Apple M2 Max vs Apple M2 Pro

Processor comparisons   22-10-2022
   If there are difficulties with the choice of a processor, you will solve them by reading the comprehensive tests Apple M2 Max vs Apple M2 Pro and see which is better for games or simple use for rendering, streaming, video editing, programming, machine learning. Here you can find useful information from real video editing and streaming tests or different benchmarks. A step-by-step analysis of all the specifications, to make it easier to understand, is summarized in the table.
   From the comparison video, you can get the results of parallel examination in software tests such as Furmark, Dolphin Emulator, VeraCrypt, MATLAB, 3DMark, PassMark, RealBench, PCMark 10, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Gears 5, Cinebench 23 (20, 15), World of Tanks enCore Benchmark, Blender, Blender, UserBenchmark, Prime95, GeekBench 6, 5.2, WPrime, Handbrake, 7zip, AIDA64, SuperPi.
   Gaming performance of processors in:

Apex Legends
Borderlands 3
Grand Theft Auto V
World of Warcraft: Shadowlands
Watch Dogs Legion
Fallout 76
Red Dead Redemption 2
Death Stranding
Valheim
Last Man Standing
Valorant
DOOM: Eternal
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Warzone
Rainbow Six Siege
Overwatch
Halo Infinite
Assassin's Creed Valhalla
Fortnite
Cyberpunk 2077

After looking at the data of parallel benchmarks and videos, you already be able to understand which processor is better to buy for gaming Apple M2 Pro or Apple M2 Max.

Summary benchmark results

As a percentage of the maximum value based on a sample from the entire base of all processors
Processor Benchmark

M2 Max

62%

M2 Pro

61%

The number of this parameter shows the performance of the processors in single-threaded and multi-threaded mode. In this comparison, M2 Max is 1% better than M2 Pro. The data source is several popular tests. More detailed information of the benchmarks is below.

Gaming performance
Summary result of all game benchmarks.

M2 Max

60%

M2 Pro

59%

The maximum result in this parameter is 100 percent, which is the performance of the most powerful processor currently available. And of course, this is a server processor, on which no one will play games. Because this processor costs several tens of thousands of dollars. Therefore, if you think that the selected CPU has a little game result, look at the FPS that it produces in real games in the final table below.
List of less popular games in which CPU comparisons were performed: Forza Horizon 4, Half-Life: Alyx, Control, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Metro Exodus, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS GO), Ghostrunner, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), Horizon Zero Dawn, NBA 2K20, Battlefield V, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Monster Hunter World, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, League of Legends (LOL), Microsoft Flight Simulator, DOTA 2A, Hitman 3.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite	106.0	104.8
Valorant	120.4	119.1
Cyberpunk 2077	67.4	66.7
Apex Legends	113.2	111.9
Call of Duty Warzone	90.3	89.3
Overwatch	97.5	96.5
Red Dead Redemption 2	83.1	82.2
DOOM Eternal	60.2	59.5
Warzone	93.9	92.9
Assassin's Creed	101.2	100.0
Valheim	99.9	98.8

The numbers in this table indicate the maximum FPS that was received on the device with the corresponding processor. Depending on the configuration of the computer (RAM size and Video Card) and graphics quality settings (Ultra, Medium, Normal), the results may differ quite significantly. We recommend that you better study the results of the Cinebench, GeekBench and Passmark becnmarks.
The computers participating in the comparisons not only were the equipped with different amounts of RAM and different video cards. But users also tested them at different screen resolutions: 2K, FullHD or 4K. So the game benchmark data is approximate. But all video cards met the average system requirements of games. You will get more accurate information about how powerful the processor will be in games, if you compare it in one assembly with the video card that is installed in your computer.

Power consumption

M2 Max

465%

M2 Pro

496%

To make a finishing resolution on which processor is better, you should also consider the generation of its core. It is clear that the newer the generation, the better the performance of the processor in games and benchmarks, as well as its energy efficiency. In this case the M2 Pro is more energy efficient than the M2 Max as it consumes less power: 15W vs. 14W. Power consumption is particularly important for laptops. Also, when choosing a processor cooling system, it will be useful to know its TDP. It is necessary to count so that the TDP data specified in the cooler specification is greater than the TDP of the compared processor.

Software benchmarks

For example you plan to use the processor not only for gaming, but also for programming, machine learning, streaming, video rendering or video editing, then the main parameter for you is its performance in multi-threaded mode. In this mode, the CPU turns on all cores and threads that it has to the maximum to reach maximum efficiency. You will learn this data from the benchmark tables below. Before you take into account the data from these tests, be sure to check whether the program you are going to use on your computer supports multi-threaded mode. Since there are still many programs that can use only one core to work, and all the advantages of multi-core mode are unused.
Cinebench 23, 20 an 15
The results of this benchmark show Single-threaded and Multi-threaded CPU performance

	Apple M2 Max	Apple M2 Pro
Cinbench 15 Single-core	389	366
Cinbench 15 Multi-core	2220	2078
Cinbench 20 Single-core	761	714
Cinbench 20 Multi-core	3801	3555
Cinbench 23 Single-core	2204	2063
Cinbench 23 Multi-core	17142	16023

Passmark
This popular benchmark displays Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Apple M2 Max	Apple M2 Pro
Single-Core	6536	6111
Multi-Core	42246	39485

GeekBench 6, 5.2
This benchmark shows Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Apple M2 Max	Apple M2 Pro
Single-Core	2096	2085
Multi-Core	17617	16467

Comparison of specifications

In the specification comparison table, the most helpful will be the release date of the processor and the possibility of overclocking it. The later the processor is released, the longer it will last in your computer. And the easier it will be to upgrade the system in the future. The same benefits from the presence of overclocking. When the processor can be overclocked, thereby increasing its performance, then it will continue to maintain maximum FPS in new games. Accordingly, you do not need to buy a new CPU to enjoy the games any longer. The savings are obvious!

	Apple M2 Max	Apple M2 Pro
Announcement date	October 20, 2022	October 20, 2022
Type	Desktop;Laptop	Desktop;Laptop
Socket	M2	M2
Core name	8x Avalanche and 4x Blizzard	8x Avalanche and 4x Blizzard
Architecture	hybrid (big.LITTLE)	hybrid (big.LITTLE)
Generation	2	2
Turbo Frequency
Frequency	3.49 MHz	3.49 MHz
Cores	12	12
Threads	12	12
Bus rate
Bit	64	64
Lithography	4 nm	4 nm
Transistors count	68000 millions	42000 millions
Power consumption (TDP)	15 W	14 W
Memory type	LPDDR5 - Up to 6400MHz	LPDDR5 - Up to 6400MHz
Max. Memory	64 Gb	32 Gb
Memory Frequency	6400	6400
Memory bandwidth	412 GByte/s	208 GByte/s
L1 cache	4MB	4MB
L2 cache	24MB	24MB
L3 cache	48MB	36MB
Overclocking	No	No
Supports ECC	No	No
Part number

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Also keep in mind that high CPU frequency affects battery life through power consumption (relevant for laptops).

Result:
The number of parameters for which Apple M2 Max is better: 25
The number of parameters for which Apple M2 Pro is better: 1
Although it should be understood that all the data in the article above do not mean that you should be guided entirely by them and trust a simple quantitative comparison. Better to watch the testing video and read the opinion of real owners of Apple M2 Max and Apple M2 Pro before making a decision which of the CPUs to buy for gaming.

Apple M2 Max - all data

• Cinebench r15 score
• Cinebench r20 score
• Cinebench r23 score
• GeekBench 6, 5.2 score

• Apple M2 Max specs and review.

Apple M2 Pro - all data

• Cinebench r15 score
• Cinebench r20 score
• Cinebench r23 score
• GeekBench 6, 5.2 score

• Apple M2 Pro specs and review.