Apple M3 Max (16-core) vs Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme
71.2Single-core86.6
71Multi-core79.1
93.3Efficiencyspec-based93.3
—iGPU75.6
60Platformspec-based51.1
0 spec wins — Apple M3 Max (16-core)7 spec wins — Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme
InnoReviews verdict
Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme wins this laptop processor face-off, 78.6 to 72.9, pulling ahead mainly in single-core (+15) and multi-core (+8). Apple M3 Max (16-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 Max (16-core)
No decisive spec advantages — this side competes on price and preference.
Reasons to pick the Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme
- Stronger single-core score: 87 vs 71
- Stronger multi-core score: 79 vs 71
- 30% higher Geekbench 6 (single): 4,062 vs 3,130
- 23% higher Boost clock: 5 GHz vs 4.1 GHz
- 13% higher cores: 18 vs 16
General
| Spec | Apple M3 Max (16-core) | Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme |
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2023 | 2025 |
| Process | 3 nm | 3 nm |
Cores & Clocks
| Spec | Apple M3 Max (16-core) | Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme |
|---|---|---|
| Cores | 16 | 18+13% |
| Performance cores | 12 | — |
| Efficiency cores | 4 | — |
| Threads | 16 | 18+13% |
| Base clock | — | 4.4 GHz |
| Boost clock | 4.1 GHz | 5 GHz+23% |
Integrated GPU
| Spec | Apple M3 Max (16-core) | Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme |
|---|---|---|
| iGPU | Apple 40-core GPU | Qualcomm Adreno X2-90 |
| iGPU clock | — | 1,850 MHz |
Memory
| Spec | Apple M3 Max (16-core) | Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme |
|---|---|---|
| Memory support | LPDDR5-6400 | LPDDR5X |
| Max memory | 128 GB | — |
Benchmarks
| Spec | Apple M3 Max (16-core) | Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme |
|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 (single) | 3,130Top 13% | 4,062+30%Top 6% |
| Geekbench 6 (multi) | 21,200Top 10% | 23,166+9%Top 5% |
| Cinebench R23 (single) | 1,950Top 25% | — |
| Cinebench R23 (multi) | 24,200Top 13% | — |
| PassMark | 41,192Top 13% | 44,659+8%Top 10% |
| 3DMark Time Spy Graphics (iGPU) | — | 3,667Top 9% |
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