Apple M6 12 Cores
vs
Apple M5 Max (32-core GPU)
vs
CPU Comparison Result
Below are the results of a comparison of
Apple M6 12 Cores
and
Apple M5 Max (32-core GPU)
processors based on key performance characteristics, as well as power consumption and much more.
Advantages
- Higher Technology: 2 nm (2 nm vs Third-generation 3 nm)
- Newer Launch Date: August 2026 (August 2026 vs March 2026)
- More Total Cores: 18 (12 vs 18)
- Higher Memory Type: LPDDR5X unified memory (Unified memory vs LPDDR5X unified memory)
Basic
Apple
Label Name
Apple
August 2026
Launch Date
March 2026
Laptop
Platform
Laptop
-
CPU Architecture
Apple custom ARM architecture
Apple M6
CPU Name
Apple M5 Max
Apple M6 12 Cores
Model Name
?
The Intel processor number is just one of several factors - along with processor brand, system configurations, and system-level benchmarks - to be considered when choosing the right processor for your computing needs.
Apple M5 Max 32-Core GPU
TSMC N2
Foundry
TSMC N3P
M6
Generation
M5 Max
CPU Specifications
-
Interconnect Technology
Apple Fusion Architecture
4.61 GHz
Performance-core Multi-Core Max Frequency
4.38 GHz
4.80 GHz
Super-core Max Frequency
4.61 GHz
12
Total Cores
?
Cores is a hardware term that describes the number of independent central processing units in a single computing component (die or chip).
18
12
Total Threads
?
Where applicable, Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology is only available on Performance-cores.
18
4
Performance-cores
12
6
Efficient-cores
-
2
Super-cores
6
-
Max Turbo Frequency
?
Max Turbo Frequency is the maximum single-core frequency at which the processor is capable of operating using Intel® Turbo Boost Technology and, if present, Intel® Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 and Intel® Thermal Velocity Boost. Frequency is typically measured in gigahertz (GHz), or billion cycles per second.
4.61 GHz
3.20 GHz
Efficient-core Max Turbo Frequency
?
Maximum E-core turbo frequency derived from Intel® Turbo Boost Technology.
-
2 nm
Technology
?
Lithography refers to the semiconductor technology used to manufacture an integrated circuit, and is reported in nanometer (nm), indicative of the size of features built on the semiconductor.
Third-generation 3 nm
Memory Specifications
Unified memory
Memory Type
?
Intel® processors come in four different types: Single Channel, Dual Channel, Triple Channel, and Flex Mode. Maximum supported memory speed may be lower when populating multiple DIMMs per channel on products that support multiple memory channels.
LPDDR5X unified memory
10667 MT/s
LPDDR5 Speed
-
32 GB
Max Memory Size
?
Max memory size refers to the maximum memory capacity supported by the processor.
36 GB
170 GB/s
Max Memory Bandwidth
?
Max Memory bandwidth is the maximum rate at which data can be read from or stored into a semiconductor memory by the processor (in GB/s).
460 GB/s
-
Maximum Memory Speed
9600 MT/s
GPU Specifications
DisplayPort 1.4 over Thunderbolt 4; HDMI
External Display Standard
Thunderbolt / DisplayPort 2.1 over USB-C; HDMI
Apple M6 12-core GPU
GPU Name
Apple M5 Max 32-core GPU
Supported
Hardware-accelerated ray tracing
Supported
Up to 8K at 60Hz or 5K at 120Hz or 4K at 240Hz
Max External Display Resolution
Up to four external displays: four displays up to 6K at 60Hz or 4K at 144Hz; or two displays up to 8K at 60Hz, 5K at 120Hz or 4K at 240Hz
H.264, HEVC, ProRes, ProRes RAW, AV1
Video Decode
H.264, HEVC, ProRes, ProRes RAW, AV1; hardware-accelerated; frame rate not disclosed
H.264, HEVC, ProRes, ProRes RAW
Video Encode
H.264, HEVC, ProRes, ProRes RAW; hardware-accelerated; frame rate not disclosed
12
Graphics Core Count
32
Up to 8K at 60Hz or 5K at 120Hz or 4K at 240Hz
Max Resolution
Up to 8K at 60Hz or 4K at 240Hz
3
Number of Displays Supported
-
-
GPU APIs
Metal
Hardware-accelerated H.264, HEVC, ProRes and ProRes RAW; AV1 decode
Media Engine
Hardware-accelerated H.264, HEVC, ProRes and ProRes RAW; AV1 decode
1
Video Decode Engines
1
1
Video Encode Engines
2
1
ProRes Encode/Decode Engines
2
AI Specifications
Dual 16-core Neural Engine; Neural Accelerators in each GPU core
AI Engine
Apple Neural Engine with Neural Accelerators in GPU cores
32
Neural Engine Core Count
16
Dual 16-core Neural Engine
NPU Name
16-core Neural Engine
Connectivity
-
Bluetooth Support
Supported
-
Bluetooth Version
6
-
Wi-Fi Standard
Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be)
-
Wireless System
Apple N1 wireless networking chip
Interfaces and Ports
Thunderbolt 4
Thunderbolt Support
Thunderbolt 5
-
USB Version
USB 4 up to 120Gb/s
Supported
USB4 Support
Supported
Miscellaneous
-
Runtime Anti-Exploitation
Memory Integrity Enforcement
Benchmarks
Geekbench 6 Single Core
Apple M6 12 Cores
4501
+6%
Apple M5 Max (32-core GPU)
4235
Geekbench 6 Multi Core
Apple M6 12 Cores
21312
Apple M5 Max (32-core GPU)
28746
+35%
Cinebench 2024 Single Core
Apple M6 12 Cores
220
+12%
Apple M5 Max (32-core GPU)
196
Cinebench 2024 Multi Core
Apple M6 12 Cores
1368
Apple M5 Max (32-core GPU)
2106
+54%
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