Apple M3 Pro 12-Core vs Apple M4 Max (16 cores)
Aggregate performance score
Apple M4 Max (16 cores) outperforms Apple M3 Pro 12-Core by an impressive 74% based on our aggregate benchmark results.
Primary details
Comparing Apple M4 Max (16 cores) and Apple M3 Pro 12-Core processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.
| Place in the ranking | 165 | 414 |
| Place by popularity | not in top-100 | not in top-100 |
| Market segment | Laptop | Laptop |
| Series | Apple M4 | Apple M3 |
| Power efficiency | 29.33 | 56.31 |
| Release date | 30 October 2024 (less than a year ago) | 30 October 2023 (1 year ago) |
Detailed specifications
Apple M4 Max (16 cores) and Apple M3 Pro 12-Core basic parameters such as number of cores, number of threads, base frequency and turbo boost clock, lithography, cache size and multiplier lock state. These parameters indirectly say of CPU speed, though for more precise assessment you have to consider their test results.
| Physical cores | 16 (Hexadeca-Core) | 12 (Dodeca-Core) |
| Threads | 16 | 12 |
| Base clock speed | no data | 2.748 GHz |
| Boost clock speed | 4.51 GHz | 4.06 GHz |
| Chip lithography | 3 nm | 3 nm |
| Number of transistors | no data | 37000 Million |
| 64 bit support | + | + |
Compatibility
Information on Apple M4 Max (16 cores) and Apple M3 Pro 12-Core compatibility with other computer components: motherboard (look for socket type), power supply unit (look for power consumption) etc. Useful when planning a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. Note that power consumption of some processors can well exceed their nominal TDP, even without overclocking. Some can even double their declared thermals given that the motherboard allows to tune the CPU power parameters.
| Power consumption (TDP) | 90 Watt | 27 Watt |
Graphics specifications
General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.
| Integrated graphics card Compare | Apple M4 40-core GPU | Apple M3 Pro 18-Core GPU |
Synthetic benchmark performance
Various benchmark results of the processors in comparison. Overall score is measured in points in 0-100 range, higher is better.
Combined synthetic benchmark score
This is our combined benchmark performance rating. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.
CrossMark Overall
Geekbench 6.3 Multi-Core
Geekbench 6.3 Single-Core
Pros & cons summary
| Performance score | 28.04 | 16.15 |
| Recency | 30 October 2024 | 30 October 2023 |
| Physical cores | 16 | 12 |
| Threads | 16 | 12 |
| Power consumption (TDP) | 90 Watt | 27 Watt |
Apple M4 Max (16 cores) has a 73.6% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 1 year, and 33.3% more physical cores and 33.3% more threads.
Apple M3 Pro 12-Core, on the other hand, has 233.3% lower power consumption.
The Apple M4 Max (16 cores) is our recommended choice as it beats the Apple M3 Pro 12-Core in performance tests.
Should you still have questions on choice between Apple M4 Max (16 cores) and Apple M3 Pro 12-Core, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.
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