Apple M4 Max
16C CPU · 40C GPU · 16-core Neural Engine
Core Ultra 9 285K
Arrow Lake · 24C · 5.7 GHz · LGA1851
Apple M4 Max takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Apple M4 Max lands at 97 and Core Ultra 9 285K at 89. That puts Apple M4 Max ahead by 8 points — a decisive margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Apple M4 Max if…
- ✓Industry-best perf-per-watt
- ✓128 GB unified memory option
- ✓Hardware ray-tracing
Pick Core Ultra 9 285K if…
- ✓Far more efficient than 14900K
- ✓Strong multi-thread productivity
- ✓New LGA1851 platform with DDR5-6400
Winner by scenario
Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate testGaming
TieFrame-rate-bound workloads — favours cache and single-thread speed
Effectively tied — neither pulls a 2-point weighted lead.
Creators & productivity
Apple M4 MaxRendering, compilation, heavy multitasking — favours core count
Apple M4 Max leads on multi (96 vs 94).
Power efficiency
Apple M4 MaxPerformance per watt — thermals, PSU headroom, electricity cost
Apple M4 Max leads on efficiency (100 vs 90).
Value for money
Core Ultra 9 285KSpecdex score per dollar at MSRP
Core Ultra 9 285K more score per dollar ($589 vs $1,299).
Score breakdown
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Apple M4 Max | Core Ultra 9 285K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores | 16 (12P+4E) | ▲ 24 (8P + 16E) |
| Threads | 16 | ▲ 24 |
| Memory bandwidth | 546 GB/s | — |
| Neural engine | 16-core, 38 TOPS | — |
| Process | TSMC N3E | TSMC N3B |
| Max memory | 128 GB unified | — |
| Base clock | — | 3.7 GHz |
| Boost clock | — | 5.7 GHz |
| L3 cache | — | 36 MB |
| TDP | — | 125 W (PL1) / 250 W (PL2) |
| Socket | — | LGA1851 |
| iGPU | — | Intel Graphics (Xe-LPG, 4 Xe cores @ 2.0 GHz) |
| NPU | — | 13 TOPS |
| Memory | — | DDR5-6400 |
Apple M4 Max
- +Industry-best perf-per-watt
- +128 GB unified memory option
- +Hardware ray-tracing
- −Apple ecosystem lock-in
- −Not user-replaceable
- −Limited Windows gaming
Core Ultra 9 285K
- +Far more efficient than 14900K
- +Strong multi-thread productivity
- +New LGA1851 platform with DDR5-6400
- −Gaming regresses vs 14900K in some titles
- −No hyper-threading (24 threads from 24 cores)
- −13 TOPS NPU is modest
FAQ: Apple M4 Max vs Core Ultra 9 285K
Which is better, Apple M4 Max or Core Ultra 9 285K? +
Apple M4 Max scores 97 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 8. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Apple M4 Max worth the price? +
At $1,299, Apple M4 Max delivers a Specdex score of 97 — strongest in efficiency.
Is Core Ultra 9 285K worth the price? +
At $589, Core Ultra 9 285K delivers a Specdex score of 89 — strongest in multi.
Does Apple M4 Max or Core Ultra 9 285K 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 better for creator and productivity work, Apple M4 Max or Core Ultra 9 285K? +
Apple M4 Max — leads on multi (96 vs 94). Rendering, compilation, heavy multitasking — favours core count.
Which is better for power efficiency, Apple M4 Max or Core Ultra 9 285K? +
Apple M4 Max — leads on efficiency (100 vs 90). Performance per watt — thermals, PSU headroom, electricity cost.