Intel Core 3 304 surprises: Budget chip closely trails Apple A18 Pro on PassMark
The Intel Core 3 304 chip from the affordable Wildcat Lake series has just revealed impressive PassMark performance scores, narrowing the gap with the Apple A18 Pro in the MacBook Neo to only about 7%.
Intel has officially introduced its Wildcat Lake processor line, targeting the thin, light, and affordable laptop segment. Notably, initial performance test results for the lowest-end chip in the line, the Intel Core 3 304, are showing impressive power, even approaching that of Apple's high-end A18 Pro chip.
Promising single-core and multi-core performance.
The latest data from PassMark has revealed a detailed look at the capabilities of the Intel Core 3 304. Despite being an entry-level CPU, its benchmark results are surprisingly close to those of the Apple A18 Pro chip found in the MacBook Neo.
In the single-thread test, the Apple A18 Pro scored 3,982 points, while the Intel Core 3 304 scored 3,676 points. The difference is only about 7.7%, an impressive figure for a processor designed for the budget segment.
In terms of overall CPU Mark scores (the average of 8 different tests), the difference is even smaller:
| Parameter | Intel Core 3 304 | Apple A18 Pro (MacBook Neo) |
|---|---|---|
| Individual points | 3,676 | 3,982 |
| CPU Mark (Overall) | 11,543 | 11,804 |
| Nuclear structure | 5 cores (1 high-performance core) | N/A |
Optimal structure for thin and light laptops
The Intel Core 3 304 boasts a 5-core configuration, with only one high-performance core. The fact that a chip with a limited number of performance cores can achieve scores comparable to Apple's top-of-the-line chips demonstrates significant improvements in Intel's Wildcat Lake architecture.
However, experts note that the Intel Core 3 304's results are currently based on only three test samples. The final scores may change as more real-world user data becomes available. Nevertheless, at this early stage, this is still a positive sign for mainstream users.
A wave of new devices using Wildcat Lake chips.
Currently, several promising laptop models that could directly compete with the MacBook Neo have confirmed they will feature the Core 3 304 processor. Notable examples include the HP OmniBook 3, Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i, and Chuwi UniBook. In the near future, more brands are expected to join this race, offering users more choices of high-performance laptops at more accessible prices.
