Does a higher generation number always mean a better processor?

Generally yes, but don't overthink a single generation jump: the practical difference between two consecutive generations is often small. The real warning sign is going too far back in time — for example, below Intel's 10th generation, which is no longer worth considering.

Are the new Intel Core names (without 'i' or 'Ultra') weaker than the old i3/i5/i7?

No, they're simply a newer naming scheme. An Intel Core 5, for instance, sits roughly where an i5 used to: the number after 'Core' (without Ultra) follows the same 3/5/7/9 logic as the old naming.

How to decode Intel and AMD processor names

If you’ve ever tried to compare two laptops by looking at their spec sheets, you’ve probably run into names like “Intel Core i5-1340P” or “AMD Ryzen 7 7840U” and wondered what each number and letter actually means. You’re not alone: processor naming is probably the most confusing part of comparing laptops, especially in the mid-range, where the difference between two models can be as little as €20-50 while hiding completely different platforms.

Intel: from the old naming scheme to Core Ultra

Up through the 14th generation, Intel Core processors followed the i3 / i5 / i7 / i9 scheme, where the number indicates the performance tier: the higher it is, the better the performance. Take a concrete example: Intel Core i5-1340P.

i5 — the performance tier (i3 the most affordable, i9 the most powerful).
13 — the generation, in this case the 13th. Newer generations are generally preferable, but there’s no need to obsess over a single jump: the practical advice is to avoid going below the 10th generation.
40 — the specific model within the generation: no need to dig too deep into a single number.
P — the trailing letter, the one that most affects how the laptop actually behaves.

With more recent generations, Intel renamed its lineup: today you’ll see Intel Core (without the “i”) and Intel Core Ultra, where Ultra denotes the newest, most powerful models, often paired with more capable integrated graphics and a dedicated NPU for AI workloads. Here too, the number after “Core” or “Core Ultra” (5, 7, 9…) follows the same tier logic. An example: Intel Core Ultra 7 155H — “Ultra” indicates the newest family, “7” the performance tier, “1” the generation, “55” the model, and “H” once again the letter indicating the performance profile.

What the trailing letters mean (Intel)

This is the most useful part to learn to read:

U — low power, built for portability and battery life. If you travel often and want a light laptop with long battery life, look for this letter.
P — more powerful ultrabooks, a compromise between portability and performance.
H — maximum performance, even at the cost of battery life: the right choice if you want raw power and don’t need to carry the laptop around all day away from an outlet.
HX — the true “desktop replacements”: the most powerful processors around, rarely found below €800-1,000.

AMD Ryzen: a similar logic with its own quirks

AMD processors follow a structure that’s similar in some ways. Take AMD Ryzen 7 7840U:

7 — the performance tier, on the same 3/5/7/9 scale as Intel.
78 — family and architecture: the higher these digits, the newer the platform.
40 — the specific model.
U — again the letter indicating the processor’s profile: U for efficiency-focused consumer laptops, HS for a balance of portability and performance, HX for desktop replacements aimed at maximum performance.

There are also Ryzen AI processors, AMD’s answer to Intel’s Core Ultra, built for on-device AI workloads: for now they’re mostly found in the mid-to-high range, but they’ll become increasingly common.

How to put this into practice

When comparing two laptops with different processor names, follow this order:

Look at the trailing letter first: it immediately tells you whether the processor favors battery life (U) or performance (P/H/HX). It’s often more decisive than the model number itself.
Compare the tier (3/5/7/9 or Ultra 5/7/9): it indicates the general positioning, but two processors in the same tier with a different letter can perform very differently.
Check the generation: prefer newer ones, but don’t dismiss a good deal over a single generation of difference.
When in doubt, look for a direct comparison between the two specific models: dedicated sites benchmark power draw and performance processor by processor, and they’re far more reliable than the commercial name alone.

In summary

A processor’s name tells you more than it looks like at first glance: performance tier, generation, model, and — above all — the trailing letter that defines its true nature, somewhere between battery life and raw performance. Learning to read it saves you from paying €20-50 more (or less) for a processor that isn’t really what you thought it was.