Between the M3 and M4 Max, the M3 comes out ahead in tdp, while the M4 Max wins on cinebench r23 (multi) and cores. Overall, the M3 scores 43.6 and the M4 Max scores 52.3 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
The M4 Max is the clear pick on raw spec strength, leading by 8.7 points on the Mars Score. The margin is wide enough that the underdog only makes sense if its individual strengths line up with what you specifically need.
Pick the M3 if you care most about tdp. The biggest gaps in its favor are tdp.
Pick the M4 Max 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 cinebench r23 (multi), cores, l3 cache, among others.
There are no meaningful ties on the headline specs — every popular-comparison metric has a winner.
Bottom line: the M4 Max is the safer default. The other model is the right choice only when its specific advantages line up with your priorities.
Why Apple - M3 wins
- ▲TDP — 33.00 W less. 22 vs 55.
Why Apple - M4 Max wins
- ▲Cinebench R23 (multi) — 106.94% more. 29800 vs 14400.
- ▲Cores — 100.00% more. 16 vs 8.
- ▲L3 cache — 100.00% more. 32 MB vs 16 MB.
- ▲Boost clock — 11.11% more. 4.5 GHz vs 4.05 GHz.
Spec comparison
Cores
| Spec | Apple - M3 | Apple - M4 Max |
|---|---|---|
| Coresⓘ | 8 | 16lead |
| Threadsⓘ | 8 | 16lead |
| Base clockⓘ | 0 GHz | 0 GHz |
| Boost clockⓘ | 4.05 GHz | 4.5 GHzlead |
| L3 cacheⓘ | 16 MB | 32 MBlead |
Platform
| Spec | Apple - M3 | Apple - M4 Max |
|---|---|---|
| Socketⓘ | Soldered | Soldered |
| TDPⓘ | 22 Wlead | 55 W |
| Integrated graphicsⓘ | true | true |
| DDR5ⓘ | true | true |
Benchmarks
| Spec | Apple - M3 | Apple - M4 Max |
|---|---|---|
| Cinebench R23 (multi)ⓘ | 14400 | 29800lead |
| Cinebench R23 (single)ⓘ | 1950 | 2280lead |
Frequently asked
Spec-level deep dives
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