Apple M3 single-core performance beats M2 Max

Apple’s first batch of 3nm chips, the M3 and A17 Bionic, have been eagerly anticipated by many for the potential performance and energy efficiency improvements that may come with the support of TSMC’s new technology. As the first SoC in the M series, the M3 chip seems to have made decent improvements in both single-core and multi-core performance.

Recently, Twitter user @VadimYuryev shared the results of the Apple M3 chip on Geekbench 6, showing a single-core benchmark score of 3472 points and a multi-core benchmark score of 13676 points. If these results are accurate, it could have an impact on the 2023 high-end MacBook Pro models, especially considering that the M3 chip should first be used in the relatively low-end MacBook Air models.

Comparing the M3 chip with the M2 Max chip (single-core score of 2793 points/multi-core score of 14488 points) used in the 2023 16-inch MacBook Pro, the M3 chip’s single-core score is 24% higher and its multi-core score is only 6% lower. If compared to the M2 Pro chip (single-core score of 2661 points/multi-core score of 12215 points), the M3 chip’s single-core score is 31% higher and its multi-core score is 12% higher.

Since performance is not a concern, the remaining factor to consider is how Apple will control the heat and battery life of the new MacBook Air model with the M3 chip. Considering that the M3 chip uses TSMC’s 3nm process, the results should be satisfactory and hopefully even better than expected.

With the progress made by the M3 chip, expectations for the A17 Bionic have naturally been raised. Previous reports stated that TSMC’s N3B process had a lower yield rate, which caused Apple to lower the performance goals for the A17 Bionic. However, there are also rumors that Apple will focus more on energy efficiency performance for the A17 Bionic.