Apple M3 (8-core) vs Apple M6 (12-core)
63.3Single-core100
30.9Multi-core65.8
93.3Efficiencyspec-based100
35Platformspec-based42.2
0 spec wins — Apple M3 (8-core)10 spec wins — Apple M6 (12-core)
InnoReviews verdict
Apple M6 (12-core) wins this laptop processor face-off, 77.1 to 51, pulling ahead mainly in single-core (+37) and multi-core (+35). 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 M3 (8-core)
No decisive spec advantages — this side competes on price and preference.
Reasons to pick the Apple M6 (12-core)
- Stronger single-core score: 100 vs 63
- Stronger multi-core score: 66 vs 31
- 77% higher Geekbench 6 (multi): 20,676 vs 11,700
- 50% higher cores: 12 vs 8
- 50% higher Performance cores: 6 vs 4
General
| Spec | Apple M3 (8-core) | Apple M6 (12-core) |
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2023 | 2026 |
| Process | 3 nm | 2 nm+33% |
Cores & Clocks
| Spec | Apple M3 (8-core) | Apple M6 (12-core) |
|---|---|---|
| Cores | 8 | 12+50% |
| Performance cores | 4 | 6+50% |
| Efficiency cores | 4 | 6+50% |
| Threads | 8 | 12+50% |
| Boost clock | 4.1 GHz | 4.8 GHz+19% |
Integrated GPU
| Spec | Apple M3 (8-core) | Apple M6 (12-core) |
|---|---|---|
| iGPU | Apple 10-core GPU | Apple 12-core GPU |
Memory
| Spec | Apple M3 (8-core) | Apple M6 (12-core) |
|---|---|---|
| Memory support | LPDDR5-6400 | LPDDR5X |
| Max memory | 24 GB | 32 GB+33% |
Benchmarks
| Spec | Apple M3 (8-core) | Apple M6 (12-core) |
|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 (single) | 3,090Top 21% | 4,610+49%Top 2% |
| Geekbench 6 (multi) | 11,700Top 65% | 20,676+77%Top 15% |
| Cinebench R23 (single) | 1,900Top 42% | — |
| Cinebench R23 (multi) | 10,400Top 84% | — |
| PassMark | — | 36,209Top 30% |
Related comparisons
Apple M3 (8-core)vs Intel Core Ultra 7 258VVSApple M3 (8-core)vs Intel Core Ultra 9 288VVSApple M3 (8-core)vs Apple M2 Max (12-core)VSApple M3 (8-core)vs Intel Core Ultra 9 185HVSApple M6 (12-core)vs Apple M4 Pro (14-core)VSApple M6 (12-core)vs AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395VSApple M6 (12-core)vs Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX PlusVSApple M6 (12-core)vs Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite ExtremeVS