Between the M4 Max and M4 Ultra, the M4 Max comes out ahead in tdp, while the M4 Ultra wins on cores and l3 cache. Overall, the M4 Max scores 52.3 and the M4 Ultra scores 63.1 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
The M4 Ultra is the clear pick on raw spec strength, leading by 10.8 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 M4 Max if you care most about tdp. The biggest gaps in its favor are tdp.
Pick the M4 Ultra 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, l3 cache, cinebench r23 (multi).
Both ship with comparable boost clock, so those specs don't separate the two — focus on the differences below.
Bottom line: the M4 Ultra 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 wins
- ▲TDP — 65.00 W less. 55 vs 120.
Why Apple - M4 Ultra wins
- ▲Cores — 100.00% more. 32 vs 16.
- ▲L3 cache — 100.00% more. 64 MB vs 32 MB.
- ▲Cinebench R23 (multi) — 76.51% more. 52600 vs 29800.
Spec comparison
Cores
| Spec | Apple - M4 Max | Apple - M4 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Coresⓘ | 16 | 32lead |
| Threadsⓘ | 16 | 32lead |
| Base clockⓘ | 0 GHz | 0 GHz |
| Boost clockⓘ | 4.5 GHz | 4.5 GHz |
| L3 cacheⓘ | 32 MB | 64 MBlead |
Platform
| Spec | Apple - M4 Max | Apple - M4 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Socketⓘ | Soldered | Soldered |
| TDPⓘ | 55 Wlead | 120 W |
| Integrated graphicsⓘ | true | true |
| DDR5ⓘ | true | true |
Benchmarks
| Spec | Apple - M4 Max | Apple - M4 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Cinebench R23 (multi)ⓘ | 29800 | 52600lead |
| Cinebench R23 (single)ⓘ | 2280 | 2290lead |
Spec-level deep dives
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