Versus Engine
Apple MacBook Pro 16" (M3 Max) vs MacBook Pro 16" M4 Max
Specs, price and the one trade-off that actually decides it — Apple MacBook Pro 16" (M3 Max) against MacBook Pro 16" M4 Max, side by side.
Cheaper to start
MacBook Pro 16" M4 Max
Starts about $100 lower.
Rated higher
Apple MacBook Pro 16" (M3 Max)
9.8 vs 9.2 on our design scale.
Standout
Apple MacBook Pro 16" (M3 Max)
16-core CPU with 40-core GPU.
Apple MacBook Pro 16" (M3 Max)
Apple's 16-inch laptop with the M3 Max chip, a 40-core GPU and up to 128GB of unified memory at 400GB/s.
Where it wins, where it doesn't
Pros
- Equipped with a powerful M3 Max chip featuring a 16-core CPU and 40-core GPU.
- Up to 128GB of unified memory running at 400GB/s for efficient data handling.
- Supports hardware-accelerated ray tracing for advanced graphics processing.
Cons
- The high price of $3499 may limit its appeal to a broader audience.
Specifications
- battery100-watt-hour lithium-polymer
- display16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR (3456x2234, 120Hz ProMotion)
- memory_bandwidth400 GB/s
- neural_engine16-core (18 TOPS)
- adapter—
- architectureARMv8.6-A (Apple Silicon)
- battery_life_max—
- battery_life_pro—
- cable—
- charging_ports—
- chip—
- configurable_memory—
- cores—
- cpu_cores16-core (12 performance, 4 efficiency)
- fabrication_process3nm (TSMC N3B)
- gpu—
- gpu_cores40-core (Hardware-accelerated ray tracing)
- M1 Max chip10-core CPU with 8 performance cores and 2 efficiency cores Up to 32-core GPU 16-core Neural Engine 400GB/s memory bandwidth
- M1 Pro chip10-core CPU with 8 performance cores and 2 efficiency cores 16-core GPU 16-core Neural Engine 200GB/s memory bandwidth
- M2 chip8-core CPU with 4 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores 10-core GPU 16-core Neural Engine 100GB/s memory bandwidth
- M2 Max chip12-core CPU with 8 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores Up to 38-core GPU 16-core Neural Engine 400GB/s memory bandwidth
- M2 Pro chip12-core CPU with 8 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores 19-core GPU 16-core Neural Engine 200GB/s memory bandwidth
- M2 Ultra chip24-core CPU with 16 performance cores and 8 efficiency cores Up to 76-core GPU 32-core Neural Engine 800GB/s memory bandwidth
- M3 chip8-core CPU with 4 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores 10-core GPU Hardware-accelerated ray tracing 16-core Neural Engine 100GB/s memory bandwidth
- M3 Pro chip12-core CPU with 6 performance cores and 6 efficiency cores 18-core GPU Hardware-accelerated ray tracing 16-core Neural Engine 150GB/s memory bandwidth
- M3 Ultra chipUp to 32-core CPU with 24 performance cores and 8 efficiency cores Up to 80-core GPU Hardware-accelerated ray tracing 32-core Neural Engine 819GB/s memory bandwidth
- M4 chip10-core CPU with 4 performance cores and 6 efficiency cores 10-core GPU Hardware-accelerated ray tracing 16-core Neural Engine 120GB/s memory bandwidth
- M4 Max chipUp to 16-core CPU with 12 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores Up to 40-core GPU Hardware-accelerated ray tracing 16-core Neural Engine Up to 546GB/s memory bandwidth
- M4 Pro chip14-core CPU with 10 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores 20-core GPU Hardware-accelerated ray tracing 16-core Neural Engine 273GB/s memory bandwidth
- M5 Max chip18-core CPU with 6 super cores and 12 performance cores Up to 40-core GPU Neural Accelerators Hardware-accelerated ray tracing 16-core Neural Engine Up to 614GB/s memory bandwidth
- M5 Pro chipUp to 18-core CPU with 6 super cores and 12 performance cores Up to 20-core GPU Neural Accelerators Hardware-accelerated ray tracing 16-core Neural Engine 307GB/s memory bandwidth
- M5 Ultra chipUp to 36-core CPU with 12 super cores and 24 performance cores Up to 80-core GPU Neural Accelerators Hardware-accelerated ray tracing 32-core Neural Engine 1.2TB/s memory bandwidth
- M6 chip12-core CPU with 2 super cores, 4 performance cores, and 6 efficiency cores 12-core GPU Neural Accelerators Hardware-accelerated ray tracing Dual 16-core Neural Engine Up to 170GB/s memory bandwidth
- memory—
- NPU—
- operating_requirements / frequency—
- operating_requirements / line_voltage—
- operating_requirements / maximum_shipping_altitude—
- operating_requirements / maximum_storage_altitude—
- operating_requirements / operating_altitude—
- operating_requirements / operating_temperature—
- operating_requirements / relative_humidity—
- operating_requirements / storage_temperature—
- Ports—
- Processor—
- RAM—
- size_and_weight / depth—
- size_and_weight / height—
- size_and_weight / weight_max—
- size_and_weight / weight_pro—
- size_and_weight / width—
- Storage—
- storage_max—
- storage_pro—
- unified_memoryUp to 128GB LPDDR5
- Weight—
MacBook Pro 16" M4 Max
A flagship mobile workstation designed for peak performance-per-watt and heavy local AI inference.
Where it wins, where it doesn't
Pros
- Up to 36-core CPU and 80-core GPU for heavy workloads
- Up to 24 hours of battery life for extended use
- Multiple high-speed ports for versatile connectivity
Cons
- Expensive price point of $3399
- Limited storage options starting at 512GB
Specifications
- batteryUp to 22 hours
- display16.2" Liquid Retina XDR
- memory_bandwidth1.2TB/s memory bandwidth
- neural_engine32-core Neural Engine
- adapter140W USB-C Power Adapter
- architecture—
- battery_life_maxUp to 21 hours video streaming, Up to 14 hours wireless web
- battery_life_proUp to 24 hours video streaming, Up to 17 hours wireless web
- cableUSB-C to MagSafe 3 Cable
- charging_portsSDXC card slot, HDMI port, 3.5 mm headphone jack, MagSafe 3 port, Three Thunderbolt 5 (USB-C) ports
- chipApple M4 Pro chip, Apple M4 Max chip
- configurable_memory36GB, 48GB, 64GB, 128GB
- coresUp to 36-core CPU with 12 super cores and 24 performance cores
- cpu_cores—
- fabrication_process—
- gpuUp to 80-core GPU
- gpu_cores—
- M1 Max chip—
- M1 Pro chip—
- M2 chip—
- M2 Max chip—
- M2 Pro chip—
- M2 Ultra chip—
- M3 chip—
- M3 Pro chip—
- M3 Ultra chip—
- M4 chip—
- M4 Max chip—
- M4 Pro chip—
- M5 Max chip—
- M5 Pro chip—
- M5 Ultra chip—
- M6 chip—
- memory24GB unified memory, 36GB unified memory
- NPU38 TOPS (Neural Engine)
- operating_requirements / frequency50Hz to 60Hz
- operating_requirements / line_voltage100V to 240V AC
- operating_requirements / maximum_shipping_altitude35,000 feet
- operating_requirements / maximum_storage_altitude15,000 feet
- operating_requirements / operating_altitudetested up to 10,000 feet (3000 meters)
- operating_requirements / operating_temperature50° to 95° F (10° to 35° C)
- operating_requirements / relative_humidity0% to 90% noncondensing
- operating_requirements / storage_temperature-13° to 113° F (-25° to 45° C)
- Ports3x Thunderbolt 4, HDMI, SDXC, MagSafe 3
- ProcessorApple M4 Max
- RAMUp to 128GB Unified
- size_and_weight / depth9.77 inches (24.81 cm)
- size_and_weight / height0.66 inch (1.68 cm)
- size_and_weight / weight_max4.7 pounds (2.15 kg)
- size_and_weight / weight_pro4.7 pounds (2.14 kg)
- size_and_weight / width14.01 inches (35.57 cm)
- StorageUp to 8TB SSD
- storage_max1TB SSD, Configurable to: 2TB, 4TB, or 8TB
- storage_pro512GB SSD, Configurable to: 1TB, 2TB, or 4TB
- unified_memory—
- Weight2.14 kg