The benchmark scores for Apple’s M2 Pro and M2 Max chips, which are in the new MacBook Pros, have finally been made public. These results give us a better look at how the new chips improve the performance of GPUs. Look at our review of Macbook Pro 14 2023 if you’re considering buying a new Macbook.
Metal scores on Geekbench show that the M2 Pro with its 19-core GPU and the M2 Max with its 38-core GPU offer about 30% faster graphics performance than the M1 Pro and M1 Max. This is what Apple said it would do, and it greatly affects how well the GPU works.
SEE ALSO: Apple M3 Launch Date Rumored for H2 2023
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MacBook Pro Benchmarks: M2 Pro offers significant improvements over M1 Pro
Based on Metal scores, the high-end M1 Ultra chip, released last year for the Mac Studio, is still about 9% faster than the M2 Max. This is a big difference, but it’s important to note that the OpenCL scores for the M2 Max and M1 Ultra are close.
| Chip Model | (Metal Score) |
|---|---|
| M1 Ultra | 94,583 |
| M2 Max | 86,805 |
| M1 Max | 64,708 |
| M2 Pro | 52,691 |
| M1 Pro | 39,758 |
In terms of CPU performance, both the M2 Pro and the M2 Max in the new MacBook Pros have scores of around 1,900 for a single-core and 15,000 for a multi-core. This means they have CPU speeds up to 20% faster than the M1 Pro and M1 Max. This also fits with what Apple says in its ads. Following benchmarks from The Verge clear the picture.
M2 Pro vs M1 Pro MacBook Pro Benchmarks
| Name | GB 5.3 CPU Multi | GB 5.3 CPU Single | GB 5.3 OpenCL / Compute |
|---|---|---|---|
| MacBook Pro 16 (M2 Max, 12-Core CPU / 38-Core GPU / 64GB) | 15071 | 2037 | 70217 |
| Mac Mini (M2 Pro, 12-Core CPU / 19-Core GPU / 16GB) | 15044 | 1957 | 44889 |
| MacBook Pro 16 (M1 Max, 10-Core CPU / 32-Core GPU / 64GB) | 12630 | 1777 | 58428 |
So, what does all this mean for the typical user? Well, if you use your MacBook Pro to edit videos, make graphics, or play games, the improved GPU performance will likely help you.
| Name | 4K Export Time | Cinebench R23 Multi | Cinebench R23 Single | Cinebench R23 Multi 30-minute loop |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MacBook Pro 16 (M2 Max, 12-Core CPU / 38-Core GPU / 64GB) | 0:01:38 | 14757 | 1684 | 14796 |
| Mac Mini (M2 Pro, 12-Core CPU / 19-Core GPU / 16GB) | 0:02:48 | 14785 | 1648 | 14785 |
| MacBook Pro 16 (M1 Max, 10-Core CPU / 32-Core GPU / 64GB) | 0:01:46 | 12329 | 1533 | 12316 |
In terms of performance, the results are clear: the MacBook Pro 16 with the M2 Max processor is the clear winner. It has the fastest export time for 4K videos, the highest Cinebench R23 Multi and Single scores, and the highest Geekbench 5.3 CPU Multi and Single scores. It also does well in PugetBench for Premiere Pro and XcodeBenchmark, and its frame rate in Tomb Raider is the highest.
Even though the Mac Mini with the M2 Pro processor is still a good choice, its export time and benchmark scores aren’t quite as good as they could be. Even though it has the shortest export time, the M1 Max processor MacBook Pro 16 also has the lowest Cinebench R23 score. But it still does well in other tests that are used as benchmarks.
The new MacBook Pros’ GPU and CPU performance are greatly improved by the M2 Pro and M2 Max chips. In terms of GPU performance, the M1 Ultra chip is still the best, but the M2 Pro and M2 Max are still great choices for those who want a powerful MacBook Pro. You can pre-order the new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros right now, and they will start to ship on Tuesday.
