Apple
Apple M4
10C CPU · 10C GPU · Ray-Tracing
92
/ 100
From $1,099
VS
Apple M5 Max wins by 6
Apple
Apple M5 Max
16C CPU · 40C GPU · 570 GB/s
98
/ 100
From $3,499
Specdex verdict
Apple M5 Max takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Apple M4 lands at 92 and Apple M5 Max at 98. That puts Apple M5 Max ahead by 6 points — a decisive margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Apple M4 if…
- ✓Industry-best perf-per-watt
- ✓Hardware ray tracing on iGPU
- ✓LPDDR5X 120 GB/s
Pick Apple M5 Max if…
- ✓Leads the industry in perf-per-watt
- ✓128 GB unified memory option
- ✓Best-in-class ML acceleration
Apple M4 92
vs 98 Apple M5 Max
Score breakdown
Apple M4
92 single 100
multi 86
gaming 72
efficiency 100
Apple M5 Max
98 single 99
multi 98
gaming 85
efficiency 100
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Apple M4 | Apple M5 Max |
|---|---|---|
| Cores | 10 (4P+6E) | ▲ 16 (12P+4E) |
| Memory bandwidth | 120 GB/s | ▲ 570 GB/s |
| Neural engine | 16-core, 38 TOPS | 16-core, 60 TOPS |
| Process | TSMC N3E | — |
| GPU cores | — | 40 |
Apple M4
Pros
- +Industry-best perf-per-watt
- +Hardware ray tracing on iGPU
- +LPDDR5X 120 GB/s
Cons
- −Only in Apple products
- −Limited Windows gaming
- −Entry-tier 8 GB RAM is tight for ML
Apple M5 Max
Pros
- +Leads the industry in perf-per-watt
- +128 GB unified memory option
- +Best-in-class ML acceleration
Cons
- −Macs only, no DIY
- −Expensive
- −Gaming library still limited
FAQ: Apple M4 vs Apple M5 Max
Which is better, Apple M4 or Apple M5 Max? +
Apple M5 Max scores 98 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 6. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Apple M4 worth the price? +
At $1,099, Apple M4 delivers a Specdex score of 92 — strongest in single.
Is Apple M5 Max worth the price? +
At $3,499, Apple M5 Max delivers a Specdex score of 98 — strongest in efficiency.
Does Apple M4 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.