Apple M3 Max (16-core) vs Intel Core i3-1215U
71.2Single-core50.7
71Multi-core28.9
93.3Efficiencyspec-based75.3
—iGPU48.2
60Platformspec-based43.3
11 spec wins — Apple M3 Max (16-core)1 spec wins — Intel Core i3-1215U
InnoReviews verdict
Apple M3 Max (16-core) wins this laptop processor face-off, 72.9 to 45.4, pulling ahead mainly in multi-core (+42) and single-core (+21). 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 M3 Max (16-core)
- Stronger single-core score: 71 vs 51
- Stronger multi-core score: 71 vs 29
- 500% higher Performance cores: 12 vs 2
- 367% higher Cinebench R23 (multi): 24,200 vs 5,182
- 309% higher PassMark: 41,192 vs 10,082
Reasons to pick the Intel Core i3-1215U
No decisive spec advantages — this side competes on price and preference.
General
| Spec | Apple M3 Max (16-core) | Intel Core i3-1215U |
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2023 | 2022 |
| Process | 3 nm+70% | 10 nm |
| Base TDP | — | 15 W |
| Max TDP | — | 55 W |
Cores & Clocks
| Spec | Apple M3 Max (16-core) | Intel Core i3-1215U |
|---|---|---|
| Cores | 16+167% | 6 |
| Performance cores | 12+500% | 2 |
| Efficiency cores | 4 | 4 |
| Threads | 16+100% | 8 |
| Base clock | — | 1.2 GHz |
| Boost clock | 4.1 GHz | 4.4 GHz+9% |
| L3 cache | — | 10 MB |
Integrated GPU
| Spec | Apple M3 Max (16-core) | Intel Core i3-1215U |
|---|---|---|
| iGPU | Apple 40-core GPU | Intel UHD Graphics (64 EU) |
| iGPU clock | — | 1,100 MHz |
Memory
| Spec | Apple M3 Max (16-core) | Intel Core i3-1215U |
|---|---|---|
| Memory support | LPDDR5-6400 | LPDDR5-5200 / DDR5-4800 / DDR4-3200 / LPDDR4X-4267 |
| Max memory | 128 GB+100% | 64 GB |
Benchmarks
| Spec | Apple M3 Max (16-core) | Intel Core i3-1215U |
|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 (single) | 3,130+50%Top 13% | 2,082Bottom 24% |
| Geekbench 6 (multi) | 21,200+307%Top 10% | 5,213Bottom 10% |
| Cinebench R23 (single) | 1,950+29%Top 25% | 1,512Bottom 32% |
| Cinebench R23 (multi) | 24,200+367%Top 13% | 5,182Bottom 16% |
| PassMark | 41,192+309%Top 13% | 10,082Bottom 20% |
| 3DMark Time Spy Graphics (iGPU) | — | 1,067Bottom 39% |
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