Apple M3 Pro (12-core) vs Apple M4 Max (16-core)
70.5Single-core86.9
52.2Multi-core80.8
93.3Efficiencyspec-based93.3
43.4Platformspec-based60
1 spec wins — Apple M3 Pro (12-core)11 spec wins — Apple M4 Max (16-core)
InnoReviews verdict
Apple M4 Max (16-core) wins this laptop processor face-off, 81.1 to 62.7, pulling ahead mainly in multi-core (+29) and single-core (+16). Apple M3 Pro (12-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 Pro (12-core)
- 50% higher Efficiency cores: 6 vs 4
Reasons to pick the Apple M4 Max (16-core)
- Stronger single-core score: 87 vs 71
- Stronger multi-core score: 81 vs 52
- 256% higher Max memory: 128 GB vs 36 GB
- 100% higher Performance cores: 12 vs 6
- 90% higher Cinebench R23 (multi): 28,100 vs 14,800
General
| Spec | Apple M3 Pro (12-core) | Apple M4 Max (16-core) |
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2023 | 2024 |
| Process | 3 nm | 3 nm |
Cores & Clocks
| Spec | Apple M3 Pro (12-core) | Apple M4 Max (16-core) |
|---|---|---|
| Cores | 12 | 16+33% |
| Performance cores | 6 | 12+100% |
| Efficiency cores | 6+50% | 4 |
| Threads | 12 | 16+33% |
| Boost clock | 4.1 GHz | 4.5 GHz+11% |
Integrated GPU
| Spec | Apple M3 Pro (12-core) | Apple M4 Max (16-core) |
|---|---|---|
| iGPU | Apple 18-core GPU | Apple 40-core GPU |
Memory
| Spec | Apple M3 Pro (12-core) | Apple M4 Max (16-core) |
|---|---|---|
| Memory support | LPDDR5-6400 | LPDDR5X-8533 |
| Max memory | 36 GB | 128 GB+256% |
Benchmarks
| Spec | Apple M3 Pro (12-core) | Apple M4 Max (16-core) |
|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 (single) | 3,100Top 14% | 4,020+30%Top 6% |
| Geekbench 6 (multi) | 15,300Top 23% | 26,300+72%Top 3% |
| Cinebench R23 (single) | 1,930Top 27% | 2,230+16%Top 5% |
| Cinebench R23 (multi) | 14,800Top 34% | 28,100+90%Top 10% |
| PassMark | 24,069Top 38% | 43,917+82%Top 11% |
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