Apple M2 Ultra 24 Core
24C CPU · 76C GPU · PassMark #?
Apple M5 Max
16C CPU · 40C GPU · 570 GB/s
Apple M5 Max takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Apple M2 Ultra 24 Core lands at 28 and Apple M5 Max at 98. That puts Apple M5 Max ahead by 70 points — a decisive margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Apple M2 Ultra 24 Core if…
- ✓PassMark CPU Mark of 50,932 — solid multi-thread numbers
- ✓Best-in-class perf-per-watt on macOS
Pick Apple M5 Max if…
- ✓Leads the industry in perf-per-watt
- ✓128 GB unified memory option
- ✓Best-in-class ML acceleration
Winner by scenario
Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate testValue for money
Apple M5 MaxSpecdex score per dollar at MSRP
Apple M5 Max more score per dollar ($3,499 vs $3,999).
Score breakdown
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Apple M2 Ultra 24 Core | Apple M5 Max |
|---|---|---|
| Cores | ▲ 24 (16P + 8E) | 16 (12P+4E) |
| GPU cores | ▲ 76 (top config) / 60 (base) | 40 |
| Neural Engine | 32-core (31.6 TOPS) | — |
| Memory bandwidth | ▲ 819.2 GB/s | 570 GB/s |
| Unified memory | Up to 192 GB LPDDR5-6400 | — |
| Process | 5 nm (TSMC N5P) | — |
| Transistors | 134 billion | — |
| Class | Desktop (Mac Studio, Mac Pro) | — |
| PassMark rank | #249 of 5,901 | — |
| PassMark CPU Mark | 50,932 | — |
| Neural engine | — | 16-core, 60 TOPS |
Apple M2 Ultra 24 Core
- +PassMark CPU Mark of 50,932 — solid multi-thread numbers
- +Best-in-class perf-per-watt on macOS
- −Only available inside Apple devices — no DIY upgrade path
- −Newer-generation parts pull ahead in current rankings
Apple M5 Max
- +Leads the industry in perf-per-watt
- +128 GB unified memory option
- +Best-in-class ML acceleration
- −Macs only, no DIY
- −Expensive
- −Gaming library still limited
FAQ: Apple M2 Ultra 24 Core vs Apple M5 Max
Which is better, Apple M2 Ultra 24 Core or Apple M5 Max? +
Apple M5 Max scores 98 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 70. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Apple M2 Ultra 24 Core worth the price? +
At $3,999, Apple M2 Ultra 24 Core delivers a Specdex score of 28 — strongest in passmark.
Is Apple M5 Max worth the price? +
At $3,499, Apple M5 Max delivers a Specdex score of 98 — strongest in efficiency.
Does Apple M2 Ultra 24 Core or Apple M5 Max last longer? +
Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.
Which is the better value, Apple M2 Ultra 24 Core or Apple M5 Max? +
Apple M5 Max — more score per dollar ($3,499 vs $3,999). Specdex score per dollar at MSRP.