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Apple M4 Max (16-CPU 40-GPU) vs Apple M2 Max (38-GPU)
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Summary
The Apple M2 Max (38-GPU) is a processor manufactured using the 5 nm process, integrating a graphics unit with 38 cores.
It was developed for demanding professional and creative workflows. The M2 architecture offers solid single-core and multi-core performance, which is sufficient for most applications. Compared to its successor, the Apple M2 Max (38-GPU) shows lower performance in single-core and multi-core scenarios.
With a maximum memory bandwidth of 410 GB/s and a powerful integrated graphics unit, it is well suited for demanding gaming as well as AI applications. Its energy efficiency is high, enabling optimized operation. Price-wise, it offers good value for high performance. The Apple M4 Max (16-CPU 40-GPU) benefits from the more advanced 3 nm process and features a 16-core CPU and a 40-core graphics unit.
The M4 architecture offers significantly higher single-core and multi-core performance; multi-core performance is substantially increased. Its superior graphics performance, supported by a maximum memory bandwidth of 546 GB/s, makes it the superior chip for high-end gaming and complex AI workloads. The improved manufacturing contributes to even better energy efficiency, allowing for higher performance with optimized thermal dissipation.
Price-wise, it is generally more expensive but delivers significantly increased performance.
It was developed for demanding professional and creative workflows. The M2 architecture offers solid single-core and multi-core performance, which is sufficient for most applications. Compared to its successor, the Apple M2 Max (38-GPU) shows lower performance in single-core and multi-core scenarios.
With a maximum memory bandwidth of 410 GB/s and a powerful integrated graphics unit, it is well suited for demanding gaming as well as AI applications. Its energy efficiency is high, enabling optimized operation. Price-wise, it offers good value for high performance. The Apple M4 Max (16-CPU 40-GPU) benefits from the more advanced 3 nm process and features a 16-core CPU and a 40-core graphics unit.
The M4 architecture offers significantly higher single-core and multi-core performance; multi-core performance is substantially increased. Its superior graphics performance, supported by a maximum memory bandwidth of 546 GB/s, makes it the superior chip for high-end gaming and complex AI workloads. The improved manufacturing contributes to even better energy efficiency, allowing for higher performance with optimized thermal dissipation.
Price-wise, it is generally more expensive but delivers significantly increased performance.
Apple M2 Max (38-GPU)
- Manufactured using the 5 nm process
- Integrated graphics unit with 38 cores
- High memory bandwidth of 410 GB/s
- Good performance for professional applications and AI workloads
Apple M4 Max (16-CPU 40-GPU)
- Manufactured using the more advanced 3 nm process
- 16-core CPU and 40-core graphics unit
- Superior memory bandwidth of 546 GB/s
- Significantly higher overall performance and improved energy efficiency
Benchmarks
Performance Overview
Average performance across multiple benchmarks
Single-core performance
Multi-core performance
Cinebench 2024 Single-Core
Single-core performance
16C / 16T · 4.51 GHz
12C / 12T · 3.50 GHz
Cinebench 2024 Multi-Core
Multi-core performance
16C / 16T · 4.51 GHz
12C / 12T · 3.50 GHz
Cinebench R23 Single-Core
Single-core performance
16C / 16T · 4.51 GHz
12C / 12T · 3.50 GHz
Cinebench R23 Multi-Core
Multi-core performance
16C / 16T · 1.26 GHz
12C / 12T · 3.50 GHz
Geekbench 6 Single-Core
Single-core performance
16C / 16T · 4.51 GHz
12C / 12T · 3.50 GHz
Geekbench 6 Multi-Core
Multi-core performance
16C / 16T · 1.26 GHz
12C / 12T · 3.50 GHz
iGPU - FP32 Performance (Single-precision GFLOPS)
Apple M4 Max (40 Core)
Apple M2 Max (38 Core)
AI performance (NPU)
16C / 16T · 1.26 GHz
12C / 12T · 0.66 GHz
More benchmarks
Cinebench 2026 (ST)
218 entries
218 entries
Cinebench 2026 (MC)
219 entries
219 entries
Cinebench 2024 (SC)
427 entries
427 entries
Cinebench 2024 (MC)
422 entries
422 entries
Cinebench R23 (SC)
690 entries
690 entries
Cinebench R23 (MC)
665 entries
665 entries
Geekbench 6 (SC)
1,989 entries
1,989 entries
Geekbench 6 (MC)
1,927 entries
1,927 entries
Geekbench 5 (SC)
2,512 entries
2,512 entries
Geekbench 5 (MC)
2,483 entries
2,483 entries
FP32 SP (iGPU)
2,219 entries
2,219 entries
PassMark CPU-Mark
2,504 entries
2,504 entries
CPU performance per watt (efficiency)
140 entries
140 entries
AI performance (NPU)
218 entries
218 entries
Specifications
At a glance
|
Wischen
|
Apple M4 Max (16-CPU 40-GPU) | Apple M2 Max (38-GPU) |
|---|---|---|
| Family | Apple M series (38) | Apple M series (38) |
| CPU group | Apple M4 (7) | Apple M2 (8) |
| Architecture | M4 | M2 |
| Technology | 3 nm | 5 nm |
| Segment | Notebook | Notebook |
| Socket | ||
| Predecessor | Apple M3 Max (16-CPU 40-GPU) | Apple M1 Max (32-GPU) |
| Successor | Apple M5 Max (18-CPU 40-GPU) |
CPU Cores and Base Frequency
|
Wischen
|
Apple M4 Max (16-CPU 40-GPU) | Apple M2 Max (38-GPU) |
|---|---|---|
| CPU Cores / Threads | 16 / 16 | 12 / 12 |
| Hyperthreading / SMT | ✗ | ✗ |
| Core architecture | hybrid (big.LITTLE) | hybrid (big.LITTLE) |
| Core Cluster 1: | 12x Donan P-Core 1.26 - 4.51 GHz |
8x Avalanche 0.66 - 3.50 GHz |
| Core Cluster 2: | 4x Donan E-Core 1.02 - 2.59 GHz |
4x Blizzard 0.60 - 2.42 GHz |
| L2-Cache | 52.00 MB | 36.00 MB |
| L3-Cache | ||
| Overclocking | ✗ | ✗ |
Integrated graphics (iGPU)
|
Wischen
|
Apple M4 Max (16-CPU 40-GPU) | Apple M2 Max (38-GPU) |
|---|---|---|
| GPU name | Apple M4 Max (40 Core) | Apple M2 Max (38 Core) |
| GPU frequency | 0.39 - 1.58 GHz | 0.45 - 1.40 GHz |
| CUs / Shader | 640 / 5120 | 608 / 4864 |
| Raytracing | ✓ | ✗ |
| Max. displays | 3 | 5 |
| Max. GPU Memory | 96 GB | 96 GB |
| Technology | 3 nm | 5 nm |
| Release date | Q4/2024 | Q1/2023 |
NPU AI performance
|
Wischen
|
Apple M4 Max (16-CPU 40-GPU) | Apple M2 Max (38-GPU) |
|---|---|---|
| AI hardware | Apple Neural Engine | Apple Neural Engine |
| AI specifications | 16 Neural cores @ 38 TOPS | 16 Neural cores @ 15.8 TOPS |
| NPU + CPU + iGPU |
Memory & PCIe
|
Wischen
|
Apple M4 Max (16-CPU 40-GPU) | Apple M2 Max (38-GPU) |
|---|---|---|
| Memory | LPDDR5X-8533 (546.0 GB/s) | LPDDR5-6400 (409.6 GB/s) |
| Max. Memory | 128 GB | 96 GB |
| Memory channels | 8 | 4 |
| ECC | No | No |
| PCIe | 5.0 | 4.0 x 32 |
| PCIe Bandwidth | 63.0 GB/s |
Thermal Management
|
Wischen
|
Apple M4 Max (16-CPU 40-GPU) | Apple M2 Max (38-GPU) |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 90 W | 40 W |
| TDP (PL2) | ||
| TDP up | ||
| TDP down | ||
| T. junction max. | 100 °C | 100 °C |
Technical details
|
Wischen
|
Apple M4 Max (16-CPU 40-GPU) | Apple M2 Max (38-GPU) |
|---|---|---|
| Chip design | Monolithic | Monolithic |
| AES-NI | ✓ | ✓ |
| Operating systems | macOS, iPadOS | macOS, iPadOS |
| Instruction set | Armv9.2-A (64 bit) | Armv8.5-A (64 bit) |
| ISA extensions | Rosetta 2 x86-Emulation, AVX2, SME | Rosetta 2 x86-Emulation |
| Release date | Q4/2024 | Q1/2023 |
| Release price | ||
| Documents | Technical data sheet |
User Reviews
Your rating
Here you can rate one or both of the processors. The average rating of Apple M4 Max (16-CPU 40-GPU) is 4.8 stars (737 ratings), while Apple M2 Max (38-GPU) has received 4.8 stars (89 ratings).
Click on the stars to rate one or both processors.
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