Apple M3 (8-GPU) vs Apple M4

In this comparison, we look at the Apple M3 with 8 processor cores and 8 graphics processor cores, and the Apple M4 processor with 9 processor cores.

Both processors are based on a hybrid big.LITTLE architecture and are manufactured with a structure width of 3 nanometers. This Apple M3 processor has 4 high-performance cores with a clock speed of up to 4.06 GHz, as well as 4 efficient cores clocked at a maximum of 2.75 GHz. The newer M4 processor has only 3 high-performance cores, clocking at up to 4.46 GHz, but approximately 10% faster.

It also integrates 6 efficient cores clocked at up to 2.85 GHz. Both processors have 16 Neural Engine cores each, but the Apple M4 offers slightly more performance with 38 TOPS than the M3 processor, which has 38 TOPS. There are significant differences in the internal graphics unit, however, as the M3 processor only has 8 graphics processor cores clocked at a maximum of 1.40 GHz.

The newer M4 processor has 10 GPU cores and clocks at up to 1.58 GHz. This results in more shaders (1280 versus 1024) and more execution units (160 versus 128). The biggest improvement, however, is that the M4, as an entry-level processor, now supports up to three displays. The M3 processor supports up to 24 GB of LPDDR5-6400 RAM, whereas the Apple M4 supports the newer and faster LPDDR5X-7500 RAM, but has a maximum of 8 GB.

This is not due to its technical capabilities, but simply because this particular M4 processor with 9 cores has so far only been installed in the iPad. The TDP (Terminal Design Power) of the Apple M3 is 22 watts, while the Apple M4 is a slightly lower 20 watts, despite a higher clock speed.

However, the higher clock speed affects the TDP, which drops to 10 watts on the M3, whereas the M4 has a minimum of 15 watts.