Intel vs. Apple Silicon Laptop: Python Performance Compared Plugged In and on Battery

Intel-based laptops and Apple Silicon Macs are compared through an intensive Python benchmark that pushes every core to its maximum. The test is run both plugged in and on battery, while palm rest temperature and fan activity are also observed during each run.

■ Benchmark Test
- A Python performance test that pegs all cores at maximum load
- The Intel machine set to best performance mode
- Multiple runs to establish an average

■ Power Conditions
- Initial testing with both laptops plugged into wall power
- Re-testing with both laptops unplugged
- Comparison of results between plugged-in and on-battery performance

■ Thermal and Fan Behavior
- Palm rest surface temperature during the sustained run
- Fan activity on the Intel laptop

Viewers weighing an Intel laptop against an Apple Silicon Mac for CPU-heavy tasks will find a concrete example of how to compare sustained performance under different power conditions. Watching gives you a sense of what to test and what to pay attention to when evaluating a laptop for demanding workloads.