Apple M2 (8-core GPU) vs Apple M1 Max (24-core GPU)

Comparative analysis of Apple M2 (8-core GPU) and Apple M1 Max (24-core GPU) processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Graphics. Benchmark processor performance analysis: PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark.

Apple M2 (8-core GPU)

Apple M1 Max (24-core GPU)

Differences

Reasons to consider the Apple M2 (8-core GPU)

CPU is newer: launch date 8 month(s) later
Around 9% higher clock speed: 3.504 GHz vs 3.228 GHz
Around 2% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 3903 vs 3835

Specifications (specs)
Launch date	15 Jul 2022 vs 26 Oct 2021
Maximum frequency	3.504 GHz vs 3.228 GHz
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark	3903 vs 3835

Reasons to consider the Apple M1 Max (24-core GPU)

2 more cores, run more applications at once: 10 vs 8
2 more threads: 10 vs 8
Around 25% more L1 cache; more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
7x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
2.7x more maximum memory size: 64 GB vs 24 GB
Around 42% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 22077 vs 15568

Specifications (specs)
Number of cores	10 vs 8
Number of threads	10 vs 8
L1 cache	192 KB instruction + 128 KB data (per core) vs 192 KB instruction + 128 KB data (per core)
L2 cache	28 MB vs 4 MB
Maximum memory size	64 GB vs 24 GB
Benchmarks
PassMark - CPU mark	22077 vs 15568

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Apple M2 (8-core GPU)
CPU 2: Apple M1 Max (24-core GPU)

PassMark - Single thread mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

3903

3835

PassMark - CPU mark

CPU 1

CPU 2

15568

22077

Name	Apple M2 (8-core GPU)	Apple M1 Max (24-core GPU)
PassMark - Single thread mark	3903	3835
PassMark - CPU mark	15568	22077

Compare specifications (specs)

	Apple M2 (8-core GPU)	Apple M1 Max (24-core GPU)
Essentials
Architecture codename	Avalanche/Blizzard	Firestorm/Icestorm
Launch date	15 Jul 2022	26 Oct 2021
OS Support	macOS Monterey 12.4, macOS Ventura 13.3, iPadOS 16.1, iPadOS 16.4.1	macOS Monterey 12.0, macOS Ventura 13.3
Place in performance rating	283	249
Processor Number	APL1109	APL1105
Vertical segment		Laptop
Performance
Base frequency	2.424 GHz	2.064 GHz
L1 cache	192 KB instruction + 128 KB data (per core)	192 KB instruction + 128 KB data (per core)
L2 cache	4 MB	28 MB
Manufacturing process technology	5 nm	5 nm
Maximum frequency	3.504 GHz	3.228 GHz
Number of cores	8	10
Number of threads	8	10
Transistor count	20 billion	57 billion
Memory
Max memory channels	2	4
Maximum memory bandwidth	102.4 GB/s	409.6 GB/s
Maximum memory size	24 GB	64 GB
Supported memory types	LPDDR5-6400	LPDDR5-6400
Graphics
Execution Units	32	96
Graphics base frequency	1398 MHz	1296 MHz
iGPU core count	8	24