Apple M2 Max (12-core) vs Intel Core i3-N305
60.4Single-core31.4
51.9Multi-core28
80Efficiencyspec-based75.3
—iGPU34.1
52.8Platformspec-based30.5
10 spec wins — Apple M2 Max (12-core)2 spec wins — Intel Core i3-N305
InnoReviews verdict
Apple M2 Max (12-core) wins this laptop processor face-off, 59.1 to 36.9, pulling ahead mainly in single-core (+29) and multi-core (+24). Intel Core i3-N305 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 31
- Stronger multi-core score: 52 vs 28
- 500% higher Max memory: 96 GB vs 16 GB
- 210% higher Geekbench 6 (multi): 14,500 vs 4,681
- 189% higher Cinebench R23 (multi): 14,600 vs 5,049
Reasons to pick the Intel Core i3-N305
- 100% higher Efficiency cores: 8 vs 4
General
| Spec | Apple M2 Max (12-core) | Intel Core i3-N305 |
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2023 | 2023 |
| Process | 5 nm+50% | 10 nm |
| Base TDP | — | 15 W |
| Max TDP | — | 35 W |
Cores & Clocks
| Spec | Apple M2 Max (12-core) | Intel Core i3-N305 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores | 12+50% | 8 |
| Performance cores | 8 | 0 |
| Efficiency cores | 4 | 8+100% |
| Threads | 12+50% | 8 |
| Base clock | — | 1.8 GHz |
| Boost clock | 3.7 GHz | 3.8 GHz+3% |
| L3 cache | — | 6 MB |
Integrated GPU
| Spec | Apple M2 Max (12-core) | Intel Core i3-N305 |
|---|---|---|
| iGPU | Apple 38-core GPU | Intel UHD Graphics (32 EU) |
| iGPU clock | — | 1,250 MHz |
Memory
| Spec | Apple M2 Max (12-core) | Intel Core i3-N305 |
|---|---|---|
| Memory support | LPDDR5-6400 | DDR4-3200, DDR5-4800, LPDDR5-4800 |
| Max memory | 96 GB+500% | 16 GB |
Benchmarks
| Spec | Apple M2 Max (12-core) | Intel Core i3-N305 |
|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 (single) | 2,760+117%Top 34% | 1,274Bottom 6% |
| Geekbench 6 (multi) | 14,500+210%Top 29% | 4,681Bottom 9% |
| Cinebench R23 (single) | 1,600+63%Bottom 41% | 983Bottom 9% |
| Cinebench R23 (multi) | 14,600+189%Top 38% | 5,049Bottom 13% |
| PassMark | 26,834+187%Top 28% | 9,350Bottom 17% |
| 3DMark Time Spy Graphics (iGPU) | — | 567Bottom 23% |
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