Apple M4 Max
16C CPU · 40C GPU · 16-core Neural Engine
Intel Core Ultra 5 345K
Panther Lake · 14C · 5.5 GHz
Apple M4 Max takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Apple M4 Max lands at 97 and Intel Core Ultra 5 345K at 84. That puts Apple M4 Max ahead by 13 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 Intel Core Ultra 5 345K if…
- ✓Latest generation silicon
- ✓Improved perf-per-watt
- ✓Full modern feature set
Winner by scenario
Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate testGaming
Apple M4 MaxFrame-rate-bound workloads — favours cache and single-thread speed
Apple M4 Max leads on single (98 vs 86).
Creators & productivity
Apple M4 MaxRendering, compilation, heavy multitasking — favours core count
Apple M4 Max leads on multi (96 vs 84).
Power efficiency
Apple M4 MaxPerformance per watt — thermals, PSU headroom, electricity cost
Apple M4 Max leads on efficiency (100 vs 86).
Value for money
Intel Core Ultra 5 345KSpecdex score per dollar at MSRP
Intel Core Ultra 5 345K more score per dollar ($329 vs $1,299).
Score breakdown
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Apple M4 Max | Intel Core Ultra 5 345K |
|---|---|---|
| Cores | ▲ 16 (12P+4E) | 14 |
| Threads | 16 | — |
| Memory bandwidth | 546 GB/s | — |
| Neural engine | 16-core, 38 TOPS | — |
| Process | TSMC N3E | — |
| Max memory | 128 GB unified | — |
| Architecture | — | Panther Lake |
| Socket | — | LGA1851 |
| Release year | — | 2025 |
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
Intel Core Ultra 5 345K
- +Latest generation silicon
- +Improved perf-per-watt
- +Full modern feature set
- −Premium pricing
- −Requires up-to-date platform
- −Initial stock scarcity likely
FAQ: Apple M4 Max vs Intel Core Ultra 5 345K
Which is better, Apple M4 Max or Intel Core Ultra 5 345K? +
Apple M4 Max scores 97 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 13. 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 Intel Core Ultra 5 345K worth the price? +
At $329, Intel Core Ultra 5 345K delivers a Specdex score of 84 — strongest in single.
Does Apple M4 Max or Intel Core Ultra 5 345K 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 gaming, Apple M4 Max or Intel Core Ultra 5 345K? +
Apple M4 Max — leads on single (98 vs 86). Frame-rate-bound workloads — favours cache and single-thread speed.
Which is better for creator and productivity work, Apple M4 Max or Intel Core Ultra 5 345K? +
Apple M4 Max — leads on multi (96 vs 84). Rendering, compilation, heavy multitasking — favours core count.