CPU Comparison
AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 vs Apple M4 Pro
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 is a flagship mobile processor featuring a 12-core Zen 5 hybrid architecture, integrated Radeon 890M graphics, and a 50 TOPS NPU, designed for premium laptops and mobile workstations.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Gaming
Virtualization
Efficiency
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- 50 TOPS NPU meets Copilot+ PC requirements.
- Can run 7B to 13B parameter LLMs locally.
- Hardware-accelerated AI noise cancellation and background blur.
- 16‑core Neural Engine up to 38 TOPS INT8 across M4 family.
- CPU ML accelerators and GPU compute are suitable for on‑device inference and moderate LLM workloads.
- Larger LLMs still limited by unified memory size and lack of dedicated high‑bandwidth HBM.
Content Creation
Gaming
- Fastest integrated GPU available.
- Capable of playing AAA titles at 1080p Medium or High.
- Supports AMD FSR and Fluid Motion Frames for enhanced frame rates.
- 20‑core GPU is significantly faster than previous M3 Pro GPU.
- Hardware ray tracing and mesh shading improve modern API support.
- Most AAA games still run via emulation; performance and compatibility vary.
- Native Apple‑silicon titles can approach mid‑range discrete laptop GPU levels.
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- Industry-leading integrated graphics (Radeon 890M).
- Powerful 12-core 24-thread CPU.
- 50 TOPS NPU for future-proof AI capabilities.
- Excellent performance-per-watt.
- Supports LPDDR5X-8533.
Cons
- Cannot be purchased standalone (BGA soldered).
- Laptops featuring this chip are expensive.
- Marginal upgrade over the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370.
- PCIe 4.0 only.
- High peak power draw can thermally throttle in thin chassis.
Pros
- Very high single‑threaded and multi‑threaded CPU performance.
- Up to 20‑core GPU with hardware ray tracing.
- High memory bandwidth (273 GB/s) for unified memory.
- Excellent performance per watt; long battery life in MacBook Pros.
- Tight integration with macOS and pro app ecosystem.
- Thunderbolt 5 support on M4 Pro/Max MacBook Pros.
Cons
- Soldered, non‑upgradeable RAM and storage.
- Limited x86 Windows game compatibility without emulation.
- No official overclocking support.
- Maximum 64 GB unified memory may limit very large models.
- Entirely dependent on Apple’s repair and upgrade ecosystem.
Competitors & Alternatives
AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470
- Intel Core Ultra 9 288VRival
Premium Mobile
- Compare head-to-headApple M4 ProRival
Premium Mobile
- Qualcomm Snapdragon X EliteRival
AI PC
- Intel Core Ultra 9 185HRival
High-End Mobile
- Compare head-to-headApple M3 MaxRival
Mobile Workstation
- AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370Alt
Previous generation with near-identical performance; often found in discounted laptops.
- AMD Ryzen 9 8945HSAlt
Older architecture but still powerful for gaming if AI features are not a priority.
- Alt
Better efficiency and single-core speed in the Mac ecosystem.
Compare head-to-head - AMD Ryzen 7 8845HSAlt
Budget-friendly alternative for mid-range gaming laptops.
Apple M4 Pro
- AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370Rival
High‑End Mobile
- Intel Core Ultra 9 288VRival
High‑End Mobile
- Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite ExtremeRival
High‑End ARM Laptop
- AMD Ryzen 9 8945HXRival
High‑End Mobile
- Intel Core Ultra 9 275HXRival
High‑End Mobile
- Apple M4 MaxAlt
More GPU cores and higher memory bandwidth for heavier GPU workloads.
- Alt
Lower cost and sufficient for many users who don’t need the extra CPU/GPU headroom.
Compare head-to-head - Alt
Older but often discounted; still strong for many pro workloads.
Compare head-to-head - AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 laptopAlt
Better x86 Windows compatibility and often stronger gaming performance.
- Intel Core Ultra 9 288V laptopAlt
Good Windows alternative with strong single‑threaded performance and x86 compatibility.
Our Verdict on Each
The Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 is AMD's top-tier mobile APU, offering the best integrated graphics and multi-threaded performance in the laptop segment, though it commands a premium price.
Best for: Buying a premium ultraportable or creator laptop where you need the best possible integrated graphics and AI performance without sacrificing battery life.
Read the full reviewA very efficient, high‑performance pro SoC that pushes single‑threaded and multi‑threaded CPU performance while retaining excellent battery life and strong integrated graphics, though it is soldered and locked to Apple’s ecosystem.
Best for: Professionals and advanced creators who need a power‑efficient laptop with strong CPU and GPU performance, long battery life, and macOS ecosystem.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 or Apple M4 Pro?
Based on our editorial ratings, the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 comes out ahead with a score of 9.2/10. That said, the best choice depends on your workload — check the spec and performance breakdown above for gaming, productivity and efficiency differences.
Which is faster for gaming, AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 or Apple M4 Pro?
For gaming, the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 leads with a gaming performance score of 88/100 among AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 and Apple M4 Pro.
Which uses less power?
The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 (54 W).
Do AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 and Apple M4 Pro use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470: FP8, Apple M4 Pro: On‑package (BGA)), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
Which has more cores?
The Apple M4 Pro has the most cores. Core counts: AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 (12 cores), Apple M4 Pro (14 cores).
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Apple M4 Pro posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Apple M4 Pro (0). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.