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InnoReviews

Apple M2 Max (12-core) vs Apple M3 (8-core)

WINNER
Apple M2 Max (12-core)
59.1Inno Score
VS
Apple M3 (8-core)
57.6Inno Score
60.4Single-core69.8
51.9Multi-core43.3
80Efficiencyspec-based93.3
52.8Platformspec-based35
7 spec wins — Apple M2 Max (12-core)4 spec wins — Apple M3 (8-core)

InnoReviews verdict

Apple M2 Max (12-core) wins this laptop processor face-off, 59.1 to 57.6, pulling ahead mainly in multi-core (+9). Apple M3 (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 Max (12-core)

  • Stronger multi-core score: 52 vs 43
  • 300% higher Max memory: 96 GB vs 24 GB
  • 100% higher Performance cores: 8 vs 4
  • 50% higher cores: 12 vs 8
  • 50% higher threads: 12 vs 8

Reasons to pick the Apple M3 (8-core)

  • Stronger single-core score: 70 vs 60
  • 40% lower process: 3 nm vs 5 nm
  • 19% higher Cinebench R23 (single): 1,900 vs 1,600
  • 12% higher Geekbench 6 (single): 3,090 vs 2,760
  • 10% higher Boost clock: 4.1 GHz vs 3.7 GHz

General

General comparison: Apple M2 Max (12-core) versus Apple M3 (8-core)
SpecApple M2 Max (12-core)Apple M3 (8-core)
Announced20232023
Process5 nm3 nm+40%

Cores & Clocks

Cores & Clocks comparison: Apple M2 Max (12-core) versus Apple M3 (8-core)
SpecApple M2 Max (12-core)Apple M3 (8-core)
Cores12+50%8
Performance cores8+100%4
Efficiency cores44
Threads12+50%8
Boost clock3.7 GHz4.1 GHz+10%

Integrated GPU

Integrated GPU comparison: Apple M2 Max (12-core) versus Apple M3 (8-core)
SpecApple M2 Max (12-core)Apple M3 (8-core)
iGPUApple 38-core GPUApple 10-core GPU

Memory

Memory comparison: Apple M2 Max (12-core) versus Apple M3 (8-core)
SpecApple M2 Max (12-core)Apple M3 (8-core)
Memory supportLPDDR5-6400LPDDR5-6400
Max memory96 GB+300%24 GB

Benchmarks

Benchmarks comparison: Apple M2 Max (12-core) versus Apple M3 (8-core)
SpecApple M2 Max (12-core)Apple M3 (8-core)
Geekbench 6 (single)2,760Top 34%3,090+12%Top 16%
Geekbench 6 (multi)14,500+24%Top 28%11,700Top 48%
Cinebench R23 (single)1,600Bottom 41%1,900+19%Top 29%
Cinebench R23 (multi)14,600+40%Top 37%10,400Bottom 42%
PassMark26,834+41%Top 28%19,056Bottom 48%

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