M3 Ultra vs. M4 Max: Which one is superior? Benchmarks don’t provide a clear answer.

      Fionna Agomuoh / Digital Trends

      Apple surprised us this week with the introduction of the new Mac Studio and left us puzzled by its chip options — the M4 Max and M3 Ultra. Determining which chip is more powerful based solely on their names is a challenge, and early benchmarks suggest that their CPU performance makes it even harder to draw conclusions.

      Breaking: Leaked benchmarks for the M3 Ultra indicate that it is now the world’s FASTEST production CPU. Scores are somewhat lower due to outdated M3 core technology and diminishing returns with more cores, influenced by how the multi-core update operates with Geekbench 6. https://t.co/WWoSiQ7zWD

      — Vadim Yuryev (@VadimYuryev) March 7, 2025

      Although the M3 Ultra achieves the top spot (as Apple claims), the margin seems to be less impressive than expected. In a Geekbench 6 test shared by Vadim Yuryev, the M3 Ultra Mac Studio posted scores of 3221 for single-core and 27749 for multi-core — and to clarify, these are substantial figures. Yuryev labels it the “world’s fastest production CPU.” Nevertheless, the M4 Max's scores are not far behind, at 3921 for single-core and 25647 for multi-core. This indicates that the individual cores on the M4 Max are actually faster, with the M3 Ultra only excelling in multi-core performance by 8%.

      CPU benchmarks for the M3 Ultra. Geekbench

      CPU benchmarks for the M4 Max. Geekbench

      For reference, Apple states that the M3 Ultra “delivers nearly 2x faster performance than M4 Max in workloads that take advantage of high CPU and GPU core counts.” This assertion does not align with the initial benchmarks we’re observing, though we may see varying results as more users begin testing the M3 Ultra.

      The superior single-core performance of the M4 Max isn’t entirely unexpected — the M4 chip family is constructed on second-generation 3 nanometer architecture, which is more efficient compared to the first-generation technology found in the M3 chips. The results will also differ significantly once GPUs are included, predominantly because the M4 Max supports a maximum of 40 GPU cores, whereas the M3 Ultra can be configured with 80 cores.

      Regardless of how future benchmarks develop, these CPU figures should be informative for potential buyers uninterested in GPU-intensive scenarios, as it suggests they can opt for the M4 Max configuration without sacrificing performance.

      If you’re curious about the absence of the M4 Ultra, some sources anticipated its inclusion in the Mac Studio — however, its absence doesn’t imply it's not on the way. An M4 Ultra may still debut in the Mac Pro, which is rumored to arrive in the latter half of this year.

      Willow Roberts has been a Computing Writer at Digital Trends for a year and has a decade of writing experience. She has a…

      M4 MacBook Air: Release date, price, and all you need to know

      Apple's upgrade season is here, with the company recently refreshing the MacBook Air featuring a new chip, a sleek new design, and a lower price, alongside updated versions of the Mac Studio, iPad Air, and 10.9-inch iPad. These enhancements to the MacBook Air should help solidify its status as one of the best MacBooks available, as the device combines both power and portability in a lightweight form.

      There’s a lot to learn about the M4 MacBook Air, from its performance and design to the included features. Here, we’ve compiled everything we know about the M4 MacBook Air so you can find all the information, whether you’re contemplating a purchase or just seeking details.

      M4 MacBook Air: Price and release date

      M4 Ultra: Everything we know about Apple’s mysterious Hidra chip

      Apple’s Mac engineers have been incredibly active in recent years, introducing high-performance chips at a rapid pace. This has sparked much speculation about Apple’s future plans, with rampant rumors regarding a secretive chip codenamed “Hidra” that is said to be under development.

      If you’re curious about what to expect from the Hidra chip and want to clarify the swirling rumors, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve scoured the internet to gather the latest information and compiled it here so you can learn all there is to know about Apple’s forthcoming supercharged chip. Read on to stay informed.

      Which Macs will feature the Hidra chip?

      MacBook Pro M4 teardown reveals a repairability issue for Apple laptops

      The recently updated MacBook Pro lineup, equipped with M4 series silicon, has once again showcased Apple’s performance leadership in this category. However, a teardown conducted by iFixit has shown that there haven't been substantial internal changes, meaning the usual repairability challenges remain.

      As for new features, Apple engineers