitasking.

2. Freelancers — editing short videos in Premiere Pro, photo editing in Lightroom.

3. Travelers — battery life of up to 14 hours in reading mode (for example, in Lenovo Yoga 7 2025).

Not recommended for:

- Hard-core gamers — integrated graphics are not sufficient for AAA games.

- Engineers working with 3D models in SolidWorks — better to choose processors with TDP of 28W or higher.

Battery Life: Up to Two Days in Power-Saving Mode

TDP’s effect on runtime:

- Under load (YouTube videos + Slack): 6–7 hours.

- In power-saving mode (text, Wi-Fi): 13–14 hours (similar to Dell XPS 13 2025).

Secrets of battery savings:

- Activating Windows Battery Saver reduces the frequency of E-cores by 15%.

- Disabling turbo mode through Intel XTU adds 1.5–2 hours of runtime.

Comparison with Competitors: Who Leads?

1. AMD Ryzen 5 7640U (Zen 4, 4nm):

- Pros: Higher performance in multi-threaded tasks (Geekbench Multi-Core — 7120).

- Cons: Radeon 740M graphics are weaker in AI tasks.

- Laptops: Asus Zenbook 14 (starting at $999).

2. Apple M2:

- Pros: Record battery life (up to 18 hours).

- Cons: Limited compatibility with Windows software.

- Devices: MacBook Air 13 (starting at $1099).

3. Intel Core Ultra 5 135U:

- Strengths: Supports Thunderbolt 5, better graphics for creative tasks.

- Prices: HP Spectre x360 14 (starting at $1199), Acer Swift 5 (starting at $1099).

Pros and Cons of the Processor

✅ Strengths:

- Energy efficiency without significant compromises in performance.

- Support for Wi-Fi 7 and PCIe 5.0 — a future-proofing advantage.

- Good graphics for undemanding games and editing tasks.

❌ Weaknesses:

- Turbo mode operates for too short a duration.

- In budget laptops (under $900), throttling may occur due to weak cooling.

Recommendations for Choosing a Laptop

1. Optimal models:

- Ultra-portable: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 (2.8K display, 2x Thunderbolt 5).

- Touch screens: HP Spectre x360 14 (OLED, stylus included).

- Budget: Acer Swift Go 14 (IPS FHD, 16GB RAM, $999).

2. What to look for:

- Cooling: at least 2 fans for stable turbo performance.

- Display: resolution of at least FHD, brightness of 300 nits.

- Ports: presence of USB4/Thunderbolt 5 for connecting 4K displays.

Final Conclusion

The Intel Core Ultra 5 135U is perfect for those who want to forget about outlets but are not willing to deal with a slow laptop. It handles office work, light creative tasks, and even offers the chance to play older hits. If your budget is $1000–1300 and you are looking for a versatile device with a lifespan of 3–4 years, this processor deserves consideration. However, for professional editing or gaming in 2025, it’s better to invest in discrete graphics.