Intel processors match Apple chip and rival flagship models in PassMark benchmarks

Intel's Core 3 304 processor, based on the Wildcat Lake architecture, achieved PassMark scores that tie with Apple’s A18 Pro chip, despite having one fewer core (five cores versus six). In single‑thread testing the Core 3 304 posted 3,982 points, matching the Apple average, and its overall multi‑thread score of 3,676 points was only about 8% behind Apple's rating. The result positions the budget‑friendly Wildcat Lake‑based laptops as direct competitors to Apple‑powered ultralight devices.

Separately, pre‑release data for Intel’s upcoming Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus, part of the Arrow Lake‑HX Plus family, shows it scoring 4,908 points in single‑thread and 56,088 points in multi‑thread PassMark tests. The chip outperforms the higher‑core Core Ultra 9 275HX and narrows the gap to the flagship Core Ultra 9 285HX, despite using the same 20‑core, 20‑thread layout. Improvements are attributed to higher boost clocks and faster inter‑component links, suggesting significant efficiency gains for notebook manufacturers.

Both benchmark leaks hint at Intel’s ability to deliver comparable or superior performance to Apple’s leading mobile silicon and to its own flagship CPUs without adding extra cores, potentially influencing future laptop pricing and design decisions.