Today, AMD took the wraps off its latest innovation for laptops, the Ryzen AI Max chip. This powerhouse promises substantial performance leaps over its predecessors. When AMD put the Ryzen AI Max head-to-head with Apple’s M4 lineup in various tests, one thing stood out: the absence of a direct comparison with Apple’s top-tier M4 Max variant. Apple’s lineup, notably strengthened by the M4 Max variant, came into play alongside the newest 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, showcasing significant upgrades in both computational and graphical capabilities.
In an intriguing move, AMD omitted direct competitive analysis between its Ryzen AI Max and Apple’s M4 Max. Why? Let’s delve into that. AMD’s latest chip, Ryzen AI Max, is a robust 16-core contender with a strong emphasis on graphics and artificial intelligence. It’s being touted as the ideal choice for content creators and gamers in need of high-octane performance. In their demonstrations, AMD measured up their chip against Apple’s M4 and M4 Pro found in the latest MacBook Pros.
What raises eyebrows is AMD’s decision to juxtapose their 16-core marvel solely against the M4 Pro—a chip with a 14-core CPU. Claiming an 86 percent upper hand in v-ray renders, AMD sparked conversation across the board. Paul Alcorn of Tom’s Guide sheds some light on this:
“AMD included multiple rendering tests pitting its 16-core leader against Apple’s 12-core M4 Pro, touting up to an 86% edge. The 14-core M4 Pro, also participating, maintains competitiveness. Nonetheless, AMD retains a solid lead in benchmark arenas like Blender, Corona, and v-ray. However, Ryzen AI Max+ falls slightly short in the multi-threaded Cinebench 2024 challenge, edging out the 12-core M4 Pro by just 2% and lagging the 14-core M4 Pro by 3%.”
Crucially, what’s missing is any mention of Apple’s M4 Max. The assumption is that the M4 Pro’s competitiveness against the Ryzen AI Max already paints a clear picture, given its 14 CPU cores and 20 GPU cores. Apple’s M4 offers a 12-core CPU with a 10-core GPU in contrast. The M4 Max boasts the highest core count in the lineup, and here lies AMD’s reluctance for a comparison.
If pitted against the Ryzen AI Max, the M4 Max—with its 16-core CPU and up to 40-core GPU—would likely outrun AMD’s offering in benchmarking tests. The struggle of AMD’s chip to surpass the M4 Pro highlights why a matchup with the M4 Max would likely be unfavorable. Opting to showcase comparisons with a mid-tier Apple model seems strategic to maintain a favorable impression. Although, it’s undeniable that in specific scenarios, the Ryzen AI Max does outperform parts of Apple’s lineup. How this translates to everyday use remains to be seen.
The Ryzen AI Max undeniably marks a leap forward for AMD, though weighing it directly against Apple’s chips is akin to comparing apples and, well—AMD’s oranges. As the tech world eagerly anticipates Apple’s rumored M4 Ultra’s late-year debut, which promises a game-changing performance, AMD’s current showcase is merely an opening act. Let’s not forget Apple’s planned advancements in 2nm chip technology, poised to push efficiency and performance even further. So, did AMD construct a fair comparison with its Ryzen AI Max against Apple’s M4 and M4 Pro chips? What do you think?
