Apple - M3 Max vs Intel - Core Ultra 9 285K

The Core Ultra 9 285K is the clear pick on raw spec strength, leading by 10.9 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 Max if you care most about tdp. The biggest gaps in its favor are tdp.

Pick the Core Ultra 9 285K 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, 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 9 285K is the safer default. The other model is the right choice only when its specific advantages line up with your priorities.