Where they actually differ
The most decisive specs, ranked by how much they matter — before the full spec table.
| Spec | Apple - M4 | Apple - M4 Max (16-core) |
|---|---|---|
| L3 cache | 16 MB | 28 MB |
| Cinebench R23 (multi) | 16800 | 26500 |
| Cores | 10 | 14 |
| TDP | 22 W | 45 W |
| Boost clock | 4.4 GHz | 4.5 GHz |
Between the M4 and M4 Max (16-core), the M4 comes out ahead in tdp, while the M4 Max (16-core) wins on l3 cache / cinebench r23 (multi). Overall, the M4 scores 45.9 and the M4 Max (16-core) scores 50.7 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
The M4 Max (16-core) edges ahead on the Mars Score (45.9 vs 50.7), but the 4.8-point gap is small enough that the right pick comes down to which spec advantages matter to you.
Pick the M4 if you care most about tdp. The biggest gaps in its favor are tdp. The single most decisive one: TDP — 23.00 W less. 22 vs 45.
Pick the M4 Max (16-core) if you push the hardware — gaming, on-device AI, heavy multitasking — and the extra compute headroom is worth the trade-offs. Its strongest claims are l3 cache, cinebench r23 (multi), cores, among others. The single most decisive one: L3 cache — 75.00% more. 28 MB vs 16 MB.
There are no meaningful ties on the headline specs — every popular-comparison metric has a winner.
Bottom line: there is no wrong answer here — match the spec advantages to how you actually use the product. The Mars Score parity says both are well-rounded; the differences are about trade-offs, not quality.
Which should you buy: Apple - M4 or Apple - M4 Max (16-core)?
Apple - M4 Max (16-core) leads the current Mars Score by 4.8 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 - M4 if…
Apple - M4 has the measurable edge on tdp w.
Choose Apple - M4 Max (16-core) if…
Apple - M4 Max (16-core) has the measurable edge on cache l3 mb, cinebench r23 multi, core count.
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 - M4 wins
- ▲TDP — 23.00 W less. 22 vs 45.
Why Apple - M4 Max (16-core) wins
- ▲L3 cache — 75.00% more. 28 MB vs 16 MB.
- ▲Cinebench R23 (multi) — 57.74% more. 26500 vs 16800.
- ▲Cores — 40.00% more. 14 vs 10.
- ▲Boost clock — 2.27% more. 4.5 GHz vs 4.4 GHz.
Spec comparison
Cores
| Spec | Apple - M4 | Apple - M4 Max (16-core) |
|---|---|---|
| Coresⓘ | 10 | 14lead |
| Threadsⓘ | 10 | 14lead |
| Base clockⓘ | 0 GHz | 0 GHz |
| Boost clockⓘ | 4.4 GHz | 4.5 GHzlead |
| L3 cacheⓘ | 16 MB | 28 MBlead |
Platform
| Spec | Apple - M4 | Apple - M4 Max (16-core) |
|---|---|---|
| Socketⓘ | Soldered | Soldered |
| TDPⓘ | 22 Wlead | 45 W |
| Integrated graphicsⓘ | true | true |
| DDR5ⓘ | true | true |
Benchmarks
| Spec | Apple - M4 | Apple - M4 Max (16-core) |
|---|---|---|
| Cinebench R23 (multi)ⓘ | 16800 | 26500lead |
| Cinebench R23 (single)ⓘ | 2110 | 2275lead |