As more performance data for the M2 Pro and M2 Max leak, we can get a closer look at their capabilities, or more precisely, their limitations. Currently, the largest configuration of the Apple M2 Max has a 12-core CPU and a 38-core GPU, and while that might seem like overkill, the graphics processor loses out in the OpenCL benchmark to the RTX 4070 GPU that comes with the laptop.
No power limit details provided for the laptop RTX 4070, so the performance difference could be bigger
The unique identifier for Apple hardware is the Mac14,6, which is equipped with 64GB of unified memory in addition to the 38-core GPU. Given that the latest Mac mini can’t be configured with the M2 Max, it’s likely to be the company’s new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros, but disappointingly, the GPU struggled to beat the RTX 4070 in Samsung-branded laptops.
This Windows 11 laptop is also equipped with a 14-core, 20-thread Intel Core i9-13900HK, so it is suitable for customers who want a machine with powerful computing and graphics performance.In the OpenCL benchmark, the Samsung notebook Earn 102,130 pointswhile the M2 Max with 38-core GPU only got 75,139. That’s a 35% performance deficit, and one more thing to note.
Geekbench 5 doesn’t mention the power limits of the laptop’s RTX 4070, which means gaming laptops that are slightly thicker and have more efficient cooling solutions could gain a bigger lead in Apple’s new 2023 MacBook Pro lineup as they Will have a higher GPU power limit. However, keep in mind that Geekbench 5 OpenCL scores are not an accurate reflection of real-world performance, and other programs may run very differently on the two machines.
We also don’t know if the unnamed MacBook Pro with the M2 Max had thermal throttling issues that might have contributed to this score. It looks like we’ll have to wait for more data, especially thermals, before we can give an unbiased opinion on the matter. One thing to add is that no matter whether Samsung notebooks are leading in performance or not, there is one place that cannot be approached, and that is battery life.
According to Apple, the company’s larger 16-inch MacBook Pro has the longest battery life of any portable Mac to date, lasting up to 22 hours on a single charge. If you’re still interested in upgrading to one of these newer models, we’ve discussed five upgrades to the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro that will force you to make the jump.