Apple’s transition to custom M-series chips has brought significant improvements in integrated GPU performance. This blog post compares GPU performance across Apple Silicon generations—from the original M1 through M1 Pro/Max/Ultra, M2 Pro/Max/Ultra, up to the latest M3 and M4 series—using Geekbench 6 Metal benchmark scores. We use the base M1 as a 100% performance baseline to quantify generational gains. Scores are averaged across devices to neutralize thermal differences between MacBook Airs and MacBook Pros.
GPU Metal Performance Across SOC Generations
Performance Comparison Table
| Apple SoC | GPU Cores | Max Memory Bandwidth | Geekbench 6 Metal | Relative to M1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M1 | 7–8 | ~68 GB/s | 31,245 | 100% |
| M1 Pro | 14–16 | 200 GB/s | 66,079 | 211% |
| M1 Max | 24–32 | 400 GB/s | 111,773 | 358% |
| M1 Ultra | 48–64 | 800 GB/s | 161,628 | 517% |
| M2 | 8–10 | 100 GB/s | 43,517 | 139% |
| M2 Pro | 16–19 | 200 GB/s | 77,783 | 249% |
| M2 Max | 30–38 | 400 GB/s | 132,931 | 425% |
| M2 Ultra | 60–76 | 800 GB/s | 209,316 | 670% |
| M3 | 10 | 100 GB/s | 46,329 | 148% |
| M3 Pro | 14–18 | 150 GB/s | 74,223 | 238% |
| M3 Max | 30–40 | 300–400 GB/s | 143,702 | 460% |
| M3 Ultra | 60–80 | 819 GB/s | 259,668 | 831% |
| M4 | 10 | 120 GB/s | 58,082 | 186% |
| M4 Pro | 20 | 273 GB/s | 111,000 | 355% |
| M4 Max | 40 | 546 GB/s | 192,532 | 616% |
Conclusion
Apple Silicon GPUs have shown substantial improvements from M1 to M4, both in performance and feature sets. The M3 Ultra, with its 80-core GPU and 819 GB/s memory bandwidth, currently offers the highest graphics performance among Apple chips, achieving a Geekbench 6 Metal score of 259,668. As applications continue to leverage these advancements, users can expect enhanced performance across various tasks.
Sources
- Geekbench 6 Metal Benchmarks Browser – Official benchmark results for Apple M1 to M4 series chips
- Apple Newsroom – Official chip announcements, including M1, M2, M3, and M4 series
- Apple MacBook Pro Product Page – Specs for M1/M2/M3/M4 Pro and Max chips
- Apple Mac Studio Product Page – Specs and architecture details for M1 Ultra, M2 Ultra, and M3 Ultra
- AnandTech: Apple Launches M3/M3 Pro/M3 Max Macs – Deep technical breakdown of GPU improvements in the M3 generation
- MacRumors Apple Silicon Guide – Timeline and comparative summaries of all Apple Silicon chips
- TechRadar: M3 Ultra Overview – M3 Ultra release coverage and architecture insights
- NotebookCheck Reviews – Independent MacBook/Mac Studio testing with Metal benchmark results
