CPU Comparison
AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 485 vs Apple M4
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 485 is an 8-core, 16-thread Zen 5 APU for commercial AI PCs and mobile workstations, featuring a 16-CU RDNA 3.5 integrated GPU, an XDNA 2 NPU, and support for up to 192GB of unified LPDDR5X memory.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Gaming
Virtualization
Efficiency
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- Memory capacity is the primary bottleneck for AI; the 485 solves this with 192GB support.
- Can load massive LLMs that discrete GPUs simply cannot fit.
- NPU handles Copilot+ PC requirements efficiently.
- 16-core Neural Engine delivers up to 38 TOPS for on-device AI.
- Next-generation ML accelerators are integrated into both performance and efficiency CPU cores.
- Hardware-accelerated AI features in OS and apps (e.g., Live Captions, subject isolation) benefit from the NPU and unified memory bandwidth.
- Combined GPU and NPU resources make M4 well suited for client-side inference and media AI workloads.
Content Creation
Gaming
- 16 Compute Units provide basic graphical capability.
- Suitable for 1080p Low/Medium settings in e-sports titles.
- Not intended for high-fidelity gaming.
- Benefits from fast LPDDR5X memory bandwidth.
- The integrated GPU supports modern features like hardware ray tracing and mesh shading.
- On macOS, gaming performance is constrained by title availability and reliance on translation/emulation layers.
- Playability in AAA titles at 1080p is generally limited to low or medium settings on the base M4.
- M4 iPad Pro focuses more on high-end creative and pro apps than AAA gaming libraries.
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- Access to 192GB unified memory at the lowest price point in the lineup.
- Highly efficient 8-core Zen 5 CPU.
- XDNA 2 NPU with 50 TOPS performance.
- Enterprise-grade PRO manageability and security features.
- Lower thermal requirements compared to 12/16-core models.
Cons
- Only 8 CPU cores may bottleneck data processing tasks.
- 16-CU iGPU is weak for graphical workloads.
- Limited PCIe 4.0 lanes compared to desktop workstations.
- Locked multiplier restricts traditional overclocking.
- High system cost due to expensive LPDDR5X memory.
Pros
- Industry-leading performance-per-watt in thin-and-light devices.
- Strong single-core performance and fast responsiveness.
- 16-core Neural Engine with high TOPS for on-device AI.
- Hardware-accelerated ray tracing and mesh shading in the GPU.
- Media engine with AV1 decode for efficient streaming.
- Thunderbolt 4/USB 4 and high-bandwidth unified memory on Mac implementations.
- Fanless implementations (e.g., iPad Pro) stay cool and quiet under typical use.
Cons
- Apple does not publish clock speeds, TDP, or detailed cache specs.
- Unified memory is not expandable beyond the configured capacity at purchase.
- No traditional socket or user-accessible PCIe lanes for add-in cards.
- Gaming on macOS remains constrained by software compatibility.
- Some configurations implement fewer CPU or GPU cores (e.g., 8- or 9-core CPU variants).
Competitors & Alternatives
AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 485
- Compare head-to-headApple M4 ProRival
Mobile Workstation
- Intel Core Ultra 7 265HRival
Mobile AI PC
- Qualcomm Snapdragon X EliteRival
Mobile AI PC
- Intel Core i7-1465URival
Commercial Mobile
- Compare head-to-headApple M4Rival
Premium Laptop
Choose the 490 if you need 12 CPU cores and a 32-CU GPU for heavier rendering tasks alongside the memory.
Compare head-to-head- Apple MacBook Pro with M4 ProAlt
Better CPU and GPU performance per dollar, but limited to a maximum of 48GB unified memory.
- High-end Laptop with RTX 4070Alt
Much better gaming and graphics performance, but limited to 16-32GB of VRAM.
- Desktop Workstation (Threadripper / Xeon)Alt
Better upgradeability and PCIe expansion if portability is not required.
- Cloud AI ComputeAlt
More cost-effective if you only need 192GB of memory for occasional tasks.
Apple M4
- Compare head-to-headApple M3Rival
SoC
- Compare head-to-headApple M4 ProRival
SoC
- Qualcomm Snapdragon X EliteRival
SoC
- AMD Ryzen AI 9 365Rival
Mobile CPU
- Intel Core Ultra 7 155HRival
Mobile CPU
Our Verdict on Each
A unique entry point into the 192GB unified memory ecosystem, offering essential AI and workstation capabilities in a more cost-effective and thermally efficient package than its higher-end siblings.
Best for: Developers or researchers who need to run large AI models locally on a budget, where memory capacity is more critical than CPU speed.
Read the full reviewThe M4 raises the bar for efficiency and single-thread performance while delivering stronger multi-core scaling and a much more capable Neural Engine. It is an excellent fit for iPad Pro and Mac users who want fast, cool, and quiet operation, but platform constraints on some devices and the absence of expandable memory/PCIe remain trade-offs.
Best for: Buying an iPad Pro for creative pro workflows, or a compact Mac (Mac mini/iMac) for efficient everyday performance and light-to-medium content creation.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is better, AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 485 or Apple M4?
Based on our editorial ratings, the Apple M4 comes out ahead with a score of 8.8/10. 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 Max PRO 485 or Apple M4?
For gaming, the AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 485 leads with a gaming performance score of 60/100 among AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 485 and Apple M4.
Which uses less power?
The AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 485 has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 485 (55 W).
Which has more cores?
The Apple M4 has the most cores. Core counts: AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 485 (8 cores), Apple M4 (10 cores).
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Apple M4 posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Apple M4 (0). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.