Apple M3 Max (14-CPU 30-GPU) vs Apple M4 (10-CPU)

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CPU comparison with benchmarks


Apple M3 Max (14-CPU 30-GPU) CPU1 vs CPU2 Apple M4 (10-CPU)
Apple M3 Max (14-CPU 30-GPU) Apple M4 (10-CPU)

CPU comparison

In this CPU comparison, we compare the Apple M3 Max (14-CPU 30-GPU) and the Apple M4 (10-CPU) and use benchmarks to check which processor is faster.

We compare the Apple M3 Max (14-CPU 30-GPU) 14 core processor released in Q4/2023 with the Apple M4 (10-CPU) which has 10 CPU cores and was introduced in Q2/2024.
Apple M series (25) Family Apple M series (25)
Apple M3 (6) CPU group Apple M4 (2)
3 Generation 4
M3 Architecture M4
Mobile Segment Mobile
Apple M2 Max (30-GPU) Predecessor Apple M3
-- Successor --

CPU Cores and Base Frequency

The Apple M3 Max (14-CPU 30-GPU) is a 14 core processor with a clock frequency of 0.70 GHz (4.06 GHz). The processor can compute 14 threads at the same time. The Apple M4 (10-CPU) clocks with 0.70 GHz (4.41 GHz), has 10 CPU cores and can calculate 10 threads in parallel.

Apple M3 Max (14-CPU 30-GPU) Characteristic Apple M4 (10-CPU)
14 Cores 10
14 Threads 10
hybrid (big.LITTLE) Core architecture hybrid (big.LITTLE)
No Hyperthreading No
No Overclocking ? No
0.70 GHz (4.06 GHz)
10x P-Core
A-Core 0.70 GHz (4.41 GHz)
4x P-Core
0.74 GHz (2.75 GHz)
4x E-Core
B-Core 0.74 GHz (2.85 GHz)
6x E-Core

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 Max (14-CPU 30-GPU) Characteristic Apple M4 (10-CPU)
Apple Neural Engine AI hardware Apple Neural Engine
16 Neural cores @ 35 TOPS AI specifications 16 Neural cores @ 38 TOPS
-- NPU + CPU + iGPU --

Integrated graphics (iGPU)

Graphics (iGPU) integrated into the processor not only enable image output without having to rely on a dedicated graphics solution, but can also efficiently accelerate video playback.

Apple M3 Max (30 Core) GPU Apple M4 (10 Core)
0.39 GHz GPU frequency --
1.40 GHz GPU (Turbo) --
-- GPU Generation --
3 nm Technology 3 nm
5 Max. displays 2
480 Compute units 160
3840 Shader 1280
Yes Hardware Raytracing Yes
No Frame Generation No
96 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 Max (30 Core) GPU Apple M4 (10 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 Decode
Decode Codec AVC Decode
Decode Codec VC-1 Decode
Decode / Encode Codec JPEG Decode / Encode

Memory & PCIe

Up to 96 GB of memory in a maximum of 3 memory channels is supported by the Apple M3 Max (14-CPU 30-GPU), while the Apple M4 (10-CPU) supports a maximum of 16 GB of memory with a maximum memory bandwidth of 120.0 GB/s enabled.

Apple M3 Max (14-CPU 30-GPU) Characteristic Apple M4 (10-CPU)
LPDDR5-6400 Memory LPDDR5X-7500
96 GB Max. Memory 16 GB
3 Memory channels 2 (Dual Channel)
307.2 GB/s Max. Bandwidth 120.0 GB/s
No ECC No
36.00 MB L2 Cache 22.00 MB
-- L3 Cache --
4.0 PCIe version 4.0
-- PCIe lanes --
-- PCIe Bandwidth --

Thermal Management

The Apple M3 Max (14-CPU 30-GPU) has a TDP of 50 W. The TDP of the Apple M4 (10-CPU) is 22 W. System integrators use the TDP of the processor as a guide when dimensioning the cooling solution.

Apple M3 Max (14-CPU 30-GPU) Characteristic Apple M4 (10-CPU)
50 W TDP (PL1 / PBP) 22 W
-- TDP (PL2) --
-- TDP up --
-- TDP down 15 W
100 °C Tjunction max. 100 °C

Technical details

The Apple M3 Max (14-CPU 30-GPU) has 36.00 MB cache and is manufactured in 3 nm. The cache of Apple M4 (10-CPU) is at 22.00 MB. The processor is manufactured in 3 nm.

Apple M3 Max (14-CPU 30-GPU) Characteristic Apple M4 (10-CPU)
3 nm Technology 3 nm
Chiplet Chip design Chiplet
Armv8-A (64 bit) Instruction set (ISA) Armv9-A (64 bit)
Rosetta 2 x86-Emulation ISA extensions Rosetta 2 x86-Emulation, AVX2, SME
-- Socket --
Apple Virtualization Framework Virtualization Apple Virtualization Framework
Yes AES-NI Yes
macOS, iPadOS Operating systems macOS, iPadOS
Q4/2023 Release date Q2/2024
-- Release price --
show more data show more data


Rate these processors

Here you can rate the Apple M3 Max (14-CPU 30-GPU) to help other visitors make their purchasing decisions. The average rating is 4.8 stars (151 ratings). Rate now:
Here you can rate the Apple M4 (10-CPU) to help other visitors make their purchasing decisions. The average rating is 4.8 stars (104 ratings). Rate now:


Average performance in benchmarks

⌀ Single core performance in 2 CPU benchmarks
Apple M3 Max (14-CPU 30-GPU) (85%)
Apple M4 (10-CPU) (100%)
⌀ Multi core performance in 2 CPU benchmarks
Apple M3 Max (14-CPU 30-GPU) (100%)
Apple M4 (10-CPU) (68%)

Geekbench 5, 64bit (Single-Core)

Geekbench 5 is a cross plattform benchmark that heavily uses the systems memory. A fast memory will push the result a lot. The single-core test only uses one CPU core, the amount of cores or hyperthreading ability doesn't count.
Apple M3 Max (14-CPU 30-GPU) Apple M3 Max (14-CPU 30-GPU)
14C 14T @ 4.06 GHz
2150 (86%)
Apple M4 (10-CPU) Apple M4 (10-CPU)
10C 10T @ 4.41 GHz
2491 (100%)

Geekbench 5, 64bit (Multi-Core)

Geekbench 5 is a cross plattform benchmark that heavily uses the systems memory. A fast memory will push the result a lot. The multi-core test involves all CPU cores and taks a big advantage of hyperthreading.
Apple M3 Max (14-CPU 30-GPU) Apple M3 Max (14-CPU 30-GPU)
14C 14T @ 3.60 GHz
20961 (100%)
Apple M4 (10-CPU) Apple M4 (10-CPU)
10C 10T @ 0.70 GHz
12509 (60%)

Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)

Geekbench 6 is a benchmark for modern computers, notebooks and smartphones. What is new is an optimized utilization of newer CPU architectures, e.g. based on the big.LITTLE concept and combining CPU cores of different sizes. The single-core benchmark only evaluates the performance of the fastest CPU core, the number of CPU cores in a processor is irrelevant here.
Apple M3 Max (14-CPU 30-GPU) Apple M3 Max (14-CPU 30-GPU)
14C 14T @ 4.06 GHz
3125 (83%)
Apple M4 (10-CPU) Apple M4 (10-CPU)
10C 10T @ 4.41 GHz
3767 (100%)

Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)

Geekbench 6 is a benchmark for modern computers, notebooks and smartphones. What is new is an optimized utilization of newer CPU architectures, e.g. based on the big.LITTLE concept and combining CPU cores of different sizes. The multi-core benchmark evaluates the performance of all of the processor's CPU cores. Virtual thread improvements such as AMD SMT or Intel's Hyper-Threading have a positive impact on the benchmark result.
Apple M3 Max (14-CPU 30-GPU) Apple M3 Max (14-CPU 30-GPU)
14C 14T @ 3.60 GHz
19404 (100%)
Apple M4 (10-CPU) Apple M4 (10-CPU)
10C 10T @ 0.70 GHz
14621 (75%)

AI performance (NPU)

The performance values of the processor's AI unit. The isolated NPU performance is given here, the total AI performance (NPU+CPU+iGPU) can be higher.

Processors with the support of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) can process many calculations, especially audio, image and video processing, much faster than classic processors. The performance is given in the number (trillions) of arithmetic operations per second (TOPS).
Apple M3 Max (14-CPU 30-GPU) Apple M3 Max (14-CPU 30-GPU)
14C 14T @ 0.70 GHz
35 (92%)
Apple M4 (10-CPU) Apple M4 (10-CPU)
10C 10T @ 0.70 GHz
38 (100%)

Cinebench 2024 (Single-Core)

The Cinebench 2024 benchmark is based on the Redshift rendering engine, which is also used in Maxon's 3D program Cinema 4D. The benchmark runs are each 10 minutes long to test whether the processor is limited by its heat generation.
Apple M3 Max (14-CPU 30-GPU) Apple M3 Max (14-CPU 30-GPU)
14C 14T @ 4.06 GHz
141 (100%)
Apple M4 (10-CPU) Apple M4 (10-CPU)
10C 10T @ 4.41 GHz
0 (0%)

Cinebench 2024 (Multi-Core)

The Multi-Core test of the Cinebench 2024 benchmark uses all cpu cores to render using the Redshift rendering engine, which is also used in Maxons Cinema 4D. The benchmark run is 10 minutes long to test whether the processor is limited by its heat generation.
Apple M3 Max (14-CPU 30-GPU) Apple M3 Max (14-CPU 30-GPU)
14C 14T @ 4.06 GHz
1373 (100%)
Apple M4 (10-CPU) Apple M4 (10-CPU)
10C 10T @ 4.41 GHz
0 (0%)

Cinebench R23 (Single-Core)

Cinebench R23 is the successor of Cinebench R20 and is also based on the Cinema 4 Suite. Cinema 4 is a worldwide used software to create 3D forms. The single-core test only uses one CPU core, the amount of cores or hyperthreading ability doesn't count.
Apple M3 Max (14-CPU 30-GPU) Apple M3 Max (14-CPU 30-GPU)
14C 14T @ 4.06 GHz
1968 (100%)
Apple M4 (10-CPU) Apple M4 (10-CPU)
10C 10T @ 4.41 GHz
0 (0%)

Cinebench R23 (Multi-Core)

Cinebench R23 is the successor of Cinebench R20 and is also based on the Cinema 4 Suite. Cinema 4 is a worldwide used software to create 3D forms. The multi-core test involves all CPU cores and taks a big advantage of hyperthreading.
Apple M3 Max (14-CPU 30-GPU) Apple M3 Max (14-CPU 30-GPU)
14C 14T @ 3.60 GHz
20983 (100%)
Apple M4 (10-CPU) Apple M4 (10-CPU)
10C 10T @ 0.70 GHz
0 (0%)

iGPU - FP32 Performance (Single-precision GFLOPS)

The theoretical computing performance of the internal graphics unit of the processor with simple accuracy (32 bit) in GFLOPS. GFLOPS indicates how many billion floating point operations the iGPU can perform per second.
Apple M3 Max (14-CPU 30-GPU) Apple M3 Max (14-CPU 30-GPU)
Apple M3 Max (30 Core) @ 1.40 GHz
10650 (100%)
Apple M4 (10-CPU) Apple M4 (10-CPU)
Apple M4 (10 Core) @ 0.00 GHz
0 (0%)

Devices using this processor

Apple M3 Max (14-CPU 30-GPU) Apple M4 (10-CPU)
Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023)
Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023)
Apple iPad Pro 11 (2024) [1-2 TB]

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