Our Best Guide: 10th Gen H-Series Laptop Processors

Intel 10th Generation Core Laptop Processors (H Series)

Intel launched its first 10th generation Intel^® Core™ H Series laptop processors – ideal for gaming rigs and workstations – in 2020, introducing a new family of mobile CPUs with higher speeds, faster integrated Wi-Fi support and new optimization tools. In terms of raw speed, Intel unveiled its high-end Core i9-10980HK chip – maximum turbo frequency 5.3 GHz – as "the fastest mobile processor."^1,2

NOTE: These 10th Gen Intel^® Core™ laptop processors (H Series) were later succeeded by newer models, including 11th Gen Intel^® Core™ laptop processors (U Series).

Almost immediately, Lenovo and other major PC manufacturers released their first 10th gen Core processor laptops, offering new features and capabilities for gamers, content creators, and office professionals alike. With its new 10th generation mobile CPUs, Intel promised something for everyone:

• 10th gen mobile video gaming:

  The higher frequencies of Intel's 10th gen mobile Core chips are perfect for today's AAA video games that demand fast frame rates. Plus, new Intel Wi-Fi 63 AX201 (Gig+) integration improves wireless gaming with smooth downloads, low latency and enhanced security.

• 10th gen mobile content creation:

  10th gen Intel laptop CPUs enable lightning-fast photo editing and up to 8K video editing. Optional Intel^® Optane^® memory helps launch apps and projects faster while new Thunderbolt 3 support means fast, single-wire access to external monitors and peripherals.

• 10th gen mobile entertainment:

  Intel's 10th gen mobile processors keep working even as you relax. Features such as HEVC 10-bit encode/decode and VP9 10-bit decode enable smooth streaming of premium 4K UHD video, immersive 360-degree viewing and other enhanced experiences.

The entire Intel Core H Series CPU lineup has seen 10th generation updates, from the mainstream Core i5 to the more advanced Core i7 and Core i9. Intel also issued 10th-gen updates to its U Series and Y Series chips (for mainstream consumer laptops and thin-and-light models, respectively.) And the updates will continue; new processor generations come out every couple of years and often overlap, but within each generation, new and better versions of each chip keep being released for some time.

Lenovo laptops with 10th generation Intel CPUs

At Lenovo, laptops with 10th gen Intel mobile processors can be found throughout our line-up:

• Business-ready ThinkPad models: The most famous name in laptop technology
• Stylish IdeaPad ultraportables: Light and powerful – and with good looks, too
• Flexible Yoga 2-in-1s: The laptop that flips into tablet and back again
• Legion gaming laptops: Systems for gamers seeking a competitive edge
• Mobile workstations: Top-of-the-line processing for demanding applications

Whether you’re a mobile business professional, a competitive PC game player, or a 4K video editor, there’s a new Lenovo laptop with a 10th gen Intel Core mobile processor to meet your needs. Is it time for an upgrade?

10th gen Intel Core H Series laptop processor features

Intel proudly promotes its 10th gen H Series laptop CPUs for surpassing the 5 GHz threshold. It’s a big deal – 5 GHz+ frequencies were once thought impossible in a chip that runs within the tight confines of a mobile PC. But there's more to these next-level chips than speed. Several additional H Series performance features aim to help you extract maximum computing power from your system:

• Intel Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0:

  Finds your CPU's fastest cores and directs your most critical workloads there, which Intel says optimizes performance on lightly threaded tasks.

• Intel Speed Optimizer:

  A one-click overclocking⁴ feature built into the Intel Extreme Tuning Utility (Intel XTU) to leverage available thermal and power headroom for better multi-thread performance.

• Intel Thermal Velocity Boost (TVB):⁵

  Automatically boosts clock speed by up to 200 MHz when CPU temperature is low enough and turbo power is available (supported on all 10th Gen mobile H-series Core i7, Core i9, and Intel Xeon^® processors).

• Intel Adaptix™ Dynamic Tuning:

  A software toolkit that helps get the most from 10th Gen mobile Core CPUs by dynamically adjusting processor power based on the current status of critical variables like temperature, fan speed, usage mode, processor state, etc.

And don’t forget: Intel works with 200+ independent software vendors (ISVs) to ensure that its new 10th gen Core laptops support today’s most popular software. Engineering and design programs, business tools, AAA video games – there a 10th gen Intel laptop CPU (i3 to i9) that can do it.

Why choose a 10th generation Intel Core processor laptop?

We’ve established that Intel’s 10th gen mobile CPUs have something for everyone: faster turbo speed and frame rate capabilities for gamers, new memory and connectivity options for content creators, and so on. Yet the list of new features goes further.

See Table 1 for a more complete look at the top features of 10th generation Intel Core H Series laptop processors.^*

Table 1:

10th generation Intel Core H Series laptop processors – features and benefits

^* Table 1 lists the announced features of the first 10th gen Intel Core mobile processors to be released. Some features may not be available in every 10th gen Intel mobile CPU, and not every 10th gen Intel mobile CPU will be available in Lenovo laptop systems. Before buying, consumers should always confirm the stated specifications and performance estimates of any system they consider.

Comparing 10th generation Intel Core H Series mobile CPUs

Intel’s 10th gen enhancements extend across its Core mobile processor family. You can get a Core i5-based model for work or the home office, or an advanced Core i7 or Core i9 system for serious number-crunching and competitive gaming.

See Table 2 for a comparison of the initial 10th gen Intel Core H Series laptop CPUs to be released.^**

Table 2:

10th generation Intel Core H Series laptop processors – Comparison⁷

^** Any list of processor specifications by generation is time-specific. Newer, improved versions of each chip will likely be released later. So Table 2 is accurate as regards the first 10th gen mobile processors released by Intel. Consumers should always confirm the exact configuration and performance estimates before buying a system.

Are you shopping for a new mobile computer? If you want Intel’s latest processor technology, look for laptops with 10th generation Intel Core processors. You’ll find them in all our top laptop brands – from ThinkPad business models, Yoga 2-in-1s and IdeaPad ultraportables to Lenovo Legion gaming systems and mobile workstations.

Intel, Intel Core, Intel Optane, Intel Xeon, and Intel Adaptix are trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and/or other countries.