Intel already announced its 12th-gen mobile processors at CES 2022, but we’re just now hearing about the details of its efficient U- and P-series chips. Unlike the H-series, which is built for high-performance machines like the MSI Raider GE76, these new processors are built for thin and light notebooks and 2-in-1s.
We’ve known about these chips, including detailed official specs, for a while. But Intel is just now giving us a taste of performance. Intel says the most efficient U-series chips can rival Apple’s M1, while the juiced up P-series processors can outclass the M1 Pro. Compared to last-gen’s Core i7-1195G7, Intel says the new chips offer up to 70% higher multi-threaded performance.
| Cores | Max core clock | Graphics | Power | |
| Core i7-1280P | 14 (6 P-cores, 8 E-cores) | 4.8GHz | 96EU | 28W |
| Core i7-1270P | 12 (4 P-cores, 8 E-cores) | 4.8GHz | 96EU | 28W |
| Core i7-1260P | 12 (4 P-cores, 8 E-cores) | 4.7GHz | 96EU | 28W |
| Core i5-1250P | 12 (4 P-cores, 8 E-cores) | 4.4GHz | 80EU | 28W |
| Core i5-1240P | 12 (4 P-cores, 8 E-cores) | 4.4GHz | 80EU | 28W |
| Core i3-1220P | 10 (2 P-cores, 8 E-cores) | 4.4GHz | 64EU | 28W |
| Core i7-1265U | 10 (2 P-cores, 8 E-cores) | 4.8GHz | 96EU | 9W-15W |
| Core i7-1255U | 10 (2 P-cores, 8 E-cores) | 4.7GHz | 96EU | 9W-15W |
| Core i5-1245U | 10 (2 P-cores, 8 E-cores) | 4.4GHz | 80EU | 9W-15W |
| Core i5-1235U | 10 (2 P-cores, 8 E-cores) | 4.4GHz | 80EU | 9W-15W |
| Core i3-1215U | 6 (2 P-cores, 4 E-cores) | 4.4GHz | 64EU | 9W-15W |
| Pentium 8505 | 5 (1 P-cores, 4 E-cores) | 4.4GHz | 48EU | 9W-15W |
| Celeron 7305 | 5 (1 P-cores, 4 E-cores) | 4.2GHz | 48EU | 9W-15W |
In real-world uses, Intel says the new P-series chips are 50% faster in Blender compared to the previous generation, and up to 30% faster in photo editing. Even more impressive, Intel shows both U- and P-series chips outperforming Apple’s M1 Pro, and vastly outclassing AMD’s competing Ryzen 7 5800U.
Those improvements are impressive, but the comparison to AMD’s upcoming Ryzen 6000 processors is what matters. AMD is showing large boosts above its previous generation, so we’ll have to wait and see how Intel’s U- and P-series chips stack up once Ryzen 6000 is here.
We may not know how the ranges stack up on raw processor performance, but we have some hints when it comes to graphics. Intel is sticking with its Iris Xe graphics for 12th-gen U- and P-series processors, which aren’t bad for gaming. Intel shows the integrated graphics hitting up to 115 frames per second (fps) in League of Legends and 82 fps in Grand Theft Auto V, both at 1080p.
But again, the comparison against AMD’s integrated graphics is what counts. AMD is using its RDNA 2 architecture, featured in RX 6000 graphics cards, for its latest Ryzen 6000 chips. AMD says these integrated graphics can run much more demanding titles at 1080p, reaching nearly 60 fps in games like Borderlands 3 and Metro Exodus. Intel confirmed its XeSS upscaling tech would make it to integrated graphics later this year, which should boost performance a lot.
We’ve already had a chance to test 12th-gen H-series processors, and Intel’s move to a hybrid architecture showed up as much there as it did with the desktop Core i9-12900K. These new U- and P-series processors should be no different, though the massive cut to P-cores could pose some issues.
Intel says that over 250 designs with these processors will arrive in 2022. That includes foldable machines at 9 watts — presumably with the Asus Zenbook 17 Fold among them — all the way to thin and light gaming notebooks at 28W. The new chips have the same platform features as H-series processors, including DDR5 and DDR4 support, Wi-Fi 6E, and Thunderbolt 4.
