Apple M3 vs Apple M2 (8-GPU)

CPU comparison with benchmarks

Apple M3		Apple M2 (8-GPU)
CPU comparison Apple M3 or Apple M2 (8-GPU) - which processor is faster? In this comparison we look at the differences and analyze which of these two CPUs is better. We compare the technical data and benchmark results. The Apple M3 has 8 cores with 8 threads and clocks with a maximum frequency of 4.06 GHz. Up to 24 GB of memory is supported in 2 memory channels. The Apple M3 was released in Q4/2023. The Apple M2 (8-GPU) has 8 cores with 8 threads and clocks with a maximum frequency of 3.50 GHz. The CPU supports up to 24 GB of memory in 2 memory channels. The Apple M2 (8-GPU) was released in Q2/2022.
Apple M series (32)	Family	Apple M series (32)
Apple M3 (6)	CPU group	Apple M2 (8)
3	Generation	2
M3	Architecture	M2
Notebook	Segment	Notebook
Apple M2	Predecessor	Apple M1
Apple M4	Successor	Apple M3 (8-GPU)
CPU Cores and Base Frequency The Apple M3 has 8 CPU cores and can calculate 8 threads in parallel. The clock frequency of the Apple M3 is 0.70 GHz (4.06 GHz) while the Apple M2 (8-GPU) has 8 CPU cores and 8 threads can calculate simultaneously. The clock frequency of the Apple M2 (8-GPU) is at 0.66 GHz (3.50 GHz).
Apple M3	Characteristic	Apple M2 (8-GPU)
8	Cores	8
8	Threads	8
hybrid (big.LITTLE)	Core architecture	hybrid (big.LITTLE)
No	Hyperthreading	No
No	Overclocking ?	No
0.70 GHz (4.06 GHz) 4x Ibiza P-Core	A-Core	0.66 GHz (3.50 GHz) 4x Avalanche
0.74 GHz (2.75 GHz) 4x Ibiza E-Core	B-Core	0.60 GHz (2.42 GHz) 4x Blizzard
NPU AI performance The performance values of the processor's AI unit. The isolated NPU performance is specified here, the total AI performance (NPU+CPU+iGPU) can be higher. Processors with support for artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) can process many calculations, especially audio, image and video processing, much faster than classic processors.
Apple M3	Characteristic	Apple M2 (8-GPU)
Apple Neural Engine	AI hardware	Apple Neural Engine
16 Neural cores @ 35 TOPS	AI specifications	16 Neural cores @ 15.8 TOPS
--	NPU + CPU + iGPU	--
Integrated graphics (iGPU) The Apple M3 or Apple M2 (8-GPU) has integrated graphics, called iGPU for short. The iGPU uses the system's main memory as graphics memory and sits on the processor's die.
Apple M3 (10 Core)	GPU	Apple M2 (8 Core)
0.39 GHz	GPU frequency	0.45 GHz
1.40 GHz	GPU (Turbo)	1.40 GHz
3	GPU Generation	2
3 nm	Technology	5 nm
2	Max. displays	2
160	Compute units	128
1280	Shader	1024
Yes	Hardware Raytracing	No
No	Frame Generation	No
24 GB	Max. GPU Memory	24 GB
--	DirectX Version	--
Hardware codec support A photo or video codec that is accelerated in hardware can greatly accelerate the working speed of a processor and extend the battery life of notebooks or smartphones when playing videos.
Apple M3 (10 Core)	GPU	Apple M2 (8 Core)
Decode / Encode	Codec h265 / HEVC (8 bit)	Decode / Encode
Decode / Encode	Codec h265 / HEVC (10 bit)	Decode / Encode
Decode / Encode	Codec h264	Decode / Encode
Decode / Encode	Codec VP9	Decode / Encode
Decode	Codec VP8	Decode
Decode	Codec AV1	No
Decode	Codec AVC	Decode
Decode	Codec VC-1	Decode
Decode / Encode	Codec JPEG	Decode / Encode

Memory & PCIe The Apple M3 can use up to 24 GB of memory in 2 memory channels. The maximum memory bandwidth is 102.4 GB/s. The Apple M2 (8-GPU) supports up to 24 GB of memory in 2 memory channels and achieves a memory bandwidth of up to 102.4 GB/s.
Apple M3	Characteristic	Apple M2 (8-GPU)
LPDDR5-6400	Memory	LPDDR5-6400
24 GB	Max. Memory	24 GB
2 (Dual Channel)	Memory channels	2 (Dual Channel)
102.4 GB/s	Max. Bandwidth	102.4 GB/s
No	ECC	No
20.00 MB	L2 Cache	20.00 MB
--	L3 Cache	--
4.0	PCIe version	4.0
--	PCIe lanes	--
--	PCIe Bandwidth	--
Thermal Management The thermal design power (TDP for short) of the Apple M3 is 22 W, while the Apple M2 (8-GPU) has a TDP of 20 W. The TDP specifies the necessary cooling solution that is required to cool the processor sufficiently.
Apple M3	Characteristic	Apple M2 (8-GPU)
22 W	TDP (PL1 / PBP)	20 W
--	TDP (PL2)	--
--	TDP up	25 W
15 W	TDP down	10 W
100 °C	Tjunction max.	100 °C
Technical details The Apple M3 is manufactured in 3 nm and has 20.00 MB cache. The Apple M2 (8-GPU) is manufactured in 5 nm and has a 20.00 MB cache.
Apple M3	Characteristic	Apple M2 (8-GPU)
3 nm	Technology	5 nm
Monolithic	Chip design	Monolithic
Armv8-A (64 bit)	Instruction set (ISA)	Armv8.5-A (64 bit)
Rosetta 2 x86-Emulation	ISA extensions	Rosetta 2 x86-Emulation
--	Socket	--
Apple Virtualization Framework	Virtualization	Apple Virtualization Framework
Yes	AES-NI	Yes
macOS, iPadOS	Operating systems	macOS, iPadOS
Q4/2023	Release date	Q2/2022
--	Release price	--
show more data		show more data
Apple M3 8C 8T @ 0.70 GHz (4.06 GHz) buy now on Amazon and save! Apple M2 (8-GPU) 8C 8T @ 0.66 GHz (3.50 GHz) buy now on Amazon and save!

Devices using this processor
Apple M3	Apple M2 (8-GPU)
Apple iMac 24 (2023)	Apple MacBook Air 14 (2022) Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022)

News and articles for the Apple M3 and the Apple M2 (8-GPU)

Comparison of the two processors

In the comparison between the Apple M3 with 10 GPU cores and the Apple M2 with 8 GPU cores, we look at the improvements of the Apple M3 and also look at the integrated graphics, iGPU for short, which has been supplemented by two GPU cores and is now more powerful than in its predecessor.

The basic structure of the Apple M3 is identical to the Apple M2. Both processors have 8 CPU cores that are designed in a hybrid structure and each have 4 larger P-cores and 4 smaller and more efficient E-cores. Apple has been using this layout for a very long time and even before the introduction of the M processors in its A processors for smartphones and tablets (but with fewer P cores).

The 4 P cores of the Apple M3 clock at a very low 0.7 GHz to save energy. In the Apple M2, the four E-cores only clock at 0.66 GHz. The processor can dynamically increase the clock frequency of the CPU cores if more performance is required. The Apple M3 can boost with up to 4.06 GHz, while the Apple M2 stops at 3.5 GHz.

The more efficient E cores work in a similar way and clock at 0.74 GHz (Apple M3) or 0.6 GHz (Apple M2). The maximum clock frequency is 2.75 GHz for the Apple M3 and 2.42 GHz for the Apple M2. These values can be viewed at any time by experienced macOS users via Apple Powermetrics.

Apple has doubled the AI computing units of the Apple M3. In addition, these clocks are slightly higher, so that the new processor can now calculate 35 TOPS. The Apple M2 2 only achieved 15.8 TOPS.

The two additional GPU cores now have a total of 1280 texture shaders and 160 execution units. The Apple M2, with its 8 GPU cores, had 1024 texture shaders and 128 execution units. The graphics of the Apple M3 now support hardware ray tracing for the realistic calculation of light and shadows for the first time.

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