68

M4 Processor

Apple Silicon · 10C/10T

$599

MSRP

88

M4 Max Processor

Apple Silicon · 16C/16T

$3199

MSRP

Our verdict

The M4 Max Processor takes the performance lead with a 29% higher overall score, driven by its 16 shader cores, 0 MB of memory, and 4,500 MHz TFLOPS of compute power. In gaming benchmarks at 1440p, it delivers roughly 42% 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 M4 Max Processor's $3199 price tag, it costs 434% less while delivering performance that's only 29% 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 M4 Max 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 Max Processor

29% faster overall

Best value for money

M4 Processor

117% better value per dollar

M4 Processor best for

Power efficiency

117% better value per dollar

Memory

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

Performance

Cores
10
16
P-cores
4
12
E-cores
6
4
Threads
10
16
Base clock
2,900 MHz
2,900 MHz
Boost clock
4,400 MHz
4,500 MHz
L2 cache
16 MB
48 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 40-core

Power

TDP
25W
100W
Max turbo power
25W
100W

Gaming benchmarks (avg FPS at 1080p)

Counter-Strike 2
195 fps
275 fps
Cyberpunk 2077
85 fps
120 fps
Hogwarts Legacy
72 fps
105 fps
Spider-Man 2
78 fps
112 fps
Starfield
55 fps
80 fps

Synthetic & compute benchmarks

Blender BMW
112 seconds
48 seconds
Cinebench 2024 Multi-Core
650 pts
1,520 pts
Geekbench 6 Multi-Core
10,800 pts
22,000 pts
Handbrake 4K Encode
215 seconds
95 seconds
7-Zip Compression
55,000 MIPS
132,000 MIPS
Adobe Premiere Pro Export
75 seconds
35 seconds
Cinebench 2024 Single-Core
115 pts
132 pts
Geekbench 6 Single-Core
3,200 pts
3,500 pts

Frequently asked questions

Is the M4 Max Processor worth $2600 more than the M4 Processor?

It depends on your needs. The M4 Max Processor scores 88 overall vs 68 for the M4 Processor. If you need the extra performance for demanding tasks, the premium is justified. For most users gaming at 1440p or below, the M4 Processor offers better value.

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

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

Can the M4 Processor handle 4K gaming?

The M4 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 Max Processor is the better choice with its higher performance ceiling.

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

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

Related comparisons

M4 Processor VS Ryzen 7 5800X ProcessorM4 Processor VS Core i5-13600K ProcessorM4 Processor VS Ryzen 5 9600X ProcessorM4 Processor VS Ryzen 5 7600X ProcessorM4 Processor VS Core Ultra 5 245K ProcessorM4 Processor VS Ryzen 7 7700X ProcessorM4 Processor VS Core Ultra 9 285K ProcessorM4 Processor VS Ryzen 7 7800X3D ProcessorM4 Processor VS Core i9-14900KS ProcessorM4 Processor VS Core i9-14900K ProcessorM4 Processor VS Ryzen 9 9950X ProcessorM4 Processor VS Ryzen 9 7950X ProcessorM4 Max Processor VS Ryzen 7 5800X ProcessorM4 Max Processor VS Core i5-13600K ProcessorM4 Max Processor VS Ryzen 5 9600X ProcessorM4 Max Processor VS Ryzen 5 7600X ProcessorM4 Max Processor VS Core Ultra 5 245K ProcessorM4 Max Processor VS Ryzen 7 7700X ProcessorM4 Max Processor VS Core Ultra 9 285K ProcessorM4 Max Processor VS Ryzen 7 7800X3D ProcessorM4 Max Processor VS Core i9-14900KS ProcessorM4 Max Processor VS Core i9-14900K ProcessorM4 Max Processor VS Ryzen 9 9950X ProcessorM4 Max Processor VS Ryzen 9 7950X Processor

M4 Processor VS Ryzen 7 5800X Processor

Score 68 VS 68

M4 Max Processor VS Ryzen 7 5800X Processor

Score 88 VS 68

M4 Processor VS Core i5-13600K Processor

Score 68 VS 70

M4 Max Processor VS Core i5-13600K Processor

Score 88 VS 70

M4 Processor VS Ryzen 5 9600X Processor

Score 68 VS 70

M4 Max Processor VS Ryzen 5 9600X Processor

Score 88 VS 70

M4 Processor VS Ryzen 5 7600X Processor

Score 68 VS 66

M4 Max Processor VS Ryzen 5 7600X Processor

Score 88 VS 66

Pair with a graphics card

See our GPU rankings →