Where they actually differ
The most decisive specs, ranked by how much they matter — before the full spec table.
| Spec | Apple - M3 Max | Intel - Core Ultra 7 268V |
|---|---|---|
| L3 cache | 32 MB | 12 MB |
| Cinebench R23 (multi) | 26800 | 11400 |
| Cores | 16 | 8 |
| TDP | 60 W | 30 W |
| Boost clock | 4.05 GHz | 5.0 GHz |
Between the M3 Max and Core Ultra 7 268V, the M3 Max comes out ahead in l3 cache / cinebench r23 (multi), while the Core Ultra 7 268V wins on tdp / boost clock. Overall, the M3 Max scores 50 and the Core Ultra 7 268V scores 45 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
The M3 Max edges ahead on the Mars Score (50 vs 45), but the 5.0-point gap is small enough that the right pick comes down to which spec advantages matter to you.
Pick the M3 Max if you push the hardware — gaming, on-device AI, heavy multitasking — and the extra compute headroom is worth the trade-offs. The biggest gaps in its favor are l3 cache, cinebench r23 (multi), cores. The single most decisive one: L3 cache — 166.67% more. 32 MB vs 12 MB.
Pick the Core Ultra 7 268V if you care most about tdp / boost clock. Its strongest claims are tdp, boost clock. The single most decisive one: TDP — 30.00 W less. 30 vs 60.
There are no meaningful ties on the headline specs — every popular-comparison metric has a winner.
Bottom line: the M3 Max is the safer default. The other model is the right choice only when its specific advantages line up with your priorities.
Which should you buy: Apple - M3 Max or Intel - Core Ultra 7 268V?
Apple - M3 Max leads the current Mars Score by 5.0 points.The more useful decision is the trade-off behind that result: compare cores, boost clock, tdp against the way you will actually use the product.
Choose Apple - M3 Max if…
Apple - M3 Max has the measurable edge on cache l3 mb, cinebench r23 multi, core count.
Choose Intel - Core Ultra 7 268V if…
Intel - Core Ultra 7 268V has the measurable edge on tdp w, boost clock ghz.
This is a structured comparison of the published catalog values. It is not a claim of identical real-world performance across every workload; use the linked spec drill-downs and methodology page to inspect the inputs.
Why Apple - M3 Max wins
- ▲L3 cache — 166.67% more. 32 MB vs 12 MB.
- ▲Cinebench R23 (multi) — 135.09% more. 26800 vs 11400.
- ▲Cores — 100.00% more. 16 vs 8.
Why Intel - Core Ultra 7 268V wins
- ▲TDP — 30.00 W less. 30 vs 60.
- ▲Boost clock — 23.46% more. 5.0 GHz vs 4.05 GHz.
Spec comparison
Cores
| Spec | Apple - M3 Max | Intel - Core Ultra 7 268V |
|---|---|---|
| Coresⓘ | 16lead | 8 |
| Threadsⓘ | 16lead | 8 |
| Base clockⓘ | 0 GHz | 2.2 GHzlead |
| Boost clockⓘ | 4.05 GHz | 5.0 GHzlead |
| L3 cacheⓘ | 32 MBlead | 12 MB |
Platform
| Spec | Apple - M3 Max | Intel - Core Ultra 7 268V |
|---|---|---|
| Socketⓘ | Soldered | BGA2833 |
| TDPⓘ | 60 W | 30 Wlead |
| Integrated graphicsⓘ | true | true |
| DDR5ⓘ | true | true |
Benchmarks
| Spec | Apple - M3 Max | Intel - Core Ultra 7 268V |
|---|---|---|
| Cinebench R23 (multi)ⓘ | 26800lead | 11400 |
| Cinebench R23 (single)ⓘ | 2100lead | 1860 |