It's typically simple to choose a general system model to buy from Apple -- you probably know whether you want a 14- or 16-inch MacBook or a minimal desktop like the Mac Mini, for example. But within each line or when looking at older models on sale, the choice can come down to which processor configuration it has. And that may be complicated when comparing last-generation chips to current versions. Another consideration are constraints imposed by the SoC design, notably with respect to memory.
So when configuring an Apple system, if you have any needs beyond the basics -- typical email, web surfing, watching video, online gaming, videoconferencing and basic productivity -- be prepared to figure out your needs for processing and graphics processing to make sure your choice won't limit you. And you'll have to pay for it now because you can't upgrade later.
Apple's current lineup of products -- MacBooks, iMac, iPads and the Vision Pro headset -- use the older M4, M4 Pro, M4 Max, as well as the M5. The company also continues to use the M3 Ultra in its high-end Mac Studio and the two-generations-back M2 Ultra in Mac Pro systems. (The Mac Pro isn't a good option for a lot of reasons, and rumors indicate the two-plus-year-old system won't be updated anytime soon.)
Currently available options
M4 M5 M4 Pro M4 Max M2 Ultra M3 Ultra Chip configurations (CPU/GPU cores) 8/8 or 10/10 10/10 12/16 or 14/20 14/32 or 16/40 24/60 or 24/75 28/60 or 32/80 CPU P cores/E cores 4/4 or 6 4/6 8 or 10/4 10 or 12/4 16/8 20 or 24/8 Neural engine cores 16 (gen 2) 16 (gen 3) 16 (gen 2) 16 (gen 2) 32 (gen 2) 32 (gen 2) Max memory (GB UMA)/Peak bandwidth (GB/sec) 32/120 32/153 64/273 128/546 192/800 512/819 ProRes accelerators 1 1 1 2 4 4 AV1 decoding Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Used in MacBook Air, Mac Mini, iMac MacBook Pro MacBook Pro, Mac Mini MacBook Pro, Mac Studio Mac Pro Mac Studio Release year 2024 2025 2024 2024 2023 2025
In short, our recommendation for choosing a chip:
Either the M4 or M5 chip is fine for most users with general computing needs, travelers and remote workers, as well as some light pro tasks, like basic photo and video editing.
If you need to perform AI-based image generation or want to game, the M5 is a better bet than the M4.
The M4 Pro is a good choice for users who need the performance for processing-intensive tasks like heavy video editing, as well as power users and those who want to future-proof their machines.
Because of its highest GPU core count, more ProRes accelerators and Thunderbolt 5 support, the M4 Max is a better choice for workflows that are GPU-intensive, such as 3D rendering, CAD, 8K video editing, animation, and AI and machine-learning applications.
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