CPU Comparison
Apple M2 vs Apple M2 Pro
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Apple M2 is a second‑generation 5 nm ARM‑based system‑on‑chip for Macs, with an 8‑core CPU, up to a 10‑core GPU, 16‑core Neural Engine, and 100 GB/s unified memory bandwidth, designed for thin‑and‑light laptops and compact desktops.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Gaming
Virtualization
Efficiency
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- 16‑core Neural Engine at 15.8 TOPS
- Good for on‑device inference and Core ML workloads
- No large‑scale training focus; more for consumer features than datacenter AI
- 16‑core Neural Engine 提供约 15.8 TOPS INT8 算力，适合本地推理和轻量训练
- 没有专用的超大矩阵加速器，大规模训练仍需外接 GPU/云
- Core ML 和 ONNX 推理在 M2 Pro 上表现良好
Content Creation
Gaming
- Integrated 8–10 core GPU with up to 3.6 TFLOPS FP32
- Good for 1080p and some 1440p gaming at medium–high settings
- Limited by unified memory bandwidth and 8 CPU threads for CPU‑heavy titles
- Best experienced in macOS; Windows via virtualization or translation has overhead
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- Very strong single‑core performance for an ultrabook‑class chip
- Integrated 8–10 core GPU with up to 3.6 TFLOPS and hardware ProRes acceleration
- Unified memory architecture with 100 GB/s bandwidth simplifies development and avoids CPU–GPU copies
- 16‑core Neural Engine accelerates on‑device ML workloads
- Fanless designs in MacBook Air and very quiet operation under typical loads
Cons
- Not sold as a standalone CPU; only available inside Macs
- No user‑upgradable RAM or PCIe slots; I/O limited to what Apple provides
- Only 8 CPU threads; heavy multi‑threaded workloads are limited compared to higher‑core M2 Pro/Max or x86 chips
- CPU efficiency is slightly worse than M1 at maximum performance due to higher clocks and power
- Gaming performance is constrained by 8 threads and integrated GPU; not a gaming‑focused SoC
Pros
- Strong CPU performance per core and per watt
- Up to 19‑core integrated GPU with ProRes acceleration
- 200 GB/s unified memory with up to 32 GB capacity
- Excellent efficiency and battery life in MacBook Pro designs
- Hardware‑accelerated ProRes, HEVC, H.264 media engines
- Robust Thunderbolt 4 / USB4 connectivity
Cons
- Max unified memory limited to 32 GB
- No support for external discrete GPUs on Macs (only eGPU via Thunderbolt)
- No traditional PCIe slot or CPU socket – SoC is soldered and not user‑upgradable
- GPU still not competitive with high‑end discrete laptop GPUs for heavy 3D/ML
- Limited low‑level control over power and clocking compared to x86 platforms
Competitors & Alternatives
Apple M2
- AMD Ryzen 7 6800URival
Ultrabook
- Intel Core i7‑1260PRival
Ultrabook
- Intel Core i7‑1355URival
Ultrabook
- AMD Ryzen 7 7730URival
Ultrabook
- Compare head-to-headApple M1Rival
Ultrabook
- Alt
More CPU/GPU cores and higher memory bandwidth for heavier creator workloads.
Compare head-to-head - AMD Ryzen 7 7840UAlt
Stronger multi‑threaded performance and better x86 Windows compatibility in ultrabook form factors.
- Intel Core Ultra 7 155HAlt
Good balance of CPU and integrated GPU performance for Windows ultrabooks with NPU‑accelerated AI features.
- Alt
Newer architecture with higher performance and better efficiency if you are buying a new Mac in 2024+.
Compare head-to-head
Apple M2 Pro
- Intel Core i7‑13700HRival
High‑Performance Laptop CPU
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i9‑13900HRival
High‑Performance Laptop CPU
- AMD Ryzen 9 7940HSRival
High‑Performance Laptop CPU
- AMD Ryzen 9 7845HXRival
High‑Performance Laptop CPU
- Compare head-to-headApple M1 ProRival
Previous‑Gen Pro SoC
- Alt
If you need more GPU cores and up to 96 GB unified memory for heavy 3D or large models.
Compare head-to-head - Alt
Newer architecture with better efficiency and some architectural improvements, though with a different core mix.
Compare head-to-head - Intel Core i7‑13700H / i9‑13900H laptopAlt
For users who prefer x86 Windows laptops with strong multi‑core performance and more traditional PCIe layout.
- AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS / 7845HX laptopAlt
Good alternative in Windows laptops with high multi‑thread performance and more flexible memory/GPU options.
- Mac Studio (M1 Max / M2 Max)Alt
If you want a desktop form factor with more GPU performance and memory, and don’t need portability.
Our Verdict on Each
A very efficient, well‑balanced SoC that makes more sense inside a Mac than as a standalone chip; strong single‑core performance, capable integrated graphics, and excellent efficiency, but not a workstation‑class part.
Best for: You are buying a new or refurbished Mac laptop or desktop and want a significant step up from Intel‑based Macs or older M1 models, especially for single‑threaded tasks and GPU‑accelerated apps.
Read the full reviewM2 Pro delivers a meaningful generational leap over M1 Pro in CPU and GPU performance, with much better efficiency and media engines, making it one of the best choices for creators and developers who don’t need the full M2 Max.
Best for: Creators and developers who want a power‑efficient, high‑performance laptop or mini desktop with strong CPU/GPU and unified memory, but don’t need the extreme GPU or 64–96 GB memory of M2 Max.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Do Apple M2 and Apple M2 Pro use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Apple M2: On‑Package (BGA), Apple M2 Pro: BGA‑soldered (on‑board SoC)), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
Which has more cores?
The Apple M2 Pro has the most cores. Core counts: Apple M2 (8 cores), Apple M2 Pro (12 cores).
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Apple M2 Pro posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Apple M2 (9,800), Apple M2 Pro (11,500). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.