Apple recently unveiled its latest innovations with the introduction of new Mac Studio and MacBook Air models, boasting substantial performance enhancements. While anticipations were high for the company to launch its rumored M4 Ultra chip alongside the Mac Studio, Apple surprised everyone with the debut of the M3 Ultra chip. This powerhouse is now hailed as the fastest and most powerful chip Apple has ever crafted. Initial benchmark tests reveal that the Mac Studio equipped with the M3 Ultra significantly outperforms its predecessors, showcasing impressive advancements in graphics performance over the M4 Max and the older M2 Ultra chips.
The M3 Ultra promises notable progress in graphics, though it comes with a premium price tag. A recent Geekbench 6 benchmark test highlighted a Mac Studio with the M3 Ultra and its 80-core GPU achieving a Metal score of 259,668. This is a substantial leap from the 222,582 score recorded by the M2 Ultra chip with its 76-core GPU. These figures suggest a 16% enhancement in graphics performance for the M3 Ultra, marking it as the most formidable chip Apple has developed so far.
When comparing it to the 16-inch MacBook Pro, armed with an M4 Max chip and a 40-core GPU, which scored an average Metal score of 187,460, the M3 Ultra offers up to a 38% boost in graphics performance. While some additional benchmark results have surfaced, casting doubt on their authenticity based on Apple’s stated performance margins, the M3 Ultra chip, specifically in its 80-core variant, continues to raise eyebrows.
The M3 Ultra’s position as Apple’s fastest chip is bolstered by its engineering on TSMC’s cutting-edge 3nm process, a standard shared with the rest of the company’s lineup. Utilizing Apple’s UltraFusion technology, the M3 Ultra combines the performance of two M3 Max chips. Speculation is rife that the UltraFusion approach might be abandoned, hinting at the discontinuation of plans for an M4 Ultra chip.
Beyond its graphical prowess, the M3 Ultra also delivers impressive CPU performance, realizing a 10% speed increase over the M4 Max chip and a remarkable 29% improvement over the M2 Ultra. With the new Mac Studio now available for pre-order and poised to hit stores on March 12, the starting price for the M4 Max model is set at $1,999, whereas the M3 Ultra variant begins at $3,999. As more real-world performance comparisons emerge, stay tuned to uncover how these chips stack up against their predecessors.
