Create Content

Apple M1 vs M2 vs M3 vs M4: A Comprehensive Comparison of Apple's Silicon Chips

Understand the evolution of Apple silicon from M1 to M4, comparing performance, architecture, memory, and GPU capabilities.

Last Updated: 11 months ago
Technology, Apple, Chip Comparison, 2024 Tech Reviews, Apple Silicon, Product
#Apple M1 vs M2#Apple M3 specs#Apple M4 specs#Apple silicon comparison#2024 Apple chips#Tech review
Post Thumbnail

Apple M1 vs M2 vs M3 vs M4: Which Chip Performs Best?

Feature M1 M2 M3 M4 Comments
Transistor Count 16 billion 20 billion 25 billion 28 billion The transistor increase has led to higher performance and efficiency with each generation.
Process Node 5nm 5nm 3nm 3nm (2nd-gen) The shift to a 3nm process in M3 and M4 improves energy efficiency and performance density.
CPU Cores 8-core (4 high-performance, 4 efficiency) 8-core (4 high-performance, 4 efficiency) 8-core (6 high-performance, 2 efficiency) 10-core (6 high-performance, 4 efficiency) With more high-performance cores, the M4 is optimized for intensive tasks.
GPU Cores 7-8 cores 8-10 cores Up to 12 cores Up to 16 cores M4 offers the highest GPU power, ideal for graphics-intensive workflows.
Neural Engine 16-core (11 trillion ops/sec) 16-core (15.8 trillion ops/sec) 16-core (18 trillion ops/sec) 16-core (38 trillion ops/sec) M4's enhanced Neural Engine supports AI applications, with a major increase in operations per second.
Memory Bandwidth 68GB/s 100GB/s 100GB/s 120GB/s Memory bandwidth improvements in M4 benefit multitasking and data-heavy tasks.
Unified Memory Support Up to 16GB Up to 24GB Up to 24GB Up to 32GB Increased memory in M4 allows smoother handling of large workloads.

CPU Performance

Each Apple silicon upgrade has brought notable CPU improvements. The M1 marked Apple's transition to custom silicon, combining power and efficiency. The M2 refined this with higher clocks and 20 billion transistors, giving a 15% performance boost over the M1. The M3, with a new 3nm architecture and an optimized 8-core CPU, improves single-core tasks by around 20%. The M4 expands this with a 10-core CPU, offering roughly a 50% gain over the M2, making it ideal for intensive workloads such as 3D rendering and complex data processing.

Graphics and Media Performance

The M1 GPU's 8 cores set a high standard, supporting gaming and media editing. M2 added up to a 10-core GPU, enhancing graphics by 35%. M3 went further with a 12-core GPU, and M4 peaks at 16 cores, delivering GPU performance nearly twice that of M3, making it ideal for graphic design, video editing, and gaming. Each generation has also improved video encoding/decoding engines, with the M4 supporting 8K ProRes and ray tracing for enhanced visual performance.

Neural Engine Advancements

Apple's Neural Engine has seen substantial upgrades. The M1's Neural Engine processed 11 trillion operations per second (TOPS), enabling smooth AI features like voice recognition. M2's Neural Engine pushed to 15.8 TOPS, M3 to 18 TOPS, and M4 boasts a remarkable 38 TOPS, ideal for applications in machine learning, real-time language translation, and complex computational photography.

Memory and Multitasking

Memory bandwidth has gradually increased, from 68GB/s in M1 to 120GB/s in M4, which boosts multitasking capabilities. Unified memory, introduced with M1, continues to expand, with M4 supporting up to 32GB. This upgrade makes the M4 suitable for memory-intensive applications like video editing and large datasets.

Which Chip Should You Choose?

The M1 remains a reliable option for general use. M2 is best for users needing moderate graphics and processing power. M3 brings noticeable improvements for creative professionals, and M4 is ideal for power users requiring top performance, with cutting-edge graphics and advanced AI capabilities.

Share with Your Community

FacebookTwitterWhatsApp

Chat Room: Discuss Apple M1 vs M2 vs M3 vs M4: A Comprehensive Comparison of Apple's Silicon Chips

Start a New Chat

Want to Share Your Story?

Create and publish your own content for free. Reach thousands of readers and grow your online presence.

Start Creating Content

Discover More Content related to Technology

iPhone 17 Pro vs. iPhone 17 Air vs. iPhone 17 vs. iPhone 16e: Which iPhone Should You Choose in 2025?

iPhone 17 Pro vs. iPhone 17 Air vs. iPhone 17 vs. iPhone 16e: Which iPhone Should You Choose in 2025?

Comparing the iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17, and iPhone 16e: From performance to price, we break down the key differences to help you decide which iPhone is right for you.

1 month ago

Read more

Apple iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro: Should You Wait or Buy iPhone 16? Launch Date, Features, Design, and Rumors Explained

Apple iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro: Should You Wait or Buy iPhone 16? Launch Date, Features, Design, and Rumors Explained

With the iPhone 16 on the market, should you wait for the iPhone 17 and 17 Pro? We break down the expected September 2025 launch, new features like the 3nm chipset, design changes, and whether to skip the iPhone 16 for the iPhone 17 series.

1 month ago

Read more

20 Exciting Things Coming Soon in 2025 You Won’t Want to Miss in the USA

20 Exciting Things Coming Soon in 2025 You Won’t Want to Miss in the USA

Discover the most anticipated events of 2025 across the United States, from thrilling sports championships and iconic music festivals to groundbreaking cultural and tech showcases.

8 months ago

Read more

Grok 3: Elon Musk's Next-Generation AI Chatbot Set to Redefine Artificial Intelligence

Grok 3: Elon Musk's Next-Generation AI Chatbot Set to Redefine Artificial Intelligence

Discover the groundbreaking features of Grok 3, xAI's latest AI chatbot, poised to outperform existing models with its advanced reasoning capabilities and innovative training methods.

8 months ago

The event is live!

Read more

India's Food Delivery Landscape: Upcoming Discount Offers, Events and More

India's Food Delivery Landscape: Upcoming Discount Offers, Events and More

Latest offers, discounts, and cashback deals from India’s top food delivery platforms, including Swiggy, Zomato, Magicpin, and ONDC. Compare platform fees, explore exclusive festival specials, and save big on restaurant orders and deliveries.

8 months ago

Read more

Deep Research Tools: A Comprehensive Comparison of OpenAI, Perplexity, and Google Gemini

Deep Research Tools: A Comprehensive Comparison of OpenAI, Perplexity, and Google Gemini

Explore the latest advancements in AI-driven deep research tools by OpenAI, Perplexity, and Google Gemini. Understand their features, pricing, and how they compare in delivering in-depth research capabilities.

8 months ago

Read more

 The AI Tools You NEED in 2025

The AI Tools You NEED in 2025

Ditch ChatGPT. These under-the-radar AI tools will revolutionize how you learn, work, and live healthier lives.

8 months ago

Read more

Elon Musk's Twitter (X.com) Name Changes: A Historical Overview

Elon Musk's Twitter (X.com) Name Changes: A Historical Overview

A look into Elon Musk’s history of renaming his X.com (formerly Twitter) account, from ‘Harry Bōlz’ to ‘Kekius Maximus,’ and the impact of these changes on internet culture.

8 months ago

Read more

Latest Blogs - Stay Updated

Upcoming Bengali New Release Movies in Theaters in October 2025, Date and Cast

Upcoming Bengali New Release Movies in Theaters in October 2025, Date and Cast

Discover 1 exciting new releases in bengali cinema for October 2025, featuring top stars and directors.

9 hours ago

Read more

Upcoming Japanese New Release Movies in Theaters in October 2025, Date and Cast

Upcoming Japanese New Release Movies in Theaters in October 2025, Date and Cast

Discover 1 exciting new releases in japanese cinema for October 2025, featuring top stars and directors.

9 hours ago

Read more

Upcoming Kannada New Release Movies in Theaters in October 2025, Date and Cast

Upcoming Kannada New Release Movies in Theaters in October 2025, Date and Cast

Discover 9 exciting new releases in kannada cinema for October 2025, featuring top stars and directors.

9 hours ago

Read more

Upcoming Marathi New Release Movies in Theaters in October 2025, Date and Cast

Upcoming Marathi New Release Movies in Theaters in October 2025, Date and Cast

Discover 5 exciting new releases in marathi cinema for October 2025, featuring top stars and directors.

9 hours ago

Read more

Upcoming Assamese New Release Movies in Theaters in October 2025, Date and Cast

Upcoming Assamese New Release Movies in Theaters in October 2025, Date and Cast

Discover 1 exciting new releases in assamese cinema for October 2025, featuring top stars and directors.

9 hours ago

Read more

Upcoming Tamil New Release Movies in Theaters in October 2025, Date and Cast

Upcoming Tamil New Release Movies in Theaters in October 2025, Date and Cast

Discover 19 exciting new releases in tamil cinema for October 2025, featuring top stars and directors.

9 hours ago

Read more

Upcoming Telugu New Release Movies in Theaters in October 2025, Date and Cast

Upcoming Telugu New Release Movies in Theaters in October 2025, Date and Cast

Discover 25 exciting new releases in telugu cinema for October 2025, featuring top stars and directors.

9 hours ago

Read more

Upcoming Gujarati New Release Movies in Theaters in October 2025, Date and Cast

Upcoming Gujarati New Release Movies in Theaters in October 2025, Date and Cast

Discover 3 exciting new releases in gujarati cinema for October 2025, featuring top stars and directors.

9 hours ago

Read more

Stay Ahead with Upcoming News and Events

Get the latest updates on upcoming mobiles, televisions, movies, concerts, live events, and everything significant that’s coming soon.