M4 Max Chip Up to 25% Faster Than M2 Ultra in First Benchmark Results

The first Geekbench 6 benchmark results for the high-end M4 Max chip with a 16-core CPU surfaced today, and they show that the chip is up to 25% faster than the high-end M2 Ultra chip with a 24-core CPU in terms of peak multi-core CPU performance.

M4 M4 Pro vs M4 Max Feature
M4 Pro chip benchmark results already surfaced in the Geekbench 6 database on Thursday. Based on the results available so far, the M4 Max appears to be up to 20% faster than the M4 Pro in terms of peak multi-core CPU performance.

Here is a comparison of the results (averaged):

  • MacBook Pro with M4 Max (16-core CPU): 26,675 multi-core score (highest result), 26,445 multi-core score (3 results)
  • Mac mini with M4 Pro (14-core CPU): 22,094 multi-core score (11 results)
  • Mac Studio with M2 Ultra (24-core CPU): 21,351 (More than 600 results)

M4 Max is now the fastest-ever Apple silicon chip in the Geekbench 6 database, surpassing the M2 Ultra that Apple released in the Mac Studio and Mac Pro in June 2023.

As we mentioned in our previous reporting, you can now purchase a Mac mini with a 14-core M4 Pro for $1,599 in the U.S. and get similar to faster peak performance than a Mac Studio with the 24-core M2 Ultra, a configuration that starts at $3,999. And if you want up to 25% faster performance than the M2 Ultra, the 16-inch MacBook Pro with the 16-core M4 Max starts at the same $3,999 price as the Mac Studio.

Related Roundup: MacBook Pro
Buyer's Guide: MacBook Pro (Neutral)
Related Forum: MacBook Pro

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Top Rated Comments

nick9191 Avatar
19 weeks ago

I think M5 series will be the perfect upgrade from M1s and M2s
M5 will probably have a big focus on graphics. They won’t be going to 2nm next year so the CPU speed increases won’t be as impressive, I think graphics will be the focus.
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dannys1 Avatar
19 weeks ago
For everyone going on about the Ultra, it's advantage isn't JUST CPU. Don't forget it has many more GPU cores. You also can't rely on just one synthetic CPU bench mark - i'm sure there are real world uses where it performs better. It still has 800GB/s memory bandwidth - plus much higher amounts of RAM to spec it with.

There's still many reasons someone might want or need a Mac Studio over an M4 Max equipped MacBook Pro (beyond form factory) and the M4 Pro Mac mini is not a Studio replacement based on just a CPU result alone.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
PsykX Avatar
19 weeks ago
"The fastest CPU in the Geekbench database"

Two things :
1. The fastest chip on Earth is in a LAPTOP
2. ...UNPLUGGED !

?
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
canadianreader Avatar
19 weeks ago
I think M5 series will be the perfect upgrade from M1s and M2s
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DrWojtek Avatar
19 weeks ago
M4 Max surpasses desktop 4060 Ti OpenCL score. Almost on 4070 level.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
WarmWinterHat Avatar
19 weeks ago

So, more that 2x power from M1 is not worthy. Com´on!
If you're in no-way constrained or feeling the M1 is slow, no, it's not worth it at the moment.

Benchmark numbers mean nothing without a use case.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)