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Apple M2 Max (12-core) vs Apple M4 Max (16-core)

Apple M2 Max (12-core)
51.5Inno Score
VS
WINNER
Apple M4 Max (16-core)
82.8Inno Score
47.6Single-core91.3
41.5Multi-core82.1
80Efficiency93.3
52.8Platform60
0 spec wins — Apple M2 Max (12-core)11 spec wins — Apple M4 Max (16-core)

InnoReviews verdict

Apple M4 Max (16-core) wins this laptop processor face-off, 82.8 to 51.5, pulling ahead mainly in Single-core (+44) and Multi-core (+41). Apple M2 Max (12-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)

No decisive spec advantages — this side competes on price and preference.

Reasons to pick the Apple M4 Max (16-core)

  • Stronger Single-core score: 91 vs 48
  • Stronger Multi-core score: 82 vs 42
  • Stronger efficiency score: 93 vs 80
  • Stronger platform score: 60 vs 53
  • 92% higher Cinebench R23 (multi): 28,100 vs 14,600

General

General comparison: Apple M2 Max (12-core) versus Apple M4 Max (16-core)
SpecApple M2 Max (12-core)Apple M4 Max (16-core)
Announced20232024
Process5 nm3 nm+40%

Cores & Clocks

Cores & Clocks comparison: Apple M2 Max (12-core) versus Apple M4 Max (16-core)
SpecApple M2 Max (12-core)Apple M4 Max (16-core)
Cores1216+33%
Performance cores812+50%
Efficiency cores44
Threads1216+33%
Boost clock3.7 GHz4.5 GHz+23%

Integrated GPU

Integrated GPU comparison: Apple M2 Max (12-core) versus Apple M4 Max (16-core)
SpecApple M2 Max (12-core)Apple M4 Max (16-core)
iGPUApple 38-core GPUApple 40-core GPU

Memory

Memory comparison: Apple M2 Max (12-core) versus Apple M4 Max (16-core)
SpecApple M2 Max (12-core)Apple M4 Max (16-core)
Memory supportLPDDR5-6400LPDDR5X-8533
Max memory96 GB128 GB+33%

Benchmarks

Benchmarks comparison: Apple M2 Max (12-core) versus Apple M4 Max (16-core)
SpecApple M2 Max (12-core)Apple M4 Max (16-core)
Geekbench 6 (single)2,760Top 42%4,020+46%Top 4%
Geekbench 6 (multi)14,500Top 36%26,300+81%Top 2%
Cinebench R23 (single)1,600Top 79%2,230+39%Top 5%
Cinebench R23 (multi)14,600Top 56%28,100+92%Top 18%

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