Apple M2 (8-core) vs Apple M3 (8-core)
58.1Single-core69.8
38.7Multi-core43.3
80Efficiencyspec-based93.3
35Platformspec-based35
0 spec wins — Apple M2 (8-core)8 spec wins — Apple M3 (8-core)
InnoReviews verdict
Apple M3 (8-core) wins this laptop processor face-off, 57.6 to 50.4, pulling ahead mainly in single-core (+12) and multi-core (+5). Apple M2 (8-core) still makes sense if its price or standout specs fit your needs better.
Which would you pick?
Key differences
Reasons to pick the Apple M2 (8-core)
No decisive spec advantages — this side competes on price and preference.
Reasons to pick the Apple M3 (8-core)
- Stronger single-core score: 70 vs 58
- Stronger multi-core score: 43 vs 39
- 40% lower process: 3 nm vs 5 nm
- 22% higher PassMark: 19,056 vs 15,648
- 20% higher Geekbench 6 (multi): 11,700 vs 9,750
General
| Spec | Apple M2 (8-core) | Apple M3 (8-core) |
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2022 | 2023 |
| Process | 5 nm | 3 nm+40% |
Cores & Clocks
| Spec | Apple M2 (8-core) | Apple M3 (8-core) |
|---|---|---|
| Cores | 8 | 8 |
| Performance cores | 4 | 4 |
| Efficiency cores | 4 | 4 |
| Threads | 8 | 8 |
| Boost clock | 3.5 GHz | 4.1 GHz+16% |
Integrated GPU
| Spec | Apple M2 (8-core) | Apple M3 (8-core) |
|---|---|---|
| iGPU | Apple 10-core GPU | Apple 10-core GPU |
Memory
| Spec | Apple M2 (8-core) | Apple M3 (8-core) |
|---|---|---|
| Memory support | LPDDR5-6400 | LPDDR5-6400 |
| Max memory | 24 GB | 24 GB |
Benchmarks
| Spec | Apple M2 (8-core) | Apple M3 (8-core) |
|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 (single) | 2,600Top 44% | 3,090+19%Top 13% |
| Geekbench 6 (multi) | 9,750Bottom 38% | 11,700+20%Top 49% |
| Cinebench R23 (single) | 1,580Bottom 34% | 1,900+20%Top 29% |
| Cinebench R23 (multi) | 8,700Bottom 29% | 10,400+20%Bottom 41% |
| PassMark | 15,648Bottom 33% | 19,056+22%Bottom 46% |
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