Apple M1 Max (GPU, various configurations) vs Apple M1 Pro (GPU, various configurations): specs and benchmark comparison
Short verdict
Apple M1 Max (GPU, various configurations) leads in every scenario with comparable benchmarks: rendering and compute. This does not imply an advantage in tasks without benchmarks.
Compare with AIRendering and compute
A +96%Apple M1 Max (GPU, various configurations) leads in this scenario (up to 96% in comparable benchmarks).
No comparable benchmarks yet: gaming: rasterization, gaming: ray tracing, power efficiency.
Advantages
Only measured and rated values: a noticeable benchmark gap and specs where more is better.
Where Apple M1 Max (GPU, various configurations) is better1
Blender Benchmark 3.2.1 95.2% faster695 samples/min vs 356 samples/min
Where Apple M1 Pro (GPU, various configurations) is better0
No advantages found in our data.
Benchmarks
Results are compared within one benchmark, one version and the same conditions.
- A ahead by 95.2%
Blender Benchmark 3.2.1
GPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom (OptiX / HIP / oneAPI / Metal) · samples/min, higher is better
Apple M1 Max (GPU, various configurations)694.5 samples/minApple M1 Pro (GPU, various configurations)355.7 samples/minPosition among tested models (3, Metal)
B · 356A · 6950200400600800Each dot is one model’s median in this benchmark. The scale starts at zero, samples/min. Apple M1 Max (GPU, various configurations) is ahead by 95.2% in this benchmark.
About the measurement and source
- A · Apple M1 Max (GPU, various configurations)
694.5 samples/min · community measurement, sample 49 · November 14, 2026
Blender Open Data (Blender Foundation)
Median of 49 submissions (14 outliers excluded), interquartile range 689.13–698.57; submissions 2022-07-12 to 2024-03-08; METAL backend. Snapshot 2026-11-14.
- B · Apple M1 Pro (GPU, various configurations)
355.7 samples/min · community measurement, sample 71 · November 14, 2026
Blender Open Data (Blender Foundation)
Median of 71 submissions (0 outliers excluded), interquartile range 337.58–359.95; submissions 2022-07-13 to 2024-03-18; 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.
Other comparable benchmarks (1)
| Benchmark | A | B | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blender Benchmark 3.1.0GPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom (OptiX / HIP / oneAPI / Metal) | 696.6 | 355.4 | A +96% |
Each benchmark version has its own scale: numbers are compared only within a row.
Reference results (2)
| Benchmark | A | B | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blender Benchmark 3.1.2GPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom (OptiX / HIP / oneAPI / Metal) | 696.9 | 358.8 | reference |
| Blender Benchmark 3.2.0GPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom (OptiX / HIP / oneAPI / Metal) | 691.2 | 338.7 | reference |
Each benchmark version has its own scale: numbers are compared only within a row.
Specifications
| Specification | A · Apple M1 Max (GPU, various configurations) | B · Apple M1 Pro (GPU, various configurations) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chip | |||
| GPU chip | Apple M1 Max | Apple M1 Pro | differs |
| Architecture | Apple Silicon | Apple Silicon | equal |
| Memory | |||
| Memory type | Unified memory | Unified memory | equal |
Chip
GPU chip
AApple M1 Max
BApple M1 Pro
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.
Questions and answers
Which is faster: Apple M1 Max (GPU, various configurations) or Apple M1 Pro (GPU, various configurations)?
Apple M1 Max (GPU, various configurations) leads in every scenario with comparable benchmarks: rendering and compute. This does not imply an advantage in tasks without benchmarks.
See also
Data sources (2)
- Apple — specifications of Apple M1 Max (GPU, various configurations), specifications of Apple M1 Pro (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.