Here's How Much Faster M4 Pro/Max Are for Graphics vs. M3 Pro/Max

Apple's new M4 Pro and M4 Max chips are impressively fast in terms of CPU performance, topping the M2 Ultra, but what about graphics performance?

M3 Pro Max vs M4 Pro Max Feature
The first Geekbench 6 results for GPU performance are now available for the M4 Pro and M4 Max, and the Metal scores reveal some impressive year-over-year gains. Based on the Metal scores that are available so far, the M4 Pro and M4 Max are up to around 40% and 25% faster for graphics than the M3 Pro and M3 Max chips, respectively.

The new 16-inch MacBook Pro with the highest-end M4 Max with a 40-core GPU has up to 85% as fast graphics as the Mac Studio with the highest-end M2 Ultra chip with a 76-core GPU, despite having 36 fewer GPU cores, according to the results.

Here is a comparison of the average Metal scores:

Related Roundups: MacBook Pro, Mac mini
Related Forums: MacBook Pro, Mac mini

Popular Stories

Apple Logo Black

Apple Just Made Its Second-Biggest Acquisition Ever After Beats

Thursday January 29, 2026 10:07 am PST by
Apple today confirmed to Reuters that it has acquired Q.ai, an Israeli startup that is working on artificial intelligence technology for audio. Apple paid close to $2 billion for Q.ai, according to sources cited by the Financial Times. That would make this Apple's second-biggest acquisition ever, after it paid $3 billion for the popular headphone and audio brand Beats in 2014. Q.ai has...
Aston Martin CarPlay Ultra Screen

Apple's CarPlay Ultra to Expand to These Vehicle Brands Later This Year

Sunday February 1, 2026 10:08 am PST by
Last year, Apple launched CarPlay Ultra, the long-awaited next-generation version of its CarPlay software system for vehicles. Nearly nine months later, CarPlay Ultra is still limited to Aston Martin's latest luxury vehicles, but that should change fairly soon. In May 2025, Apple said many other vehicle brands planned to offer CarPlay Ultra, including Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis. At the time,...
14 inch MacBook Pro Keyboard

Apple Changes How You Order a Mac

Saturday January 31, 2026 10:51 am PST by
Apple recently updated its online store with a new ordering process for Macs, including the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac mini, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro. There used to be a handful of standard configurations available for each Mac, but now you must configure a Mac entirely from scratch on a feature-by-feature basis. In other words, ordering a new Mac now works much like ordering an...
imac video apple feature

Apple Unveils First New Products of 2026

Monday January 26, 2026 1:55 pm PST by
Apple today introduced its first two physical products of 2026: a second-generation AirTag and the Black Unity Connection Braided Solo Loop for the Apple Watch. Read our coverage of each announcement to learn more:Apple Unveils New AirTag With Longer Range, Louder Speaker, and More Apple Introduces New Black Unity Apple Watch BandBoth the new AirTag and the Black Unity Connection Braided...
apple unsold web store

Retail Accessories Apple Won't Sell You Now Available via New Site

Friday January 30, 2026 8:46 am PST by
A newly surfaced resale operation is seemingly offering Apple Store–exclusive display accessories to the public for the first time, potentially giving consumers access to Apple-designed hardware that the company has historically kept confined to its retail environments. Apple designs a range of premium MagSafe charging stands, display trays, and hardware systems exclusively for displays in ...

Top Rated Comments

chachawpi Avatar
16 months ago
I just ordered a 14" MacBook Pro M4 Max for browsing Macrumors and Reddit.
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
EugW Avatar
16 months ago
M4 Ultra is gonna be an absolute monster.

I'll be overjoyed with "just" M4 though, as someone who does not have heavy GPU needs.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
NeonNights Avatar
16 months ago

Does the CPU or GPU affect the Media Engine? Are there any benchmarks on the differences comparing that amongst the models? FCPx I guess.
I expect CPU/GPU does matter during the rendering or creation of proxy files and actual editing process, but a big no for the end export. Based on ArtIsRight comparisons, the export time is basically the same across M1 through M3 Pro chips regardless of RAM/SSD because they all have the same video encoder/decoder. Only the Max and Ultra chips show an appreciable decrease in export time because of the extra encoder/decoder engines.



Attachment Image
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
hxlover904 Avatar
16 months ago
That’s so impressive. Almost the performance of an M2 Ultra with far fewer cores. Can’t wait to see what the M4 ultra brings.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
GuthrieAZ Avatar
16 months ago
Very tempted by these new MBPs but then I realize that over the past three years I have had my M1 Max MBP I can't recall a single time where I felt it's processing power was slowing down my workflow. I'm an architect who mostly uses AutoCAD and Sketchup but even with the most complex 3D model I work with I've never noticed any lag on orbiting it. Maybe I'll start using on device AI more and notice some difference but unless a new computer can gain me a few minutes of productivity every day it's not worth the expense.

The build quality on these MBPs is also superb, mine still looks and functions like brand new. Before my M1 Max MBP I used PC laptops and even so called "professional grade" ones like the Lenovo ThinkPad needing replacing about every two years just due to poor build quality.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JCCL Avatar
16 months ago
Throwing my M3 Pro Macbook Pro to the trash can now. j/k. As impressive as these upgrades are, I got mine for almost 500 off from what it typically goes in my country, and does everything I need instantly. Should serve me well for a few years
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)