Apple M5 Max (GPU, 40 cores) vs Apple M6 (GPU, 12 cores): specs and benchmark comparison
Short verdict
Apple M5 Max (GPU, 40 cores) 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 +207%Apple M5 Max (GPU, 40 cores) leads in this scenario (up to 207% 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 M5 Max (GPU, 40 cores) is better2
Blender Benchmark 5.2.0 207% faster8,167 samples/min vs 2,660 samples/min
Compute units 28 more40 GPU cores vs 12 GPU cores
Where Apple M6 (GPU, 12 cores) is better0
No advantages found in our data.
Benchmarks
Results are compared within one benchmark, one version and the same conditions.
- A ahead by 207%
Blender Benchmark 5.2.0
GPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom (OptiX / HIP / oneAPI / Metal) · samples/min, higher is better
Apple M5 Max (GPU, 40 cores)8,167.3 samples/minApple M6 (GPU, 12 cores)2,660.3 samples/minPosition among tested models (7, Metal)
B · 2,660A · 8,16702,5005,0007,50010,000Each dot is one model’s median in this benchmark. The scale starts at zero, samples/min. Apple M5 Max (GPU, 40 cores) is ahead by 207% in this benchmark.
About the measurement and source
- A · Apple M5 Max (GPU, 40 cores)
8,167.3 samples/min · community measurement, sample 93 · November 14, 2026
Blender Open Data (Blender Foundation)
Median of 93 submissions (9 outliers excluded), interquartile range 8078.96–8327.8; submissions 2026-07-22 to 2026-11-11; METAL backend. Snapshot 2026-11-14.
- B · Apple M6 (GPU, 12 cores)
2,660.3 samples/min · community measurement, sample 22 · November 14, 2026
Blender Open Data (Blender Foundation)
Median of 22 submissions (4 outliers excluded), interquartile range 2635.74–2680.81; submissions 2026-09-20 to 2026-11-13; 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 (7)
| Benchmark | A | B | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blender Benchmark 4.5.0GPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom (OptiX / HIP / oneAPI / Metal) | 7,065 | 2,490.4 | reference |
| Blender Benchmark 5.1.1GPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom (OptiX / HIP / oneAPI / Metal) | 8,264.4 | — | no pair |
| Blender Benchmark 3.6.0GPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom (OptiX / HIP / oneAPI / Metal) | 4,645.6 | — | no pair |
| Blender Benchmark 5.0.0GPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom (OptiX / HIP / oneAPI / Metal) | 7,136.1 | — | no pair |
| Blender Benchmark 5.1.0GPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom (OptiX / HIP / oneAPI / Metal) | 8,065.1 | — | no pair |
| Blender Benchmark 5.3.0GPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom (OptiX / HIP / oneAPI / Metal) | 7,989.4 | 2,503.5 | reference |
| Blender Benchmark 4.4.0GPU, sum of scenes monster + junkshop + classroom (OptiX / HIP / oneAPI / Metal) | — | 2,448.8 | no pair |
Each benchmark version has its own scale: numbers are compared only within a row.
Specifications
| Specification | A · Apple M5 Max (GPU, 40 cores) | B · Apple M6 (GPU, 12 cores) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chip | |||
| GPU chip | Apple M5 Max | Apple M6 | differs |
| Architecture | Apple Silicon | Apple Silicon | equal |
| Compute unitsSM (NVIDIA), CU (AMD) and Xe-core (Intel) are different units and are not compared numerically across vendors. | 40 GPU cores | 12 GPU cores | A: 28 more |
| Memory | |||
| Memory type | Unified memory | Unified memory | equal |
Chip
GPU chip
AApple M5 Max
BApple M6
differsArchitecture
AApple Silicon
BApple Silicon
equalCompute units
A40 GPU cores
B12 GPU cores
A: 28 moreSM (NVIDIA), CU (AMD) and Xe-core (Intel) are different units and are not compared numerically across vendors.
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 M5 Max (GPU, 40 cores) or Apple M6 (GPU, 12 cores)?
Apple M5 Max (GPU, 40 cores) 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 M5 Max (GPU, 40 cores), specifications of Apple M6 (GPU, 12 cores)checked November 14, 2026
- Blender Open Data (Blender Foundation) — benchmark Blender Benchmark 4.5.0, benchmark Blender Benchmark 5.1.1, benchmark Blender Benchmark 5.2.0, benchmark Blender Benchmark 3.6.0, benchmark Blender Benchmark 5.0.0, benchmark Blender Benchmark 5.1.0, benchmark Blender Benchmark 5.3.0, benchmark Blender Benchmark 4.4.0checked November 14, 2026
How we compare: methodology. Where the data comes from: sources.