Apple M2 Max vs Apple M2 Pro (12-core CPU): specs and benchmark comparison
Short verdict
Apple M2 Max leads in every scenario with comparable benchmarks: multi-thread performance. This does not imply an advantage in tasks without benchmarks.
Compare with AIMulti-thread performance
A +7%Apple M2 Max leads in this scenario (up to 7% in comparable benchmarks).
No comparable benchmarks yet: single-thread performance, gaming (cpu-bound scenarios), power efficiency.
Advantages
Only measured and rated values: a noticeable benchmark gap and specs where more is better.
Where Apple M2 Max is better1
Blender Benchmark 4.2.0 7% faster252 samples/min vs 235 samples/min
Where Apple M2 Pro (12-core CPU) is better0
No advantages found in our data.
Benchmarks
Results are compared within one benchmark, one version and the same conditions.
- A ahead by 7%
Blender Benchmark 4.2.0
CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom · samples/min, higher is better
Apple M2 Max251.7 samples/minApple M2 Pro (12-core CPU)235.2 samples/minPosition among tested models (84)
B · 235A · 2520200400600800Each dot is one model’s median in this benchmark. The scale starts at zero, samples/min. Apple M2 Max is ahead by 7% in this benchmark.
About the measurement and source
- A · Apple M2 Max
251.7 samples/min · community measurement, sample 41 · November 14, 2026
Blender Open Data (Blender Foundation)
Median of 41 submissions (3 outliers excluded), interquartile range 245.97–252.82; submissions 2024-07-17 to 2024-11-19; CPU backend. Snapshot 2026-11-14.
- B · Apple M2 Pro (12-core CPU)
235.2 samples/min · community measurement, sample 20 · November 14, 2026
Blender Open Data (Blender Foundation)
Median of 20 submissions (0 outliers excluded), interquartile range 218.85–247.94; submissions 2024-07-28 to 2026-01-11; CPU backend. Snapshot 2026-11-14.
difference = |A − B| ÷ the smaller value × 100%. The 5% noticeable threshold is a UX heuristic, not statistical significance.
Cycles render in Blender Benchmark. Median of the sum of samples per minute over three scenes after removing outliers.
Other comparable benchmarks (3)
| Benchmark | A | B | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blender Benchmark 3.4.0CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | 254.1 | 252.8 | A +0.5% |
| Blender Benchmark 3.6.0CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | 254.4 | 252.4 | A +0.8% |
| Blender Benchmark 4.0.0CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | 255.2 | 250.4 | A +1.9% |
Each benchmark version has its own scale: numbers are compared only within a row.
Reference results (12)
| Benchmark | A | B | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blender Benchmark 4.5.0CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | 260.8 | 253.6 | reference |
| Blender Benchmark 5.1.1CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | 252.1 | 244.6 | reference |
| Blender Benchmark 5.2.0CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | 244.8 | 243.5 | reference |
| Blender Benchmark 3.2.1CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | 244.5 | 146.5 | reference |
| Blender Benchmark 3.3.0CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | 263.5 | — | no pair |
| Blender Benchmark 3.5.0CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | 252.9 | 251.8 | reference |
| Blender Benchmark 4.1.0CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | 249 | 252.8 | reference |
| Blender Benchmark 4.3.0CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | 251.8 | 247.4 | reference |
| Blender Benchmark 4.4.0CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | 256.2 | 249.6 | reference |
| Blender Benchmark 5.0.0CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | 243.7 | — | no pair |
| Blender Benchmark 5.1.0CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | 256.2 | — | no pair |
| Blender Benchmark 5.3.0CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | 215.5 | — | no pair |
Each benchmark version has its own scale: numbers are compared only within a row.
Specifications
| Specification | A · Apple M2 Max | B · Apple M2 Pro (12-core CPU) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cores and clocks | |||
| CoresCores of different types may differ in performance. | 12 (8P + 4E) | 12 (8P + 4E) | equal |
| Platform | |||
| Process node | 5 nm | 5 nm | equal |
| Memory and interfaces | |||
| Memory type | Unified memory | Unified memory | equal |
| Max memory capacity | 96 GB | no data | no data for B |
| Integrated graphics | Apple M2 Max (30 / 38-core GPU) | Apple M2 Pro (16 / 19-core GPU) | differs |
Cores and clocks
Cores
A12 (8P + 4E)
B12 (8P + 4E)
equalCores of different types may differ in performance.
Platform
Process node
A5 nm
B5 nm
equal
Memory and interfaces
Memory type
AUnified memory
BUnified memory
equalMax memory capacity
A96 GB
Bno data
no data for BIntegrated graphics
AApple M2 Max (30 / 38-core GPU)
BApple M2 Pro (16 / 19-core GPU)
differs
“More” does not always mean “better”: higher power draw or size is a system requirement, not an advantage (such bars are dimmed).
Compare with AI
An AI model reviews the specs and benchmarks of this pair and gives a plain-language verdict on who each model suits.
Questions and answers
Do these CPUs have integrated graphics?
Apple M2 Max: Apple M2 Max (30 / 38-core GPU). Apple M2 Pro (12-core CPU): Apple M2 Pro (16 / 19-core GPU).
Which is faster: Apple M2 Max or Apple M2 Pro (12-core CPU)?
Apple M2 Max leads in every scenario with comparable benchmarks: multi-thread performance. This does not imply an advantage in tasks without benchmarks.
See also
Data sources (2)
- Apple — specifications of Apple M2 Max, specifications of Apple M2 Pro (12-core CPU)checked November 14, 2026
- Blender Open Data (Blender Foundation) — benchmark Blender Benchmark 4.2.0, benchmark Blender Benchmark 4.5.0, benchmark Blender Benchmark 5.1.1, benchmark Blender Benchmark 5.2.0, benchmark Blender Benchmark 3.2.1, benchmark Blender Benchmark 3.4.0, benchmark Blender Benchmark 3.5.0, benchmark Blender Benchmark 3.6.0, benchmark Blender Benchmark 4.0.0, benchmark Blender Benchmark 4.1.0, benchmark Blender Benchmark 4.3.0, benchmark Blender Benchmark 4.4.0, benchmark Blender Benchmark 3.3.0, benchmark Blender Benchmark 5.0.0, benchmark Blender Benchmark 5.1.0, benchmark Blender Benchmark 5.3.0checked November 14, 2026
How we compare: methodology. Where the data comes from: sources.