The new flagship of the mobile Arrow Lake Refresh lineup – Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus – has shown impressive results in PassMark: it easily surpassed both its predecessor and AMD’s flagship. 
Image: WCCF. The 24-core, 24-thread Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus scored 5009 points in the single-thread test and 66,203 points in the multi-thread test (8% and 14.6% more than the Core Ultra 9 285HX). For comparison, the performance of other flagship CPUs is as follows: Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX – 4635/57,752 points; AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D – 4491/62,094 points; Intel Core Ultra 9 285K (desktop) – 5093/67,430 points. This result makes the 290HX Plus the leader among x86 mobile processors and even comparable to the desktop version of the Core Ultra 9 285K. The performance increase was achieved without an increase in the number of cores – there are still 24, but thanks to improved architecture and a higher clock speed, which in the PassMark test reached 5.45 GHz.
The architectural enhancements in the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus are complemented by advancements in thermal management, allowing for longer sustained peak performance. This makes it particularly attractive to gamers and content creators who demand top-tier efficiency and power without risking overheating. Recent testing has shown that this processor not only competes with, but arguably redefines the expectations for mobile computing performance, providing significant leverage for Intel in the ongoing rivalry with AMD.
Intel’s latest architecture integrates cutting-edge AI acceleration technologies, further distinguishing the Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus in real-world applications – from high-speed gaming to intensive video editing. These improvements indicate Intel’s strategic focus on balancing raw power with intelligent optimization, potentially setting the stage for future developments in AI-capable processors designed for mobile use.
In terms of market impact, experts note that Intel’s aggressive strategy in optimizing its mobile processors positions them firmly as a front-runner in emerging tech markets, including AI and machine learning domains. In this scenario, industry analysts are keenly observing how AMD will respond in its next generation of processors to maintain competitive parity.
