Apple M4 (8 Core) vs Apple M1 Ultra GPU

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

  • Apple M1 Ultra GPU has no published G3D Mark result, so it scores lower.
  • Apple M4 (8 Core) has no published G3D Mark result, so it scores lower.

Verdict

Our overall take, at a glance

Key takeaways

  • Apple M1 Ultra GPU leads Apple M4 (8 Core) overall by 8 points (40 vs 32 out of 100).
Apple M1 Ultra GPU leads overall
Apple M1 Ultra GPU
40
Apple M4 (8 Core)
32

In-depth analysisAI

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

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.

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

Value for Money

Which is the better deal for the price

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Apple M4 (8 Core)

Apple M1 Ultra GPU

Review Videos

Hand-picked expert reviews for each product

Detailed Specifications

The full spec sheet, side by side

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Apple M4 (8 Core) vs Apple M1 Ultra GPU comparison

Based on our overall comparison score, Apple M4 (8 Core) rates higher at 55/100 versus 44/100 for Apple M1 Ultra GPU — a 11-point lead. Apple M4 (8 Core) is the stronger overall pick, though the right choice still depends on which specs matter most to you; the full spec table above breaks down every difference.
Apple M4 (8 Core) and Apple M1 Ultra GPU 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 55/100 for Apple M4 (8 Core) and 44/100 for Apple M1 Ultra GPU.
If you want the higher-rated gpus option overall, Apple M4 (8 Core) (55/100) edges out Apple M1 Ultra GPU (44/100). But if Apple M1 Ultra GPU is cheaper or stronger on the specific specs you care about, it can still be the better buy — use the spec table and strengths profile above to decide.

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