All Apple’s processors are scattered throughout various MacBook models. Although Apple simply sells the M4 MacBook, you can completely renew the old models online in certain third -party retailers. If you stumble on its old chips (which was published four years ago) you are thinking how they compare other options. We break the difference between everyone.
M4 series
M4: M4 is the current entry-level chip, it was launched in 2024 It has 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU. Apple claims that it provides CPU performance 1.8 times faster than M1 and 2.2 times faster GPU performance. Meanwhile, the neural engine is three times faster than the root and twice the M3. It also begins with 16GB unified memory, which will help Apple detectives (suit of artificial intelligence features of the company) much more smoothly. It is available at 14 -inch MacBook Pro (2024), IMAC (2024), and MacBook Air (13 inches and 15 inches, 2025).
M4 Pro: The M4 protot has a 14-core CPU (which claims Apple is 1.9 times faster than M1 Pro) and up to 20-Core GPU, up to 64 GB unified memory. Built in the second generation 3-nanometer process, it supports extended GPU features like fake shedding and ray tracing-which is now twice as fast on M3 chips. You will find it at the last one MacBook Pro (14 inches and 16 inches) And Mac Mini (2024)The
M4 Max: This chip has support for a 16-core CPU and 128 GB unified memory up to 40-core GPU. Apple says that CPU M1 is 2.2 times faster than the highest, while the GPU is 1.9 times faster. As M4 Pro, it packs support for fake shedding and ray tracing. M4 Max is currently the most powerful chip you can get in a MacBook and it is last 14 inches and 16 inch MacBook Pro. You can also get it as an alternative to the current Mac Studios.
M3 series
M3: M3 is available at M3 14 -inch MacBook Pro (end of 2023), 13 -inch MacBook Air (2024), 15 -inch MacBook Air (2024) and 24 inches iMac (2023). It packs up to 10-core GPU with an 8-core CPU and 24GB unified memory. When compared to M1, Apple claims that CPU performance is up to 35 percent faster and GPU performance up to 65 percent faster. The company has said that both the CPU and GPU are 20 percent faster than M2. Like the M1 and M2, it is great for the initial work like word processing, sending emails, spreadsheets and light gaming. With 13 inches and 15 inch MacBook Air, you have two external display (one display with a resolution up to 6k 6K in 60 Herzade and the other with a resolution with up to 5k resolution.
M3 Pro: With a 12-core CPU and a 18-core GPU, Apple has claimed that M3 Pro’s GPU M2 Pro is only up to 10 percent faster-upgraded a marginal upgrade from the predecessor. Compared with M1 Pro It is available from 2021 to 5 inches and 5 16 inches MacBook Pro
M3 Max: This is the next step from the M2 Max and the most powerful of the three chips (but still not as strong as M2 Ultra). It has a 16-core CPU, 40-core GPU and up to 128 GB unified memory. According to Apple, the CPU performance is 80 percent faster than the M1 maximum and up to 50 percent faster than the M2 maximum. In the case of GPU performance, it is said to be 50 percent faster than the M1 max and 20 percent faster than the M2 maximum. M3 Max is available at 14 inches and 16 -inch MacBook Pro (end of 2023).
M3 Ultra: When the M3 lineup was launched in 2023, Apple declared an M3 Ultra in 2025 It is misleadingly the most powerful chip of M-series lineup-it is better than the latest M4 Max. It has a GPU with 32-core CPU (including 24 performance core) and up to 80 core. Apple has claimed that it is 2.5 times faster than M1 Ultra. It also comes with 96GB unified memory with an option to upgrade up to 512 GB, while the SSD storage can be 16GB. This chip is currently available only in 2025 Mac Studios.
M2 series
M2: You may think that the M2 M1 Pro or M1 Max is better than you, but you will be wrong. This is an entry-level chip like M1, somewhat more processing power. It packs an 8-core CPU and a 10-core GPU (two more GPU core compared to the predecessor), as well as supporting 24GB unified memory. Apple says that the second generation chip has an 18 percent faster CPU and a GPU that is 35 percent more powerful. M2 is great for daily jobs such as word processing and web browsing, but it should be stored for 4K footage and multiple streams of 3D rendering for M1 Pro or M1 M1 Max (or the next two chips). It is available at MacBook Air (13 inches, 2022), MacBook Air (15 inches, 2022) and MacBook Pro (13 inches, 2022).
M2 Pro: The next step from M2 Pro M2. It has 12 cores in the CPU and up to 32 GB of 19-Core GPU up to 32 GB unified memory. Apple claims that 20 percent faster than 10-core M1 Pro and 30 percent faster of graphics. We recommend this chip for intermediate video and photo editors. This is a marginal upgrade than the M1 Pro, but this is the best option for those who want more future-proof processors. You will find it from the early 2023 to the MacBook Pro (14 inches and 16 inches) and Mac Mini (2023).
M2 Max: M2 Max packs up to a 12-core CPU and up to 38-Core GPU (with unified memory support with up to 96 GB). According to Apple, graphic are 30 percent faster than the M1 maximum. M2 Max is a great choice for those who work with graphics-intensive content including graphic design, 3D modeling and heavy duty video footage. However as M2 Pro, if you come from M1 max, this is an extended upgrade. This is available at MacBook Pro (14 inches and 16 inches) that was published early 2023 and early in Mac Studio (2023).
M2 Ultra: This is the successor of M1 Ultra. It is in the second generation Mac Studios and available Mac Pro (2023). Using Apple’s Ultrafusion Technology, composed of two M2 Max chips, M2 Ultra is configured with a 24-core CPU and a GPU 60 or 76 core. Apple claims that CPU M1 is a 20 percent faster performance than Ultra and provides 30 percent faster GPU. Chip to get it if you are working Highly Heavy tariff materials that you believe that M1 Ultra, M2 Pro, or M2 Max will not be able to manage simply. If you need this chip, you will know.
M1 series
M1: This is the first custom Silicon Apple to debut in 2021 for his MacBook Air It has an 8-core CPU and an 8-core GPU. Basically, there was support for unified memory (RAM) up to 16GB at extra cost, but nowadays you can only buy an 8-GB model. This is much faster than any previous Intel-driven MacBook Pro and is a practical choice for most people, because it is the most affordable MacBook Air (from third-party retailers) that you can buy. It packs more than adequate processing energy to get you a normal day-to-day tasks-it can handle more intense tasks like photo editing.
M1 Pro: The next step is M1 Pro. It has up to 10 core in the CPU and up to a 16-core GPU up to 32 GB unified memory. Apple says both performance and graphics are twice faster than M1. We have considered it enough to be enough of the base chip, it is ideal for anyone who works a lot in music production or photo and video editing a lot. From 2021 simply MacBook Pro (14 inches and 16 inches) uses this chip.
M1 is the highest: Like the M1 Pro, the M1 Max has a 10-core CPU but a Hetter 32-core GPU (with support up to 64 GB of Unified Memory). Apple says it is four times faster than M1 in the case of graphics. As proven in the test, this chip is extremely powerful and handle every heavy tariff work easily. If you need a computer that can develop 8K or 4K video footage, 3D rendering, or develop multiple streams of applications, it was preferred. You probably already know whether you need so much energy. It is available from 2021 to MacBook Pro (14 inches and 16 inches).
M1 Ultra: M1 Ultra is the second most powerful among all of them. It is two M1 MAX chips attached to a technology called ultrafusion. It is a 20-core CPU, 64-core GPU (which can be configured up to 128 GB of unified memory), and a 32-core neural engine-base more than seven times more transistors. Even though the M3 Ultra is now available, M1 Ultra requires heavy duty processor to work with strong visual and graphics, which has a strong alternative. It was only available in the first generation Mac Studios.