Apple M1 Ultra GPU vs AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT

Updated Nov 2026 · Scored by the Let’s Compare Data Engine · How we score

For most buyers the AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT is the better pick — it scores 51/100 to the Apple M1 Ultra GPU's 41, leading on Core Specifications and API Support. Choose the Apple M1 Ultra GPU instead if memory and theoretical performance matter most to you, where it comes out ahead.

Apple M1 Ultra GPU has no published G3D Mark result, so it scores lower.

Verdict

Our overall take, at a glance

AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT leads overall

AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT

Apple M1 Ultra GPU

Why it stands out

Miscellaneous Platform: Desktop
API Support Vulkan Version: 1.3 (8% more)

Winner by category for Apple M1 Ultra GPU vs AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT
Category	AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT	Apple M1 Ultra GPU	Winner
Core Specifications	72	58	AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT
Memory	35	80	Apple M1 Ultra GPU
API Support	77	46	AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT
Theoretical Performance	34	73	Apple M1 Ultra GPU
Benchmark	45	20	AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT
Miscellaneous	89	22	AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT

In-depth analysisAI

AI-generated from the cited sources — may be incomplete or inaccurate; verify important details before deciding · generated Nov 2026.

Apple M1 Ultra GPU

The Apple M1 Ultra GPU is a high-end integrated graphics processor designed for workstation-class Mac desktops. Built by connecting two M1 Max chips via Apple's proprietary UltraFusion interconnect, the processor scales up to 64 GPU cores and shares up to 128 GB of unified LPDDR5X memory. It is engineered for demanding creative tasks that require massive memory bandwidth and processing parallelism.

Best for Memory-intensive professional workloads such as high-resolution video editing…Best for Workstation users seeking high power-efficiency and unified system architecture

Pros

Features an UltraFusion interconnect that delivers up to 2.5 TB/s of low-latency bandwidth between the dual-die setup
Provides access to a massive unified memory pool of up to 128 GB, surpassing the VRAM limit of typical discrete graphics cards
Highly efficient design built on TSMC's 5 nm manufacturing process with 114 billion total transistors

Cons

Underperforms compared to top-tier dedicated desktop graphics cards like the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 in standard gaming and compute benchmarks

Source

Apple M1 - WikipediaProvided architectural specifications of the M1 Ultra chip, including GPU core counts, memory bandwidth, fabrication process, and transistor volume.

Video — reviews used (1)

Provided comparative real-world performance observations showing the GPU trailing the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 in compute and gaming benchmarks.

Generated Aug 5, 2026

AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT

The AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT is a budget desktop graphics card released in early 2022, manufactured on a 6nm process. It features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 64-bit bus, delivering up to 5.77 TFLOPS of FP32 computing performance with a peak clock frequency of 2.815 GHz. Designed for basic desktop gaming and display output, it operates with a maximum power rating of 107 W.

Best for Budget desktop builds with low power supply headroom

Pros

Efficient 6nm manufacturing process
High maximum frequency reaching up to 2.815 GHz
Low total board power requirement of 107 W

Cons

Narrow 64-bit memory interface limits bandwidth to 144 GB/s

Value for Money

Which is the better deal for the price

Pre-filled with launch prices where known — enter today's price for an up-to-date check. Use the same currency for both.

Apple M1 Ultra GPU

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AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT

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Review Videos

Hand-picked expert reviews for each product

Detailed Specifications

The full spec sheet, side by side

Core Specifications

Feature	Apple M1 Ultra GPU	AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT
Base Frequency	1.296 GHz	2.31 GHz
Base Power	N/A	N/A
Maximum Frequency	1.296 GHz	2.815 GHz
Maximum Power	N/A	107 W
Lithography Process	5 nm17% less	6 nm

Memory

Feature	Apple M1 Ultra GPU	AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT
Capacity	64 GB700% more	8 GB
Technology
Bus Width	N/A	64 bit
Bandwidth	800 GB/s456% more	144 GB/s
Is Shared	Yes	No

API Support

Feature	Apple M1 Ultra GPU	AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT
DirectX Version	N/A	12
OpenGL Version	4.1	4.6
Vulkan Version	1.2	1.38% more
OpenCL Version	1.2	2.1

Theoretical Performance

Feature	Apple M1 Ultra GPU	AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT
Pixel Rate	165.9 GP/s	90.1 GP/s
Texture Rate	663.6 GT/s	180.5 GT/s
Performance (FP16)	42.4 TFLOPS268% more	11.53 TFLOPS
Performance (FP32)	21.2 TFLOPS267% more	5.77 TFLOPS
Performance (FP64)	N/A	360.3 GFLOPS

Benchmark

Feature	Apple M1 Ultra GPU	AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT
G3D Mark	N/A	9,617

Miscellaneous

Feature	Apple M1 Ultra GPU	AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT
Release Date	March 18, 2022	January 19, 2022
Platform

Specification Note

Specifications are compiled from official manufacturer data and other reliable internet sources. Some features may vary by region or model configuration.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Apple M1 Ultra GPU vs AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT comparison

They are closely matched: Apple M1 Ultra GPU scores 44/100 and AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT scores 43/100 in our overall comparison — within 1 point. Neither is a clear winner overall, so the decision comes down to the specific features and price that matter most to you.

Apple M1 Ultra GPU and AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT are compared side by side above across every spec in the gpus category — including performance, features and design — each scored 0–100 so you can see exactly where one leads the other. Our overall scores are 44/100 for Apple M1 Ultra GPU and 43/100 for AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT.

It's close — Apple M1 Ultra GPU (44/100) and AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT (43/100) score almost the same. Pick based on price and the individual specs that matter most to you; the comparison above shows where each one pulls ahead.