Comparative Analysis of Apple’s M4 and M3 Chips
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Introduction
- Overview of M3 and M4 Chips
- Technical Specifications and Differences
- Performance Assessments
- AI Capabilities
- Market Availability and Pricing
- Glossary
- Conclusion
- Source Documents
1. Introduction
This report aims to provide a comprehensive comparative analysis of Apple’s latest M4 chip and its predecessor, the M3, across various devices and configurations.
2. Overview of M3 and M4 Chips
2-1. Introduction to M3 and M4
Apple has announced the M4 chip, the successor to the M3 chip. The M3 chip is currently used in a variety of Macs and iPads, and it represented a significant leap above the M2 chip. The M4 chip is intended to build on the success of the M3 with incremental improvements in efficiency and AI capabilities.
2-2. Current Devices Utilizing M3
The M3 chip is found in the 14-inch MacBook Pro, 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air, and 24-inch iMac. Unlike the M4, the M3 chip has not been used in any iPad models. The new iPad Air and the previous-generation iPad Pro utilize the M2 chip, while the iPad and iPad mini use the A14 and A15 chips, respectively.
2-3. Current Devices Utilizing M4
As of now, the M4 chip is only present in the 2024 iPad Pro. This device offers different configurations of the M4, varying in memory and storage capacities. The M4 iPad Pro with 256GB or 512GB of storage includes three high-performance CPU cores and six efficiency cores, while the 1TB and 2TB models come with four high-performance CPU cores and six efficiency cores.
3. Technical Specifications and Differences
3-1. Manufacturing Processes: 3nm vs 3nm
Both the M3 and M4 chips are manufactured using a 3nm process. This is a noted continuation from the M2, which utilized a 5nm process. The 3nm process in M4 is a second-generation variant which provides enhanced efficiency and output within the same process node.
3-2. CPU Core Configurations
The M3 chip features an 8-core CPU with four performance cores and four efficiency cores. In comparison, the M4 chip offers two configurations: one with a 9-core CPU (three performance cores and six efficiency cores), and another with a 10-core CPU (four performance cores and six efficiency cores). This illustrates an additional step-up in the CPU core count between the base and high-end versions of the M4 chip, thus indicating a nuanced improvement in processing power.
3-3. GPU and Neural Engine Capabilities
The M3 comes with either an 8-core or 10-core GPU and a 16-core Neural Engine. The M4, however, has a standardized 10-core GPU and likewise retains a 16-core Neural Engine. The Neural Engine in M4 can perform up to 38 trillion operations per second (TOPS), compared to 18 TOPS in M3. This improvement in AI processing speed indicates substantial gains in AI-driven tasks, even though the effective performance difference is reduced when benchmarked under consistent precision measurements.
3-4. Transistors and Memory Bandwidth
The M4 contains 28 billion transistors, an increase from the M3's 25 billion. Additionally, the memory bandwidth has been enhanced from 100Gbps in the M3 to 120Gbps in the M4. These advancements facilitate higher data throughput and overall processing capability, translating into more efficient performance during complex computational tasks.
3-5. New Features in M4: Display Engine and Efficiency Improvements
The M4 introduces a new dedicated display engine, which was not present in the M3 chip or its predecessors. This engine enhances the OLED display capabilities of the latest iPad Pro, offering superior precision, color accuracy, and brightness uniformity. M4 also brings integrated technologies such as Dynamic Caching, mesh shading, and hardware-accelerated ray tracing, which improve graphical performance and overall system efficiency.
4. Performance Assessments
4-1. Benchmarks and Comparisons
As of now, detailed benchmarks comparing the M4 chip with its predecessor, the M3, are limited. Apple’s marketing materials compare the M4 primarily with the M2 chip, leaving a direct M3 vs. M4 comparison scarce. However, the M4 has been benchmarked on Geekbench, scoring 9,234 in machine learning capabilities, which is about 23% higher than the M2 and around 10% better than the M3. This indicates incremental improvements rather than substantial gains.
4-2. Real-World Performance
Real-world performance assessments between the M4 and M3 chips remain inconclusive due to the limited availability of M4-equipped devices for testing. The M4 iPad Pro has been subject to synthetic benchmarks rather than practical usage tests. Furthermore, performance variations can be influenced by different configurations of the M4 chip that come with varying numbers of CPU cores and RAM tied to storage capacities.
4-3. Effect of Cooling in Devices
Differences in cooling mechanisms between devices significantly impact the performance of the M3 and M4 chips. For example, MacBooks have active cooling systems that enhance performance compared to the passively cooled iPad Pro and MacBook Air. The increased internal space in MacBooks also aids in better heat dissipation, further contributing to performance differences.
4-4. Dynamic Caching and Ray Tracing
The M4 chip, like its predecessor the M3, features Dynamic Caching, mesh shading, and hardware-accelerated ray tracing. These functions, which were absent in the M2 chip, enhance graphical processing and efficiency. However, these features are not new to users familiar with the M3; they are now available in the M4-equipped iPad Pro.
5. AI Capabilities
5-1. Neural Engine: Operations per Second (TOPS)
The Neural Engine in Apple's latest M4 chip can perform 38 trillion operations per second (TOPS). This marks a significant boost from its predecessors, with the M2 able to reach 15.8 TOPS and the M3 hitting 18 TOPS. However, the apparent massive increase from the M3 to the M4 is primarily when using the INT8 data type. When equalized, the difference is closer to 5% in favor of the M4.
5-2. Comparison of AI Processing Power
The M4 chip includes a 16-core Neural Engine, maintaining the same core count as the M3 but providing a leap in overall AI processing capabilities. The M4 is also equipped with 28 billion transistors and a memory bandwidth of 120Gbps, up from 25 billion transistors and 100Gbps in the M3. The enhancements also include improvements in efficiency and output due to the second-generation 3nm process technology.
5-3. AI Features: Dynamic Caching, Mesh Shading, Ray Tracing
The M4 chip continues to support Dynamic Caching, mesh shading, and hardware-accelerated ray tracing, enhancements that were introduced with the M3 series. These features facilitate real-time memory allocation for better GPU utilization, realistic shadows and reflections in graphical rendering, and improved performance in high-demand applications and games.
5-4. Applications of AI in iOS and iPadOS
The AI capabilities of the M4 chip enable advanced features in iOS and iPadOS. Examples include Live Captions for real-time audio transcriptions, Visual Look Up for identifying objects in images and videos, and enhanced AI processing for apps like Final Cut Pro and StaffPad, which benefit from capabilities such as background isolation in 4K videos and real-time musical notation creation.
6. Market Availability and Pricing
6-1. Device-Specific Configurations
As of the latest updates, the M4 chip is currently only found in the 2024 iPad Pro, with several configurations based on memory and storage. The M4 chip is expected to appear in the 14-inch MacBook Pro, both sizes of the MacBook Air, the iMac, and the Mac mini by late 2024, with the MacBook Air following in spring 2025. In contrast, the M3 chip is already available in the 14-inch MacBook Pro, the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air, and the 24-inch iMac.
6-2. Pricing Strategy
Apple's pricing strategy for the new M4 chip devices highlights a clear distinction between different storage capacities and their accompanying performance enhancements. For instance, the iPad Pro models with 256GB or 512GB of storage come with an M4 version that includes three high-performance CPU cores and six efficiency cores. On the other hand, the 1TB and 2TB models are equipped with M4 chips that have all four high-performance CPU cores enabled. This stratification is a shift from the more flexible build-to-order configurations traditionally seen with Macs.
6-3. RAM and Storage Correlation
There is a significant correlation between RAM and storage capacities in the new M4 chip devices. The 256GB and 512GB iPad Pro models are equipped with 8GB of RAM, while the 1TB and 2TB models come with 16GB of RAM. This linkage between storage capacity and RAM is a newer approach compared to previous generations, where the RAM differentiation was primarily seen in models like the 2018 iPad Pro with the Apple A12X chip.
6-4. Market Positioning
The market positioning of the M4 chip emphasizes incremental performance improvements over the M3 chip. Both chips utilize a 3nm manufacturing process; however, the M4 is a second-generation 3nm chip, providing slight enhancements in efficiency and output. The M4 features a 9-core or 10-core CPU, a 10-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine, positioned as a more efficient and incrementally more powerful option compared to the M3. Nevertheless, real-world performance differences may be subtle, especially since the iPad Pro (M4) comparisons to previous generations are not directly analogous due to varying device designs and cooling mechanisms.
7. Glossary
7-1. M3 Chip [Technology]
The M3 chip is an advanced SoC by Apple, built on a 3nm manufacturing process. It features an 8-core CPU, up to a 10-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine. It is known for significant performance and efficiency improvements over the M2 chip.
7-2. M4 Chip [Technology]
The M4 chip, also built on a 3nm process, includes upgrades like a second-generation 3nm manufacturing process, an up to 10-core CPU, a new display engine, and enhanced AI capabilities. It offers incremental performance improvements over the M3, with specific enhancements in efficiency and AI processing.
7-3. Neural Engine [Technology]
The Neural Engine is a component of Apple's SoCs designed to accelerate machine learning and AI processes. In the M4, it can perform up to 38 trillion operations per second, making it significantly more powerful than previous generations.
7-4. Dynamic Caching [Technology]
Dynamic Caching is a feature in the M4 chip's GPU architecture, allowing for real-time allocation of local memory. This significantly boosts performance for high-demand applications and games.