Intel Core Ultra 9 285H Review: Powerful Efficiency Meets AI Challenges

Over recent years, the evolution of personal computers has been nothing short of extraordinary. This rapid advancement is primarily driven by fierce competition in the silicon industry among AMD, Qualcomm, NVIDIA, and the leading giant, Intel.

For a while, Intel seemed to rest on its laurels, allowing their competition to gain ground. However, they’ve come back with a vengeance, launching a highly revamped Intel Core Ultra family. While our initial encounters with these Intel chips in sleek ultrabooks were impressive, the latest Intel Core Ultra (Series 2) is now making its debut in more robust laptops, workstations, and gaming setups. Intel, together with MSI, was kind enough to send over one of the first laptops featuring the new Intel Core Ultra 9 285H for me to evaluate.

After putting it through its paces, I can confidently say that most will be pleased with the new H and HX-series Intel Core Ultra processors. This CPU is both a powerhouse and efficient, performing well whether plugged into an outlet or running on battery. Its integrated GPU is a standout feature, making decent gaming feasible without requiring a top-of-the-line graphics card. However, Intel’s strategy concerning AI with its premium chips seems a bit perplexing, especially as AMD and Qualcomm appear to have a more straightforward vision. It will be intriguing to see how this narrative unfolds.

I’ve spent considerable time immersed in the world of devices powered by Intel, AMD, Qualcomm, and NVIDIA, testing and reviewing laptops, tablets, and desktops. My goal is to share this expertise with you, helping guide your next computer heavyweight selection.

Thanks to Intel’s provision of review samples, this assessment has been made possible. Intel and MSI had no hand in the creation of this review, nor did they preview its content before it went public.

Intel Core Ultra 9 285H Review: What’s It All About?

The Core Ultra 9 285H stands as the flagship of Intel’s new H-series lineup. This 16-core processor is designed for high-performing laptops and workstations.

The Intel Core Ultra (Series 2) initially introduced us to the V-series in premium lightweight devices like HP’s OmniBook Ultra Flip 14. It also made an entry into desktops with the powerful K-series. Now, Intel is broadening its horizons, unveiling the reasonably priced U-series, the potent H-series, and top-notch HX-series mobile chips, along with the economical T-series on desktops.

Navigating through the many series and models can be bewildering. The key takeaway, however, is that the Intel Core Ultra 9 285H and its slightly less formidable siblings, Ultra 7 and Ultra 5, are built for laptops demanding more power than the V-series delivers. Anticipate seeing the H-series across creative work laptops, business workstations, and even compact gaming machines. These chips are robust on their own, but Intel strategically designed them, alongside the HX-series, to pair with discrete graphics.

The Core Ultra 9 285H flaunts 16 cores divided among 6 performance cores, 8 efficiency cores, and 2 low-power efficiency cores, operating at base frequencies between 1-2.9GHz. The CPU incorporates Intel Turbo Boost, allowing a peak frequency range of 2.5-5.4GHz. It comes equipped with a generous 24MB cache and an Intel Arc 140T integrated GPU with 8 Xe2 graphics cores, supported by an Intel AI Boost Neural Processing Unit (NPU) capable of up to 13 TOPS of AI computational power. The entire system draws between 35-45W of power, surging to 115W at full throttle with turbo boost.

Stay tuned as we dig into the real-life implications of choosing a laptop powered by this chipset.

Intel Core Ultra 9 285H Review: The Advantages

The Core Ultra 9 285H is a versatile performer in routine computing tasks and possesses one of the finest integrated GPUs we’ve tested. It boasts solid efficiency too, sipping power during casual computing.

In my tests, Intel provided an MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo (B2HMG) and an MSI Prestige A16 AI+ (A3HMG) with an AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 for a better compare-and-contrast. Frankly, Intel positioning the Ryzen AI 9 365 as a direct competitor feels odd. It seems offbeat to compare a 16-core CPU squarely against a 10-core CPU that previously rivaled Intel’s 8-core V-series chips.

A more fitting rival might be AMD’s Ryzen AI 9 HX 375, often found in laptops like the HP OmniBook Ultra 14. Intel may want us to align their HX-series against this chip, but shared initials don’t make for a rivalry, especially with AMD unveiling more potent Ryzen AI MAX chips directly competing with Intel’s new HX-series offerings. These two MSI Prestige laptops also differ in design, display, components, and more, complicating any simplistic face-value comparisons. Let’s delve into those comparisons now.

Benchmark graphs tell only part of the tale, but they provide a glimpse into how these chips measure up. The Intel Core Ultra 9 285H shines stronger and faster than the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365, except in encoding 4K videos where AMD usually edges out.

Some outcomes may be shaped by the slower SSD in the AMD laptop, but overall, the Core Ultra 9 285H shows resilience. Its single-core performance, vital for seamless daily operation and efficiency, is particularly outstanding. Its performance with multi-core tasks also keeps pace with last-gen gaming laptops that house HX-series chips.

Despite having fewer cores, the Ryzen AI 9 365 keeps pace, trailing mainly in the Geekbench 6 multi-core test by 17%. This new H-series top model may not vastly outshine AMD’s offerings, but the Core Ultra 9 285H stands strong in the current market without apparent deficits. Intel’s off to a solid kickoff, even if not ground-breaking.

Intel Core Ultra 9 285H Review: User Experience

When it comes to day-to-day use, how does the Intel Core Ultra 9 285H measure up? The performance is remarkably smooth, thanks to its exceptional single-core capabilities. Whether navigating through Windows 11, surfing the web, or using Microsoft Office, I had no grievances. The MSI Prestige 16 has maintained cool and quiet, even under casual usage, booting up, waking, and logging in swiftly with Windows Hello.

Push it hard, and the Core Ultra 9 285H can get pretty hot, but not unbearably so. Importantly, it never showed signs of slowing, proving to be a strong contender in multi-core assignments. What amazed me most, though, was its integrated GPU’s performance, holding its ground against top gaming handhelds.

Forza Horizon 5 delivered 47 FPS at high settings, Gears 5 at 51 FPS, and Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 at 52 FPS with adjusted settings, potentially reaching a steady 60 FPS. The Core Ultra 9 285H’s steady 99.5% framerate retention after intense benchmarking is noteworthy.

Intel Core Ultra 9 285H Review: Efficiency

Intel’s promising efficiency claims for its Core Ultra (Series 2) platform stand checked. A 45W, 16-core processor might seem like a power gulp on paper, but the Core Ultra 9 285H proved surprisingly efficient. Under Balanced performance and 200 nits brightness, it used just 4% of battery per hour in standard Office workloads and 6% during an hour-long HD video.

Attempting a comparison with AMD’s equivalent proved tricky given the other MSI’s unexpected 10% battery consumption. However, the Core Ultra 9 285H performs nearly the same on or off the charger, maintaining steady single-core performance with only slight hits seen in multi-core and GPU tasks.

Intel Core Ultra 9 285H Review: Areas of Improvement

Intel’s conversation about AI seemed grand during its announcement, with collaboration from a Microsoft executive, but was followed by silence on their pivotal Copilot+ PC AI platform. Even though Intel Core Ultra H and HX-series includes an NPU, they miss out on being Copilot+ PCs, requiring an NPU of 40+ TOPS for AI tasks that these series lack, unlike the robust V-series, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X, or AMD’s Ryzen AI.

This strange gap allows AMD and Qualcomm to gain momentum while Intel seems stuck, unable to assert its AI potential across price points. Even though I don’t personally prioritize AI features, it’s an essential market shift, and Intel risking its AI future with restrictive chip sets could cost them against AMD’s rapidly growing lineup.

Final Thoughts on Intel Core Ultra 9 285H

While reviewing a mobile processor seems abstract as you cannot buy the Intel Core Ultra 9 285H alone, understanding its capabilities can guide your next laptop purchase. This series may not reclaim the crown but stays competitive.

The Intel Core Ultra 9 285H stands as a capable contender with impressive integrated graphics, efficiently managing tasks without excessive battery drain. However, its AI limitations currently peg it behind AMD, who seem determined to lead this next evolution. But if AI is not your priority, this chip certainly won’t disappoint.

Why consider this?

You want an Intel laptop.
Its integrated GPU is best-in-class.

Why might it not be for you?

AI future-proofing is a priority.

Despite certain positives, Intel’s positioning could hinder its fight in the fast-evolving AI battleground. If that’s not a concern, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285H remains a performance-efficient choice.