Core Ultra 7 255H and Ryzen AI 7 350 share the same 28W base TDP, but they take very different approaches to multitasking. Intel's 255H has 16 cores (6 performance cores, 8 efficiency cores, and 2 LP-E cores) and favors processing breadth, while the Ryzen AI 7 350 has just 8 cores but a full 16 threads thanks to SMT. The biggest difference is on-device AI: the Ryzen AI 7 350 has a 50 TOPS NPU that meets the Copilot+ standard, whereas the NPU in this Intel chip delivers only 13 TOPS, short of the 40 TOPS threshold needed to enable the local AI features in Windows 11. This article looks at the three factors that most directly shape everyday use: single-thread performance, the iGPU, and on-device AI.
How the Core Ultra 255H and Ryzen AI 7 350 Differ
At a glance, both Core Ultra 7 255H and Ryzen AI 7 350 target the premium business laptop segment, with the same 28W base TDP, support for 16 threads, and an upper-mid-range iGPU. But the way Intel and AMD reach those numbers is quite different, and that difference directly affects who should pick which machine.
| Specification | Intel Core Ultra 7 255H | AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Arrow Lake-H | Krackan Point / Zen 5 + Zen 5c |
| Cores / Threads | 16 cores / 16 threads | 8 cores / 16 threads |
| Max boost | 5.1 GHz | 5.0 GHz |
| TDP (base) | 28W / turbo 115W | 28W (OEM range 15-54W) |
| NPU TOPS | 13 TOPS | 50 TOPS (Copilot+) |
| iGPU | Intel Arc 140T | AMD Radeon 860M |
| Cinebench R23 (ST / MT) | 2,061 / 17,845 | 1,958 / 16,014 |
| Geekbench 6 (ST / MT) | 2,866 / 15,223 | 2,853 / 12,835 |
| PassMark | 30,756 | 24,934 |
| iGPU Fire Strike / Time Spy | 8,663 / 3,843 | 6,908 / 2,552 |
Intel's 255H is built on the Arrow Lake-H architecture with 6 performance cores (P-cores), 8 efficiency cores (E-cores), and 2 LP-E cores, for 16 cores in total but no Hyper-Threading on the P-cores. In other words, Intel prioritizes parallel processing breadth over pushing single-thread speed. The Ryzen AI 7 350, by contrast, is built on the Krackan Point platform with Zen 5 and Zen 5c architectures: 8 cores and 16 threads with full SMT, so each physical core runs 2 logical threads at once.
The biggest difference is the NPU. The AI processing unit in the Ryzen AI 7 350 delivers 50 TOPS, clearing the 40 TOPS threshold for Microsoft's Copilot+ PC standard. This Intel chip offers only 13 TOPS, which means local AI features such as real-time Live Captions, Cocreator in Paint, or Studio Effects either won't run on Intel machines or have to be processed on a server.
CPU Performance, iGPU, and On-Device AI
Single-thread performance determines how responsive a laptop feels when opening apps, switching tabs, writing code, or editing documents. In the Cinebench R23 benchmark, the Core Ultra 7 255H scores 2,061 points in single-thread, compared with 1,958 for the Ryzen AI 7 350, a gap of about 5%. In multi-thread, the Intel 255H scores 17,845 while the Ryzen AI 7 350 scores 16,014. On Geekbench 6, the multi-thread gap is wider: Intel posts 2,866/15,223 against AMD's 2,853/12,835.
For integrated graphics, the Intel Arc 140T is clearly stronger: it reaches 8,663 in Fire Strike versus just 6,908 for the AMD Radeon 860M, and 3,843 in Time Spy versus 2,552. If you need the iGPU for light rendering, 4K video playback, or design software without a discrete GPU, the Arc 140T has a real advantage, especially in graphics-heavy workloads, where the Time Spy gap exceeds 30%.
On real-world battery life, both chips draw a similar amount of power during ordinary office work. A 16-inch laptop with the 255H and an 86-90Wh battery typically lasts 6-9 hours on web and document tasks. The ThinkPad P14s Gen 6 AMD, which uses the Ryzen AI 7 350 with a smaller battery (52-57Wh), also gets roughly 6-9 hours with a WUXGA display, thanks to the efficient TSMC 4nm process. With an OLED screen or a discrete GPU, that figure drops to around 4-7 hours on either chip.
Which Chip to Choose Based on Your Needs
If you need raw multitasking power and a strong iGPU, the Core Ultra 7 255H is the clear choice. Machines with this chip include the Lenovo ThinkPad T1g Gen 8 (with a Core Ultra 7 255H option), priced at roughly 95-105 million VND and equipped with 64GB of LPDDR5x 7467MHz RAM and a 2TB PCIe Gen 5 SSD. It suits mobile workstation users who need to render, edit heavy video, or run many parallel processes for programming. A Cinebench MT score of 17,845 and a PassMark score of 30,756 let it handle sustained heavy workloads without bottlenecks.
The Ryzen AI 7 350 suits anyone who needs on-device AI and a balance of performance and battery life. The Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 6, at around 35-45 million VND, uses the Ryzen AI 7 PRO 350, which meets the Copilot+ standard, and comes with 32-64GB of DDR5 5600MHz RAM and a 1TB PCIe Gen4 SSD. It fits people who regularly use Studio Effects, automatic captions, or local AI apps on Windows 11 and who also want a more compact, lightweight machine. The real drawback is that the Radeon 860M iGPU is about 20% weaker than the Arc 140T in Fire Strike and more than 30% weaker in Time Spy, so if you plan to render on the iGPU, that is worth weighing.
If you are working with a lower budget but want to stay in the Intel camp, the Lenovo ThinkPad T16 Gen 4 with a Core Ultra 5 225H, priced at 30-40 million VND, is a sensible option, with a Cinebench MT score of 14,629 and enough performance for heavy office work. Compared with the 255H, the 225H is about 18% slower in multi-thread, but it stays close to the Ryzen AI 7 350 in single-thread tasks. Hung Phat has all three models in stock in Ho Chi Minh City, so you can stop by to see them in person or send a message for more advice.
In short, choose the 255H if raw power and a strong iGPU are your priorities, and choose the Ryzen AI 7 350 if you want to qualify for on-device AI and need a well-balanced machine. Both chips are strong enough for office multitasking; the clearest differences show up when you push into heavy workloads or actually make use of the AI features in Windows 11.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is the Core Ultra 7 255H or the Ryzen AI 7 350 faster at video work and heavy multitasking?
For video rendering and heavy multi-threaded work, the Core Ultra 7 255H has the clearer advantage. In Cinebench R23 multi-thread, the 255H scores 17,845 versus 16,014 for the Ryzen AI 7 350, a gap of about 11%. In Geekbench 6 multi-thread the gap is larger: 15,223 versus 12,835, or nearly 19%. That means when you export a 30-minute Premiere Pro project or run several virtual machines at once, the 255H will finish noticeably faster. The Ryzen AI 7 350 is still strong enough for typical multitasking, programming, data processing, and online meetings running side by side, but under extremely heavy sustained workloads, Intel has extra headroom with turbo up to 115W.
How do the two chips differ in battery life and temperatures during daily use?
Both chips share a 28W base TDP, so power draw on light tasks is nearly the same. The ThinkPad T1g Gen 8 laptop with the 255H and an 86-90Wh battery gets about 6-9 hours of office work, while the P14s Gen 6 AMD with the Ryzen AI 7 350 and a smaller battery (52-57Wh) also reaches 6-9 hours with a WUXGA display, thanks to the power-efficient TSMC 4nm process. The downside: when the Intel 255H turbos up to 115W on short, extremely heavy tasks, temperatures and fan noise rise faster, which is the trade-off for high burst performance. AMD generally holds steadier temperatures in the 28-54W range.
What can you actually do with the Ryzen AI 7 350's 50 TOPS NPU, and which features does Intel's 13 TOPS leave out?
The 50 TOPS NPU in the Ryzen AI 7 350 meets the Copilot+ PC standard, so the machine can run the full set of local AI features in Windows 11, such as automatic Live Captions (real-time subtitles without an internet connection), Studio Effects (background blur and AI audio filtering), Cocreator in Paint, and Recall (saving your screen history so you can search it later). This Intel chip has only 13 TOPS, below the 40 TOPS Copilot+ threshold, so most of these features won't run or will be processed in the cloud instead of locally. If your workflow doesn't depend on Windows 11 AI, this gap won't matter much, but as Windows AI keeps adding features, a Copilot+ machine will have a longer-lasting advantage.
How much do the Core Ultra 7 255H and Ryzen AI 7 350 differ in price and performance when choosing a workstation laptop?
Hung Phat currently carries three suitable models: the ThinkPad T1g Gen 8 (2026) with a Core Ultra 7 255H option, 64GB of RAM, and a 2TB PCIe Gen 5 SSD, priced at roughly 95-105 million VND, suited to high-end mobile workstation use. The ThinkPad P14s Gen 6 Mobile Workstation uses the Ryzen AI 7 PRO 350 with 32-64GB of RAM and a 1TB PCIe Gen4 SSD, priced at 35-45 million VND, a balanced model for people who need on-device AI. The ThinkPad T16 Gen 4 with a Core Ultra 5 225H, at around 30-40 million VND, is an alternative if your budget doesn't stretch to the 255H. All three are in stock in Ho Chi Minh City, and you can message us directly to check specific configurations and stock before deciding.
