Apple M1 GPU (8 Core) vs Apple M4 (8 Core)

Verdict

Our overall take, at a glance

Apple M4 (8 Core) leads overall

Apple M4 (8 Core)

Apple M1 GPU (8 Core)

In-depth analysisAI

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

Apple M1 GPU (8 Core)

The Apple M1 GPU is an integrated graphics solution built into the M1 series of System-on-a-Chip processors. It provides graphical processing capabilities alongside the CPU and unified memory for Mac computers and iPads. This hardware solution is designed to offer high performance, especially in power efficiency, for a range of everyday computing tasks.

Best for Creative professionalsBest for Students/ProductivityBest for General use

Pros

Integrated system approach ensures efficient data sharing between the GPU and unified memory.
The architecture allows for strong overall performance per watt across various applications.
Provides dedicated graphics horsepower suitable for creative workflows and media consumption.

Cons

Though designed efficiently, it is limited to the specific hardware generation of Mac devices using M1.
Compared to professional-grade desktop GPUs, its specialized focus may limit extreme rendering capabilities.

Apple M4 (8 Core)

The Apple M4 is a specialized System-on-a-chip designed by Apple, forming the core processing unit for high-end devices, including modern iMacs and MacBook models. Featuring an advanced architecture that integrates CPU, GPU, and NPU components, it is primarily intended for professionals requiring strong performance in demanding creative and computational tasks.

Best for Professional Content CreationBest for AI/Machine Learning WorkloadsBest for High-Performance Computing (HPC)

Pros

Incorporates an advanced Neural Processing Unit (NPU) with a notable capability to accelerate AI workloads, compared to previous generations of the chip.
Supports hardware acceleration for modern functions like AV1 decoding, mesh shading, and ray tracing within its GPU architecture.
Employs high-speed LPDDR5X unified memory, offering substantial bandwidth to support multiprocessing applications.
The M4 series is built on a highly dense manufacturing process (3 nm), enabling the integration of numerous cores over 28 billion transistors.

Cons

Specific core configurations (CPU/GPU counts) vary greatly across its Pro and Max variants, which requires careful selection for targeted performance needs.
Memory bandwidth capacity is highly dependent on the specific model variant utilized, ranging from lower base limits to exceptionally high capacities.

Value for Money

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Apple M1 GPU (8 Core)

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Detailed Specifications

The full spec sheet, side by side

Core Specifications

Feature	Apple M1 GPU (8 Core)	Apple M4 (8 Core)
Base Frequency	N/A	N/A
Base Power	20 W	N/A
Maximum Frequency	N/A	N/A
Maximum Power	30 W	N/A
Lithography Process	5 nm	N/A

Memory

Feature	Apple M1 GPU (8 Core)	Apple M4 (8 Core)
Capacity	8 GB	N/A
Technology		N/A
Bus Width	N/A	N/A
Bandwidth	100 GB/s	N/A
Is Shared	Yes	N/A

API Support

Feature	Apple M1 GPU (8 Core)	Apple M4 (8 Core)
DirectX Version	12	N/A
OpenGL Version	4.6	N/A
Vulkan Version	1.3	N/A
OpenCL Version	3	N/A

Theoretical Performance

Feature	Apple M1 GPU (8 Core)	Apple M4 (8 Core)
Pixel Rate	74.3 GP/s	N/A
Texture Rate	47.7 GT/s	N/A
Performance (FP16)	5.2 TFLOPS	N/A
Performance (FP32)	2.6 TFLOPS	N/A
Performance (FP64)	0.16 GFLOPS	N/A

Benchmark

Feature	Apple M1 GPU (8 Core)	Apple M4 (8 Core)
G3D Mark	4,821	N/A

Miscellaneous

Feature	Apple M1 GPU (8 Core)	Apple M4 (8 Core)
Release Date	July 21, 2021	N/A
Platform		N/A

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 GPU (8 Core) vs Apple M4 (8 Core) comparison

They are closely matched: Apple M1 GPU (8 Core) scores 51/100 and Apple M4 (8 Core) scores 49/100 in our overall comparison — within 2 points. Neither is a clear winner overall, so the decision comes down to the specific features and price that matter most to you.

Apple M1 GPU (8 Core) and Apple M4 (8 Core) 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 51/100 for Apple M1 GPU (8 Core) and 49/100 for Apple M4 (8 Core).

It's close — Apple M1 GPU (8 Core) (51/100) and Apple M4 (8 Core) (49/100) 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.