Apple M2 Max (12-core) vs Intel Core i3-1215U
60.4Single-core50.7
51.9Multi-core28.9
80Efficiencyspec-based75.3
—iGPU48.2
52.8Platformspec-based43.3
11 spec wins — Apple M2 Max (12-core)1 spec wins — Intel Core i3-1215U
InnoReviews verdict
Apple M2 Max (12-core) wins this laptop processor face-off, 59.1 to 45.4, pulling ahead mainly in multi-core (+23) and single-core (+10). Intel Core i3-1215U 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 single-core score: 60 vs 51
- Stronger multi-core score: 52 vs 29
- 300% higher Performance cores: 8 vs 2
- 182% higher Cinebench R23 (multi): 14,600 vs 5,182
- 178% higher Geekbench 6 (multi): 14,500 vs 5,213
Reasons to pick the Intel Core i3-1215U
- 20% higher Boost clock: 4.4 GHz vs 3.7 GHz
General
| Spec | Apple M2 Max (12-core) | Intel Core i3-1215U |
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2023 | 2022 |
| Process | 5 nm+50% | 10 nm |
| Base TDP | — | 15 W |
| Max TDP | — | 55 W |
Cores & Clocks
| Spec | Apple M2 Max (12-core) | Intel Core i3-1215U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores | 12+100% | 6 |
| Performance cores | 8+300% | 2 |
| Efficiency cores | 4 | 4 |
| Threads | 12+50% | 8 |
| Base clock | — | 1.2 GHz |
| Boost clock | 3.7 GHz | 4.4 GHz+20% |
| L3 cache | — | 10 MB |
Integrated GPU
| Spec | Apple M2 Max (12-core) | Intel Core i3-1215U |
|---|---|---|
| iGPU | Apple 38-core GPU | Intel UHD Graphics (64 EU) |
| iGPU clock | — | 1,100 MHz |
Memory
| Spec | Apple M2 Max (12-core) | Intel Core i3-1215U |
|---|---|---|
| Memory support | LPDDR5-6400 | LPDDR5-5200 / DDR5-4800 / DDR4-3200 / LPDDR4X-4267 |
| Max memory | 96 GB+50% | 64 GB |
Benchmarks
| Spec | Apple M2 Max (12-core) | Intel Core i3-1215U |
|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 (single) | 2,760+33%Top 34% | 2,082Bottom 24% |
| Geekbench 6 (multi) | 14,500+178%Top 29% | 5,213Bottom 10% |
| Cinebench R23 (single) | 1,600+6%Bottom 41% | 1,512Bottom 32% |
| Cinebench R23 (multi) | 14,600+182%Top 38% | 5,182Bottom 16% |
| PassMark | 26,834+166%Top 28% | 10,082Bottom 20% |
| 3DMark Time Spy Graphics (iGPU) | — | 1,067Bottom 39% |
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