Picking the right laptop or desktop PC that can handle your day-to-day workloads isn't exactly an easy process. From choosing the right processor and display to figuring out the amount of RAM and storage you need, there are plenty of things to mull over. And in addition to these basic components, you'll often come across the term 'Intel vPro' or 'Ryzen PRO'. If you are wondering what they are and want to know if you really need them, you've come to the right place. In this article, we're going to take a look at the Intel vPro vs AMD Ryzen PRO comparison to tell you all about these technologies.

What are Intel vPro and AMD Ryzen PRO?

At their core, both Intel vPro and AMD Ryzen PRO technologies are made for enterprise/business use. As a part of Intel's vPro or AMD Ryzen PRO platform, you get some additional features with which you can expect things like improved security, stability, easy management features, top-notch performance, and more. So while the processors themselves are doing all the heavy lifting, it's these extra features that make these platforms more enticing as enterprise solutions.

Intel made a notable upgrade to its vPro technology last year with the launch of its 12th Gen Alder Lake mobile CPUs. With a newfound focus on remote work emerging in the last few years, Intel expanded the vPro platform into new areas to coincide with its 12th Gen chips. There are now four different categories of vPro processors that have carried forward with the unveiling of Intel's 13th Gen Raptop Lake mobile processors.

• Intel vPro Enterprise: Built for large-scale businesses and companies with a global workforce.
• Intel vPro Essentials: Tailored for small businesses that may not necessarily need the advanced scalability that comes with vPro Enterprise.
• Intel vPro Enterprise for Chrome: Built for Chromebooks that need extra security and performance for business work.
• Intel vPro, An Evo Design: A combination of nimble and powerful Evo-certified laptops with extra security and management features.

Intel vPro now goes beyond just the basic standards of a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) or network format support. You now get a set of management tools that cater to a specific set of users. For instance, an enterprise IT department can access a remote machine via vPro's remote management tools whenever there's a need. The remote assistance feature can also be used to diagnose problems, deploy software updates, and more.

AMD's Ryzen PRO technology offers a similar set of features focused on business and enterprise use. AMD separates their PRO SKUs in a more distinct way, as you'll see in the list of compatible processors below. But if you're buying a laptop with the Ryzen PRO badge, it means you're getting a laptop that focuses not only on security and management, but also strong performance.

Security is a big factor to consider when it comes to enterprise machines, and we think both Intel and AMD handle it very well with their own platforms. Both vPro and Ryzen PRO chips offer great security features that go beyond what the operating system and hardware offer to protect your sensitive data.

For starters, both Intel and AMD have worked with Microsoft to offer Secured-Core PCs that keep you safe at all times from firmware and OS vulnerabilities. This is crucial, especially when a new version of the software is released. Notably, AMD has a three-layer security system that works in tandem with the OS and hardware to protect your data. AMD's Ryzen 5000- and 6000-series chips add a Shadow Stack to the chip's architecture to help prevent software attacks. These chips also have a memory guard to protect your PC's memory.

Intel vPro chips also offer a good set of security features for their enterprise customers. There's a Hardware Shield that's exclusive to the Intel vPro platform. And just like in the AMD system, this feature operates below the OS level to enhance the overall security of your PC. Intel vPro chips also get a secure boot sequence thanks to virtualization-based security (VBS) reinforcement. Notably, we're looking at a bunch of security features with the Hardware Shield including Intel Threat Detection Technology, Intel Total Memory Encryption, Intel Trusted Execution Technology, and more.

These features can be a little overwhelming for average PC users, but it becomes an easy pill to swallow since they're deployed and managed by IT departments within an organization. As an end-user, all you need to know is that both AMD and Intel enterprise platforms have ample security features baked into them. It's just a matter of picking the right SKU based on your use case.

Intel vPro and AMD Ryzen PRO lineups

Intel's latest 13th Gen processor lineup (as well as older generations not listed here) has a wide variety of vPro SKUs to choose from. That's great because you're bound to find a vPro processor in each category, be it the high-end HX- and H-series chips for workstations, P-series chips for thin and light office notebooks, or entry-level machines powered by the U series. This will allow you to find a vPro-based Intel machine across different price points too. Here's a quick look at all the vPro-compatible processors in the new Raptor Lake mobile chip series.

Intel 13th Gen Raptor Lake HX-series vPro processors

Intel 13th Gen Raptor Lake H-series vPro processors

Intel 13th Gen Alder Lake P-series vPro processors

Intel 13th Gen Raptor Lake U-series vPro processors

Intel's 12th Gen vPro chips are still a popular choice, and you can check out the full details in our guide to Intel 12th Gen Alder Lake processors.

On AMD's side, you'll find these Ryzen PRO processors in both the newer Ryzen 6000 and the older Ryzen 5000 mobile processors. These CPUs range from 15W to 45W, which means you'll find both entry-level and more power-efficient chips to high-performance chips for high-end workstations. Here's a quick look at all the available AMD Ryzen PRO SKUs across the two generations. Note that AMD has also unveiled some of its Ryzen 7000 mobile processors, though the full lineup including PRO variants still needs some time before going public.

AMD Ryzen PRO 6000 Series Mobile Processors

AMD Ryzen PRO 5000 Series Mobile Processors

Which one should you buy?

If you are a casual user who is shopping for a personal computer to handle your basic day-to-day workloads, then you don't need to worry about either. We say that because both Intel vPro and AMD Ryzen Pro branded PCs aren't intended for the average user. These computing platforms are best suited for business purposes. And in most cases, the laptops based on these platforms will be deployed to you through a business or an enterprise. This means that there's a very good chance that you may not even get an option to choose between the two. But in case you do get to pick between an Intel vPro or an AMD Ryzen PRO-based machine, then we'd say the decision should come down to the processor you want to use. It's the overall performance of the processor that matters the most at the end of the day.

Intel has the new 13th Gen Raptor Lake vPro processors for business whereas AMD has its new Ryzen 6000 processors with PRO technologies for businesses. While Intel's 12th Gen processors have shown a significant performance improvement that's continued with 13th Gen chips, AMD's 6000 series hardware (as well as the Ryzen 7000 PRO chips we're expecting to see this year) are also very promising.

It's safe to say that both platforms have some capable machines that can handle even the most demanding workloads with great power efficiency. If you are hung up on which platform to pick, then we suggest you check out the extra features included with the machine. Modern Intel vPro laptops, for instance, have support for Thunderbolt 4 while most AMD laptops do not use Thunderbolt.

Intel vPro and AMD Ryzen PRO laptop availability

Some of the best laptops available today can come equipped with either an Intel vPro or AMD Ryzen PRO processor. The generation of processor might change depending on how much you want to pay or what your employer is looking to supply, but you're still going to get the same core security and management features that make them perfect for business work. Laptop OEMs might also be a bit behind in getting the latest processors into their machines, as 13th Gen Intel and AMD Ryzen 7000 mobile CPUs were only recently introduced.

In any case, you can distinguish between an Intel vPro/AMD Ryzen PRO laptop and a regular one by looking for a branding that's physically displayed (with the CPU sticker). Alternatively, you can also look at the specs to find out more.

If you're looking to buy a new laptop with one of these technologies, be sure to have a look at our best business laptop collection. Our favorite is currently the ThinkPad X1 Carbon (Gen 10) with 12th Gen Intel Core vPro CPUs, and we know that the X1 Carbon Gen 11 model is on the way with newer 13th Gen Raptor Lake Intel chips. You can check out our ThinkPad X1 Carbon (Gen 10) review for more information about what Editor-in-Chief Rich Woods calls "the pinnacle of business productivity."

On AMD's side, Lenovo has another hit with its first-gen ThinkPad Z16. It's available with AMD Ryzen 6000 PRO processors and supporting hardware for relatively intensive tasks. In our Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 review, Editor-in-Chief noted its impressive battery life, strong performance, sleek design, and gorgeous display.