Apple M2 Max (30-GPU) Apple M3 Pro (11-CPU 14-GPU)
VS

Apple M2 Max (30-GPU) vs Apple M3 Pro (11-CPU 14-GPU)

Last updated:
The Apple M2 Max (30-GPU) is based on the 5 nm M2 architecture with 30 graphics cores and a maximum memory bandwidth of 410 GB/s.

It is designed for professional users who require the highest graphics performance and extensive computing capabilities for demanding tasks such as video editing and 3D rendering. The high memory bandwidth also supports good AI performance. The Apple M3 Pro (11-CPU 14-GPU) utilizes the more advanced 3 nm M3 architecture with 11 CPU and 14 graphics cores, along with 154 GB/s memory bandwidth.

It exhibits significantly higher single-core performance and improved energy efficiency. In contrast, the Apple M2 Max (30-GPU) shows noticeably higher multi-core performance. For gaming, the M2 Max (30-GPU) is more powerful due to its superior number of graphics cores and memory bandwidth, but it requires more power consumption.

The M3 Pro (11-CPU 14-GPU) is more energy efficient. The Apple M2 Max (30-GPU) is recommended for graphics-intensive professional tasks and workloads that benefit from its high multi-core performance. The Apple M3 Pro (11-CPU 14-GPU) is ideal for developers and professional applications that want to benefit from the high single-core performance and improved efficiency of the newer architecture.

Apple M2 Max (30-GPU)

  • High graphics performance (30 GPU cores)
  • Superior multi-core performance
  • High memory bandwidth (410 GB/s)
  • Good for AI applications

Apple M3 Pro (11-CPU 14-GPU)

  • Modern 3 nm manufacturing process
  • Significantly higher single-core performance
  • Improved energy efficiency
  • Suitable for CPU-intensive professional applications

Performance Overview
Average performance across multiple benchmarks

Single-core performance
Rank 2 - 86 %
Apple M2 Max (30-GPU)
Rank 1 - 100 %
Apple M3 Pro (11-CPU 14-GPU)
Multi-core performance
Rank 1 - 100 %
Apple M2 Max (30-GPU)
Rank 2 - 89 %
Apple M3 Pro (11-CPU 14-GPU)
Cinebench 2024 Single-Core

Cinebench 2024 Single-Core
Single-core performance

Apple M2 Max (30-GPU)
12C / 12T · 3.50 GHz
121 pts
Apple M3 Pro (11-CPU 14-GPU)
11C / 11T · 4.06 GHz
139 pts
Cinebench 2024 Multi-Core

Cinebench 2024 Multi-Core
Multi-core performance

Apple M2 Max (30-GPU)
12C / 12T · 3.50 GHz
1,025 pts
Apple M3 Pro (11-CPU 14-GPU)
11C / 11T · 4.06 GHz
876 pts
Cinebench R23 Single-Core

Cinebench R23 Single-Core
Single-core performance

Apple M2 Max (30-GPU)
12C / 12T · 3.50 GHz
1,695 pts
Apple M3 Pro (11-CPU 14-GPU)
11C / 11T · 4.06 GHz
1,889 pts
Cinebench R23 Multi-Core

Cinebench R23 Multi-Core
Multi-core performance

Apple M2 Max (30-GPU)
12C / 12T · 3.50 GHz
14,855 pts
Apple M3 Pro (11-CPU 14-GPU)
11C / 11T · 3.80 GHz
13,289 pts
Geekbench 6 Single-Core

Geekbench 6 Single-Core
Single-core performance

Apple M2 Max (30-GPU)
12C / 12T · 3.50 GHz
2,689
Apple M3 Pro (11-CPU 14-GPU)
11C / 11T · 4.06 GHz
3,125
Geekbench 6 Multi-Core

Geekbench 6 Multi-Core
Multi-core performance

Apple M2 Max (30-GPU)
12C / 12T · 3.50 GHz
14,207
Apple M3 Pro (11-CPU 14-GPU)
11C / 11T · 3.80 GHz
13,755
Geekbench 5, 64bit Single-Core

Geekbench 5, 64bit Single-Core
Single-core performance

Apple M2 Max (30-GPU)
12C / 12T · 3.50 GHz
1,874
Apple M3 Pro (11-CPU 14-GPU)
11C / 11T · 4.06 GHz
2,305
Geekbench 5, 64bit Multi-Core

Geekbench 5, 64bit Multi-Core
Multi-core performance

Apple M2 Max (30-GPU)
12C / 12T · 3.50 GHz
15,506
Apple M3 Pro (11-CPU 14-GPU)
11C / 11T · 3.80 GHz
13,255
iGPU - FP32 Performance (Single-precision GFLOPS)

iGPU - FP32 Performance (Single-precision GFLOPS)

Apple M2 Max (30-GPU)
Apple M2 Max (30 Core)
10,650
Apple M3 Pro (11-CPU 14-GPU)
Apple M3 Pro (14 Core)
4,970
AI performance (NPU)

AI performance (NPU)

Apple M2 Max (30-GPU)
12C / 12T · 0.66 GHz
15.8 TOPS
Apple M3 Pro (11-CPU 14-GPU)
11C / 11T · 0.70 GHz
35.0 TOPS

More benchmarks

At a glance

Wischen
Apple M2 Max (30-GPU)Apple M3 Pro (11-CPU 14-GPU)
FamilyApple M series (38)Apple M series (38)
CPU groupApple M2 (8)Apple M3 (6)
ArchitectureM2M3
Technology5 nm3 nm
SegmentNotebookNotebook
Socket
PredecessorApple M1 Max (24-GPU)Apple M2 Pro (10-CPU 16-GPU)
SuccessorApple M3 Max (14-CPU 30-GPU)Apple M4 Pro (12-CPU 16-GPU)

CPU Cores and Base Frequency

Wischen
Apple M2 Max (30-GPU)Apple M3 Pro (11-CPU 14-GPU)
CPU Cores / Threads12 / 1211 / 11
Hyperthreading / SMT
Core architecturehybrid (big.LITTLE)hybrid (big.LITTLE)
Core Cluster 1: 8x Avalanche
0.66 - 3.50 GHz
5x Lobos P-Core
0.70 - 4.06 GHz
Core Cluster 2: 4x Blizzard
0.60 - 2.42 GHz
6x Lobos E-Core
0.74 - 2.75 GHz
L2-Cache36.00 MB36.00 MB
L3-Cache
Overclocking

Integrated graphics (iGPU)

Wischen
Apple M2 Max (30-GPU)Apple M3 Pro (11-CPU 14-GPU)
GPU nameApple M2 Max (30 Core)Apple M3 Pro (14 Core)
GPU frequency0.45 - 1.40 GHz0.39 - 1.40 GHz
CUs / Shader480 / 3840224 / 1792
Raytracing
Max. displays53
Max. GPU Memory96 GB36 GB
Technology5 nm3 nm
Release dateQ1/2023Q4/2023

NPU AI performance

Wischen
Apple M2 Max (30-GPU)Apple M3 Pro (11-CPU 14-GPU)
AI hardwareApple Neural EngineApple Neural Engine
AI specifications16 Neural cores @ 15.8 TOPS16 Neural cores @ 35 TOPS
NPU + CPU + iGPU

Memory & PCIe

Wischen
Apple M2 Max (30-GPU)Apple M3 Pro (11-CPU 14-GPU)
MemoryLPDDR5-6400 (409.6 GB/s)
LPDDR5-6400 (153.6 GB/s)
Max. Memory96 GB36 GB
Memory channels42
ECCNoNo
PCIe4.0 x 324.0
PCIe Bandwidth63.0 GB/s

Thermal Management

Wischen
Apple M2 Max (30-GPU)Apple M3 Pro (11-CPU 14-GPU)
TDP45 W35 W
TDP (PL2)
TDP up
TDP down
T. junction max.100 °C100 °C

Technical details

Wischen
Apple M2 Max (30-GPU)Apple M3 Pro (11-CPU 14-GPU)
Chip designMonolithicMonolithic
AES-NI
Operating systemsmacOS, iPadOSmacOS, iPadOS
Instruction setArmv8.5-A (64 bit)Armv8-A (64 bit)
ISA extensionsRosetta 2 x86-EmulationRosetta 2 x86-Emulation
Release dateQ1/2023Q4/2023
Release price
DocumentsTechnical data sheet

Your rating

Here you can rate one or both of the processors. The average rating of Apple M2 Max (30-GPU) is 4.6 stars (57 ratings), while Apple M3 Pro (11-CPU 14-GPU) has received 4.7 stars (294 ratings).

Click on the stars to rate one or both processors.

Apple M2 Max (30-GPU)
Apple M2 Max (30-GPU)
12C / 12T · 0.66 - 3.50 GHz
Apple M3 Pro (11-CPU 14-GPU)
Apple M3 Pro (11-CPU 14-GPU)
11C / 11T · 0.70 - 4.06 GHz

Most popular CPUs in both categories

Apple M2 Max (30-GPU)
Apple M2 Max (30-GPU)
Buy now on Amazon and save! Buy on Amazon