Here's a comparison of Apple's M1, M2, M3, and M4 chips, focusing on key features relevant to consumers: Here's an updated comparison of Apple's M1, M2, M3, and M4 chips, including benchmark results from cpubenchmark.net:
| Feature | M1 (2020) | M2 (2022) | M3 (2023) | M4 (2024) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPU Cores | 8 cores (4 performance, 4 efficiency) | 8 cores (4 performance, 4 efficiency) | 8 cores (4 performance, 4 efficiency) | 10 cores (4 performance, 6 efficiency) |
| GPU Cores | Up to 8 cores | Up to 10 cores | Up to 10 cores | Up to 10 cores |
| Neural Engine Cores | 16 cores | 16 cores | 16 cores | 16 cores |
| Transistor Count | 16 billion | 20 billion | 25 billion | 28 billion |
| Memory Bandwidth | 68.25 GB/s | 100 GB/s | 100 GB/s | 120 GB/s |
| Unified Memory (RAM) | 8 GB or 16 GB | 8 GB, 16 GB, or 24 GB | 8 GB, 16 GB, 24 GB, or 32 GB | 16 GB, 32 GB, or 64 GB |
| Process Technology | 5nm | Enhanced 5nm | 3nm | Enhanced 3nm |
| Performance Gains | Baseline | Up to 18% faster CPU, 35% faster GPU compared to M1 | Up to 20% faster CPU, 35% faster GPU compared to M2 | Up to 50% faster CPU compared to M2 |
| PassMark CPU Mark | 14152 | 15585 | 24333 | 19230 |
| Devices Used In | MacBook Air, MacBook Pro 13-inch, Mac mini, iMac | MacBook Air, MacBook Pro 13-inch, Mac mini | MacBook Air, MacBook Pro 14-inch and 16-inch, iMac | MacBook Pro 14-inch and 16-inch, iMac, iPad Pro |
Note: Performance gains are approximate and based on Apple's claims during product announcements. Actual performance can vary based on specific workloads and configurations.
The M4 chip, introduced in 2024, offers significant improvements over its predecessors, including increased CPU cores, higher memory bandwidth, and support for larger unified memory configurations, making it well-suited for demanding applications and multitasking.
The PassMark CPU Mark scores provide a standardized benchmark for comparing the relative performance of these chips.
Please note that the M4's PassMark CPU Mark score is based on preliminary data and may be updated as more benchmark results become available.
For more detailed benchmark results, you can visit cpubenchmark.net.