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Apple M4 — 10C CPU · 10C GPU · Ray-Tracing
Apple

Apple M4

10C CPU · 10C GPU · Ray-Tracing

92
/ 100
From $1,099
VS
Apple M5 Max wins by 6
Apple M5 Max — 16C CPU · 40C GPU · 570 GB/s
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
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Winner by scenario

Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate test

Gaming

Apple M5 Max

Frame-rate-bound workloads — favours cache and single-thread speed

Apple M5 Max leads on gaming (85 vs 72).

Creators & productivity

Apple M5 Max

Rendering, compilation, heavy multitasking — favours core count

Apple M5 Max leads on multi (98 vs 86).

Power efficiency

Tie

Performance per watt — thermals, PSU headroom, electricity cost

Effectively tied — neither pulls a 2-point weighted lead.

Value for money

Apple M4

Specdex score per dollar at MSRP

Apple M4 more score per dollar ($1,099 vs $3,499).

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

Apple M4 versus Apple M5 Max — full spec comparison
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.

Which is better for gaming, Apple M4 or Apple M5 Max? +

Apple M5 Max — leads on gaming (85 vs 72). Frame-rate-bound workloads — favours cache and single-thread speed.

Which is better for creator and productivity work, Apple M4 or Apple M5 Max? +

Apple M5 Max — leads on multi (98 vs 86). Rendering, compilation, heavy multitasking — favours core count.