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Apple M3 Max 16 Core
Apple · CPU

Apple M3 Max 16 Core — Benchmarks & Specs

Bottom line: how fast is the Apple M3 Max 16 Core?

At 1080p (High, MetalFX Quality), the Apple M3 Max 16 Core averages 105 fps in Cyberpunk 2077, per Technetbooks. For local LLM inference it generates 66.3 tokens/sec running llama-2:7b at q4_0 under llama.cpp, per llama.cpp GitHub Discussion. In PassMark CPU Mark it scores 41,257 points, per PassMark Software.

Every figure above is a row in the tables below, and each row links out to the review or public benchmark database the number was taken from. SpecPicks aggregates published measurements; it does not report first-party benchmark runs.

The Apple M3 Max 16 Core is a processor from Apple. Data on this page draws on 10 synthetic benchmark results, 9 community AI inference reports, 5 measured game frame-rate results, aggregated from public benchmark databases (TechPowerUp, PassMark, Geekbench, Cinebench) and the LocalLLaMA community. Read this page when shopping the Apple M3 Max 16 Core, comparing it against other processors in your build, or sizing it for a specific workload (gaming at 1080p/1440p/4K, productivity benchmarks, or local LLM inference).

Gaming Performance (measured FPS)

Average and 1% low frame rates by game, resolution, and quality preset. Bars are scaled against the fastest result on this page.

Measured gaming frame rates for the Apple M3 Max 16 Core by game, resolution, and quality preset. “1% low” is the frame-time floor that determines perceived smoothness. Each row links to its original review or benchmark database.
Game Resolution Settings Relative Avg FPS 1% low Source
Cyberpunk 2077 1080p High MetalFX Quality 105 fps — Technetbooks 2025-07-20
Cyberpunk 2077 1080p High MetalFX Quality 105 fps — GameGPU 2025-07-20
Baldur's Gate 3 1080p High 96 fps — MacRumors Forums 2023-11-15
Cyberpunk 2077 1080p High 78 fps — Technetbooks 2025-07-20
Cyberpunk 2077 1080p High 78 fps — TechSpot 2025-07-21

AI Inference Performance

Tokens per second under each model + quantization. Higher = faster generation. Bars compare runs across the same model.

Local LLM inference throughput on the Apple M3 Max 16 Core, in generated tokens per second. Higher is better; each row links to the community report or benchmark database it came from.
Model Quantization Relative Tokens/sec VRAM used Source
llama-2:7b q4_0 llama.cpp 66.3 tok/s — llama.cpp GitHub Discussion 2023-11-01
llama2:7b q4_K_M llama.cpp 66.3 tok/s — llama.cpp GitHub 2024-01-01
llama3:8b q4_K_M llama.cpp 49.0 tok/s — GitHub - XiongjieDai/GPU-Benchmarks-on-LLM-Inference 2024-07-01
llama3.1:8b q4_K_M ollama 46.0 tok/s — Kunal Ganglani LLM Benchmarks 2024-06-01
llama2:7b q8_0 llama.cpp 42.8 tok/s — llama.cpp GitHub 2024-01-01
llama2:7b FP16 llama.cpp 25.1 tok/s — llama.cpp GitHub 2024-01-01
qwen3:32b q4_K_M llama.cpp 17.4 tok/s — Alexander Hiesch 2026-05-01
llama3.1:70b q4_K_M ollama 9.0 tok/s — Kunal Ganglani LLM Benchmarks 2024-06-01
llama3.1:70b q4_K_M llama.cpp 7.7 tok/s — GitHub - XiongjieDai/GPU-Benchmarks-on-LLM-Inference 2024-07-01

Synthetic Benchmarks

Higher is better. Bars are scaled within each benchmark family (multi-thread, single-thread, etc.) so you can compare like-with-like at a glance.

Synthetic benchmark scores for the Apple M3 Max 16 Core — higher is better. Each row links to the public database the number was taken from.
Benchmark Relative Score Source
PassMark CPU Mark 41,257 points PassMark Software 2026-06-02
Cinebench R23 multi 24,024 points Notebookcheck 2023-11-08
Cinebench R23 multi 24,022 points NotebookCheck 2023-12-14
Geekbench 6 multi 21,264 points Notebookcheck 2023-11-08
Geekbench 6 multi 21,264 points NotebookCheck 2023-12-14
PassMark CPU Mark single-thread 4,784 points PassMark Software 2026-06-02
PassMark Single Thread 4,780 points PassMark Software 2026-09-02
Geekbench 6 single 3,157 points NotebookCheck 2023-12-14
Geekbench 6 single 3,157 points Notebookcheck 2023-11-08
Cinebench R23 single 1,968 points Notebookcheck 2023-11-08

Apple M3 Max 16 Core — Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Apple M3 Max 16 Core best used for?
Apple M3 Max 16 Core is a processor. Use it for mainstream desktops and gaming-focused builds. Check the synthetic benchmark scores below for at-a-glance comparison.
When was the Apple M3 Max 16 Core released, and what was its launch MSRP?
Release year and launch MSRP aren't on file for Apple M3 Max 16 Core. Current pricing is visible on the linked Amazon product cards below.
Where do the benchmark numbers on this page come from?
Synthetic benchmarks are scraped from public databases (TechPowerUp, PassMark, Geekbench Browser, Cinebench leaderboards). AI inference numbers come from the LocalLLaMA community (Reddit threads, llama.cpp / Ollama discussion logs, and Phoronix when available). Every benchmark row carries an inline source citation — click through to verify the original number.
How does the Apple M3 Max 16 Core compare to its predecessor?
Compare Apple M3 Max 16 Core side-by-side against other processors on the Compare tool below. Synthetic benchmark scores let you place this SKU within its generation; the spec table shows the architectural and process-node differences from one generation to the next.
Where can I buy the Apple M3 Max 16 Core?
Active Amazon listings aren't on file for this exact SKU yet. See the linked benchmark sources and the Compare tool for adjacent parts that may be in stock — and check the /benchmarks index for the latest curated picks in this category.

Buying guides that rank the Apple M3 Max 16 Core's class

This page is the raw performance data. The guides below turn it into a ranked pick for a specific build.

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