60

M3 Processor

Apple Silicon · 8C/8T

$599

MSRP

68

M4 Processor

Apple Silicon · 10C/10T

$599

MSRP

Our verdict

The M4 Processor takes the performance lead with a 13% higher overall score, driven by its 10 shader cores, 0 MB of memory, and 4,400 MHz TFLOPS of compute power. In gaming benchmarks at 1440p, it delivers roughly 18% more frames per second across demanding titles like Counter-Strike 2 1080p and Cyberpunk 2077 1080p.

However, the M4 Processor tells a compelling value story. At $599 versus the M3 Processor's $599 price tag, it costs $0 less while delivering performance that's only 13% behind. Its 0 MB of memory is still more than enough for 1440p and even 4K gaming in most titles.

Our recommendation: for the majority of gamers targeting 1440p or even 4K with upscaling enabled, the M4 Processor is the smarter purchase. The M3 Processor only makes sense if you need the absolute maximum performance for native 4K ray tracing, professional 3D rendering, or AI workloads where the extra VRAM and compute power provide a tangible advantage.

Performance winner

M4 Processor

13% faster overall

Best value for money

M4 Processor

8% better value per dollar

M3 Processor best for

Value for money

8% better value per dollar

Memory

Max memory
32 GB
32 GB
Memory type
LPDDR5x-6400
LPDDR5x-6400
Memory channels
Unified
Unified

Performance

Cores
8
10
P-cores
4
4
E-cores
4
6
Threads
8
10
Base clock
2,700 MHz
2,900 MHz
Boost clock
4,100 MHz
4,400 MHz
L2 cache
16 MB
16 MB
L3 cache
0 MB
0 MB
Process
3 nm
3 nm
Transistors
N/A
N/A

platform

Socket
SoC
SoC
PCIe
Integrated
Integrated
PCIe lanes
0
0
Integrated graphics
Apple GPU 10-core
Apple GPU 10-core

Power

TDP
22W
25W
Max turbo power
22W
25W

Gaming benchmarks (avg FPS at 1080p)

Counter-Strike 2
165 fps
195 fps
Cyberpunk 2077
72 fps
85 fps
Hogwarts Legacy
62 fps
72 fps
Spider-Man 2
68 fps
78 fps
Starfield
45 fps
55 fps

Synthetic & compute benchmarks

Blender BMW
138 seconds
112 seconds
Cinebench 2024 Multi-Core
520 pts
650 pts
Geekbench 6 Multi-Core
8,800 pts
10,800 pts
Handbrake 4K Encode
265 seconds
215 seconds
7-Zip Compression
42,000 MIPS
55,000 MIPS
Adobe Premiere Pro Export
92 seconds
75 seconds
Cinebench 2024 Single-Core
105 pts
115 pts
Geekbench 6 Single-Core
2,900 pts
3,200 pts

Frequently asked questions

Which GPU is better for 1440p gaming, the M3 Processor or M4 Processor?

The M4 Processor delivers higher frame rates at 1440p, but both GPUs handle 1440p gaming well. The M4 Processor provides more headroom for ray tracing and future titles, while the M3 Processor still maintains smooth gameplay in current games.

Can the M3 Processor handle 4K gaming?

The M3 Processor can handle 4K gaming in less demanding titles and with upscaling technologies like DLSS or FSR. For native 4K at ultra settings in demanding games, the M4 Processor is the better choice with its higher performance ceiling.

Which should I buy, the M3 Processor or M4 Processor?

Choose the M3 Processor if you want the best value for money and primarily game at 1080p or 1440p. Choose the M4 Processor if you need maximum performance, play at 4K, or do professional workloads like video editing and 3D rendering.

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