Apple M2 Max vs Apple M3 Pro: 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 +14.8%Apple M2 Max leads in this scenario (up to 14.8% 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 better2
Blender Benchmark 4.5.0 14.8% faster261 samples/min vs 227 samples/min
Max memory capacity 60 GB more96 GB vs 36 GB
Where Apple M3 Pro is better0
No advantages found in our data.
Benchmarks
Results are compared within one benchmark, one version and the same conditions.
- A ahead by 14.8%
Blender Benchmark 4.5.0
CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom · samples/min, higher is better
Apple M2 Max260.8 samples/minApple M3 Pro227.2 samples/minPosition among tested models (89)
B · 227A · 2610200400600800Each dot is one model’s median in this benchmark. The scale starts at zero, samples/min. Apple M2 Max is ahead by 14.8% in this benchmark.
About the measurement and source
- A · Apple M2 Max
260.8 samples/min · community measurement, sample 34 · November 14, 2026
Blender Open Data (Blender Foundation)
Median of 34 submissions (3 outliers excluded), interquartile range 257.19–264.06; submissions 2025-07-17 to 2026-04-08; CPU backend. Snapshot 2026-11-14.
- B · Apple M3 Pro
227.2 samples/min · community measurement, sample 41 · November 14, 2026
Blender Open Data (Blender Foundation)
Median of 41 submissions (4 outliers excluded), interquartile range 221.64–253.98; submissions 2025-07-17 to 2026-03-14; 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 (5)
| Benchmark | A | B | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blender Benchmark 4.2.0CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | 251.7 | 221.2 | A +13.8% |
| Blender Benchmark 3.6.0CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | 254.4 | 228.8 | A +11.2% |
| Blender Benchmark 4.0.0CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | 255.2 | 250.4 | A +1.9% |
| Blender Benchmark 4.3.0CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | 251.8 | 223.4 | A +12.7% |
| Blender Benchmark 4.4.0CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | 256.2 | 223.7 | A +14.5% |
Each benchmark version has its own scale: numbers are compared only within a row.
Reference results (10)
| Benchmark | A | B | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blender Benchmark 5.1.1CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | 252.1 | 219.5 | reference |
| Blender Benchmark 5.2.0CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | 244.8 | 213.8 | reference |
| Blender Benchmark 3.2.1CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | 244.5 | 206.1 | reference |
| Blender Benchmark 3.3.0CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | 263.5 | — | no pair |
| Blender Benchmark 3.4.0CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | 254.1 | 228.6 | reference |
| Blender Benchmark 3.5.0CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | 252.9 | — | no pair |
| Blender Benchmark 4.1.0CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | 249 | 226.8 | reference |
| Blender Benchmark 5.0.0CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | 243.7 | 223.5 | reference |
| Blender Benchmark 5.1.0CPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom | 256.2 | 222.2 | reference |
| 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 M3 Pro | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cores and clocks | |||
| CoresCores of different types may differ in performance. | 12 (8P + 4E) | no data | no data for B |
| Platform | |||
| Process node | 5 nm | 3 nm | differs |
| Memory and interfaces | |||
| Memory type | Unified memory | Unified memory | equal |
| Max memory capacity | 96 GB | 36 GB | A: 60 GB more |
| Integrated graphics | Apple M2 Max (30 / 38-core GPU) | Apple M3 Pro (14 / 18-core GPU) | differs |
Cores and clocks
Cores
A12 (8P + 4E)
Bno data
no data for BCores of different types may differ in performance.
Platform
Process node
A5 nm
B3 nm
differs
Memory and interfaces
Memory type
AUnified memory
BUnified memory
equalMax memory capacity
A96 GB
B36 GB
A: 60 GB moreIntegrated graphics
AApple M2 Max (30 / 38-core GPU)
BApple M3 Pro (14 / 18-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 M3 Pro: Apple M3 Pro (14 / 18-core GPU).
Which is faster: Apple M2 Max or Apple M3 Pro?
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 M3 Prochecked 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 3.3.0, 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 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.