Apple M1 (GPU, various configurations) vs Apple M2 (GPU, various configurations): specs and benchmark comparison
Short verdict
Not enough data for a performance conclusion: the database has no comparable benchmarks for this pair. Below are the key differences in official specifications.
Compare with AIAdvantages
Only measured and rated values: a noticeable benchmark gap and specs where more is better.
Where Apple M1 (GPU, various configurations) is better0
No advantages found in our data.
Where Apple M2 (GPU, various configurations) is better0
No advantages found in our data.
Benchmarks
Results are compared within one benchmark, one version and the same conditions.
Blender Benchmark 3.2.1
GPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom (OptiX / HIP / oneAPI / Metal) · samples/min, higher is better
Apple M1 (GPU, various configurations)185.8 samples/minApple M2 (GPU, various configurations)255.9 samples/minNo advantage conclusion: small sample in one of the results.
About the measurement and source
- A · Apple M1 (GPU, various configurations)
185.8 samples/min · community measurement, sample 21 · November 14, 2026
Blender Open Data (Blender Foundation)
Median of 21 submissions (5 outliers excluded), interquartile range 169.23–206.06; submissions 2022-07-16 to 2023-06-30; METAL backend. Snapshot 2026-11-14.
- B · Apple M2 (GPU, various configurations)
255.9 samples/min · community measurement, sample 18 · November 14, 2026
Blender Open Data (Blender Foundation)
Median of 18 submissions (4 outliers excluded), interquartile range 245.56–284.18; submissions 2022-07-15 to 2023-11-03; METAL 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.
Reference results (3)
| Benchmark | A | B | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blender Benchmark 3.1.0GPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom (OptiX / HIP / oneAPI / Metal) | 192.8 | 690,938.2 | reference |
| Blender Benchmark 3.1.2GPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom (OptiX / HIP / oneAPI / Metal) | 184.7 | — | no pair |
| Blender Benchmark 3.2.0GPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom (OptiX / HIP / oneAPI / Metal) | 197.2 | 298,447 | reference |
Each benchmark version has its own scale: numbers are compared only within a row.
Specifications
| Specification | A · Apple M1 (GPU, various configurations) | B · Apple M2 (GPU, various configurations) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chip | |||
| GPU chip | Apple M1 | Apple M2 | differs |
| Architecture | Apple Silicon | Apple Silicon | equal |
| Memory | |||
| Memory type | Unified memory | Unified memory | equal |
Chip
GPU chip
AApple M1
BApple M2
differsArchitecture
AApple Silicon
BApple Silicon
equal
Memory
Memory type
AUnified memory
BUnified memory
equal
“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.
See also
Data sources (2)
- Apple — specifications of Apple M1 (GPU, various configurations), specifications of Apple M2 (GPU, various configurations)checked November 14, 2026
- Blender Open Data (Blender Foundation) — benchmark Blender Benchmark 3.1.0, benchmark Blender Benchmark 3.1.2, benchmark Blender Benchmark 3.2.0, benchmark Blender Benchmark 3.2.1checked November 14, 2026
How we compare: methodology. Where the data comes from: sources.