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Apple - M4 Max (16-core) vs Intel - Core Ultra 7 265K

Last updated · How Mars Score works
M4 Max (16-core)APPLERENDER
Probe A
Apple
M4 Max (16-core)
50.7/ 100D
Cores48· 40%
Benchmarks54· 40%
Platform—· 20%
Core Ultra 7 265KINTELRENDER
Probe B
Intel
Core Ultra 7 265K
57.7/ 100D
Cores54· 40%
Benchmarks61· 40%
Platform—· 20%
Quick verdict

Between the M4 Max (16-core) and Core Ultra 7 265K, the M4 Max (16-core) comes out ahead in tdp, while the Core Ultra 7 265K wins on cores and cinebench r23 (multi). Overall, the M4 Max (16-core) scores 50.7 and the Core Ultra 7 265K scores 57.7 on our Mars Score.

Buying advice

Which should you buy?

The Core Ultra 7 265K edges ahead on the Mars Score (50.7 vs 57.7), but the 7.0-point gap is small enough that the right pick comes down to which spec advantages matter to you.

Pick the M4 Max (16-core) if you care most about tdp. The biggest gaps in its favor are tdp.

Pick the Core Ultra 7 265K 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 cores, cinebench r23 (multi), boost clock, among others.

There are no meaningful ties on the headline specs — every popular-comparison metric has a winner.

Bottom line: the Core Ultra 7 265K is the safer default. The other model is the right choice only when its specific advantages line up with your priorities.

Why Apple - M4 Max (16-core) wins

  • ▲TDP — 80.00 W less. 45 vs 125.

Why Intel - Core Ultra 7 265K wins

  • ▲Cores — 42.86% more. 20 vs 14.
  • ▲Cinebench R23 (multi) — 37.74% more. 36500 vs 26500.
  • ▲Boost clock — 22.22% more. 5.5 GHz vs 4.5 GHz.
  • ▲L3 cache — 7.14% more. 30 MB vs 28 MB.
Full readout

Spec comparison

Cores

SpecApple - M4 Max (16-core)Intel - Core Ultra 7 265K
Coresⓘ1420lead
Threadsⓘ1420lead
Base clockⓘ0 GHz3.9 GHzlead
Boost clockⓘ4.5 GHz5.5 GHzlead
L3 cacheⓘ28 MB30 MBlead

Platform

SpecApple - M4 Max (16-core)Intel - Core Ultra 7 265K
SocketⓘSolderedLGA1851
TDPⓘ45 Wlead125 W
Integrated graphicsⓘtruetrue
DDR5ⓘtruetrue

Benchmarks

SpecApple - M4 Max (16-core)Intel - Core Ultra 7 265K
Cinebench R23 (multi)ⓘ2650036500lead
Cinebench R23 (single)ⓘ2275lead2160
Drill down

Spec-level deep dives

Cores→Threads→Base clock→Boost clock→L3 cache→Socket→TDP→Integrated graphics→DDR5→Cinebench R23 (multi)→Cinebench R23 (single)→
By manufacturer

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