Apple’s M4 Max Sets New Speed Records — Here’s Why the M4 Ultra Could Be Even Faster!

Apple’s M4 Max Sets New Speed Records—Here’s Why the M4 Ultra Could Be Even Faster

Apple’s latest MacBook Pro lineup has introduced some groundbreaking power with its new M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max chips, making serious waves in the performance world. While the M4 Pro chip already made the Mac mini the fastest Mac ever, it’s the M4 Max that’s truly stealing the spotlight, with speeds that not only surpass all previous Apple Silicon but also rival the best high-end PC chips on the market. And here’s the kicker: we haven’t even seen the M4 Ultra yet.

M4 Max: Apple’s Powerhouse in the Spotlight

Apple’s claim that the M4 Max is the “fastest laptop chip on the market” might sound bold, but early benchmarks are backing up the hype. Geekbench results for the M4 Max reveal a single-core score of 4060 and a multi-core score of 26675. To put that into perspective, Apple’s previous-gen M3 Max chip delivered a multi-core result of 21097, making the M4 Max roughly 26% faster than its predecessor. Even Apple’s former heavy hitter, the M2 Ultra, pales in comparison, with the M4 Max outperforming it by around 24%.

With numbers like these, the M4 Max isn’t just competing with other laptop chips—it’s standing toe-to-toe with some of the best desktop chips out there.

The M4 Max vs. AMD and Intel’s Best

To truly grasp the power of the M4 Max, it’s worth comparing it to the PC world’s top offerings. AMD’s Ryzen 9 9950X, one of the fastest PC chips around, manages a Geekbench multi-core score of 26653, only just below the M4 Max. And on single-core tasks, the M4 Max edges out the AMD chip, reinforcing its lead. Intel’s Core i9-14900K, another powerhouse, hits a multi-core score of 23044, meaning the M4 Max is about 15% faster—and it achieves all this while operating within a laptop’s thermal and power constraints.

The fact that a laptop chip can compete with, and even outperform, top desktop CPUs is a major leap forward, illustrating how far Apple Silicon has come since its debut.

Looking Forward: The Promise of M4 Ultra

So, where does Apple go from here? Apple’s M4 Ultra, expected to debut mid-next year, is rumored to take performance to a whole new level. Using Apple’s UltraFusion technology, which stitches together two M4 Max chips, the M4 Ultra should theoretically double the M4 Max’s performance with minimal losses. This design approach has already proven successful in the M1 and M2 Ultra chips, and Apple’s experience with UltraFusion suggests we can expect impressive efficiency and power from the M4 Ultra.

If the M4 Ultra meets expectations, we could be looking at one of the most powerful processors on the market, even in comparison to desktop CPUs. For creative professionals, developers, and power users, the M4 Ultra could offer unparalleled performance across multiple demanding workflows, raising the bar for what a workstation can achieve.

Beyond Benchmarks: The Real-World Impact of M4 Max and Ultra

While Geekbench scores provide a useful snapshot, it’s the real-world applications that will truly showcase the potential of the M4 Max and, eventually, the M4 Ultra. These chips aren’t just about raw numbers—they’re about redefining what’s possible with portable computing.

With Apple’s tightly integrated hardware and software ecosystem, users will see faster rendering, smoother multitasking, and significantly improved power efficiency, enabling everything from video editing to 3D rendering on a laptop.

Apple’s M4 Max and upcoming M4 Ultra reflect a clear trajectory for Apple Silicon, where innovation is centered around balancing performance, efficiency, and integration in ways that push past what’s been achievable before. As we await the M4 Ultra, the M4 Max is already proving that Apple Silicon isn’t just a competitor—it’s a leader in the CPU market, reshaping our expectations of what a chip can do.

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Eric Sandler

Chief Writer at WiFi Planet

Eric Sandler is a veteran US tech writer with over 25 years of experience covering the latest advancements in the world of technology. From groundbreaking innovations to in-depth reviews, Eric has built a reputation for delivering insightful, reliable content. His work spans across a variety of tech topics, including smartphones, gadgets, AI, and more, making him a trusted voice in the industry.