Apple M3 Ultra (512GB) vs Apple M2 Ultra (192GB)
Side-by-side local AI comparison: VRAM, memory bandwidth, model compatibility, and estimated tokens per second across 110 open-weight models.
Quick verdict
Apple M3 Ultra (512GB) wins for local AI inference. It has 320 GB more VRAM and 2.4% more memory bandwidth, runs 103 models natively (vs 90), and exclusively fits 13 models the other cannot.
Specs comparison
| Spec | Apple M3 Ultra (512GB) | Apple M2 Ultra (192GB) |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM | 512 GB unified | 192 GB unified |
| Memory type | LPDDR5X | LPDDR5 |
| Bandwidth | 819 GB/s(+2%) | 800 GB/s |
| CPU cores | 32 (24P + 8E) | 24 (16P + 8E) |
| Architecture | Apple M3 Ultra | Apple M2 Ultra |
| Backend | METAL | METAL |
| Tier | Workstation | Workstation |
| Released | 2025 | 2023 |
| Models (native) | 103 | 90 |
Estimated tokens per second
Computed from memory bandwidth and model active-parameter weight. Assumes model fits natively in VRAM.
| Model | Apple M3 Ultra (512GB) | Apple M2 Ultra (192GB) | Delta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Llama 3.3 70B Instruct(70B) | 4.6 t/s(BF16) | 4.5 t/s(BF16) | +2% |
| Qwen 3.6 27B(27B) | 12 t/s(BF16) | 11.7 t/s(BF16) | +3% |
| Llama 3.1 8B Instruct(8B) | 38.4 t/s(BF16) | 37.5 t/s(BF16) | +2% |
| Qwen 2.5 7B Instruct(7.6B) | 41.8 t/s(BF16) | 40.8 t/s(BF16) | +2% |
Delta is Apple M3 Ultra (512GB) relative to Apple M2 Ultra (192GB), compared at the highest quantization that fits natively on both cards.
Only Apple M3 Ultra (512GB) can run(13)
- MiMo V2.5 Pro1020B
- Kimi K2.61000B
- Kimi K2.51000B
- Inkling975B
- Muse Spark Open 816B-A42B820B
- GLM-5.1 754B754B
- GLM-5.2 753B753B
- GLM-5.3 753B753B
- GLM-5 744B744B
- DeepSeek V3 671B671B
- DeepSeek R1 671B671B
- Nemotron 3 Ultra 550B-A55B550B
- +1 more
Only Apple M2 Ultra (192GB) can run(0)
No exclusive models: Apple M3 Ultra (512GB) can run everything Apple M2 Ultra (192GB) can.
Both run natively(90)
These models fit in VRAM on both GPUs. Bandwidth determines which runs them faster.
- MiniMax M323 t/svs35.1 t/s
- Llama 3.1 405B Instruct1.5 t/svs4 t/s
- Llama 4 Maverick 400B16.6 t/svs23.4 t/s
- Ornith 1.5 397B (MoE)27.5 t/svs45.6 t/s
- GLM-4.7 358B13 t/svs22.7 t/s
- GLM-4.5 355B13 t/svs22.7 t/s
- GLM-4.6 355B13 t/svs22.7 t/s
- GLM-5.3-Flash 320B25.4 t/svs42.2 t/s
- DeepSeek V4 Flash 284B32.6 t/svs51.7 t/s
- DeepSeek V4 Flash 0731 284B47.9 t/svs47.3 t/s
- Qwen3 235B-A22B (MoE)17 t/svs22.7 t/s
- MiniMax M2.5 229B30.3 t/svs37.9 t/s
- MiniMax M2.7 229B30.3 t/svs37.9 t/s
- Step 3.7 Flash21.8 t/svs37.9 t/s
- Step 3.5 Flash21.8 t/svs37.9 t/s
- Qwen3.8-Flash-Next34.3 t/svs53.8 t/s
- +74 more on both
Which should you choose?
Choose Apple M3 Ultra (512GB) if:
- • You need to run larger models (>192 GB VRAM)
- • Faster token generation is the priority
- • You want the newer architecture and longer driver support lifecycle
Choose Apple M2 Ultra (192GB) if:
- • Price or availability decides it: Apple M2 Ultra (192GB) has no VRAM, bandwidth or backend advantage over Apple M3 Ultra (512GB)
Frequently asked questions
- Which is better for local AI, the Apple M3 Ultra (512GB) or Apple M2 Ultra (192GB)?
- For local AI inference, the Apple M3 Ultra (512GB) has the edge. It offers 512 GB VRAM (vs 192 GB) and 819 GB/s bandwidth (vs 800 GB/s), letting it run 103 models natively in VRAM vs 90 for its rival.
- How much VRAM does the Apple M3 Ultra (512GB) have vs the Apple M2 Ultra (192GB)?
- The Apple M3 Ultra (512GB) has 512 GB of LPDDR5X at 819 GB/s. The Apple M2 Ultra (192GB) has 192 GB of LPDDR5 at 800 GB/s. The Apple M3 Ultra (512GB) has 320 GB more VRAM, allowing it to run 13 models the Apple M2 Ultra (192GB) cannot fit natively.
- Can the Apple M3 Ultra (512GB) run Llama 3.3 70B?
- Yes. The Apple M3 Ultra (512GB) runs Llama 3.3 70B natively at BF16 quantization at approximately 4.6 tokens per second.
- Can the Apple M2 Ultra (192GB) run Llama 3.3 70B?
- Yes. The Apple M2 Ultra (192GB) runs Llama 3.3 70B natively at BF16 quantization at approximately 4.5 tokens per second.
- What is the difference between the Apple M3 Ultra (512GB) and Apple M2 Ultra (192GB) for AI?
- The key difference for AI inference is VRAM and memory bandwidth. The Apple M3 Ultra (512GB) has 512 GB VRAM at 819 GB/s (METAL backend). The Apple M2 Ultra (192GB) has 192 GB VRAM at 800 GB/s (METAL backend). VRAM determines which models fit; bandwidth determines tokens per second. The Apple M3 Ultra (512GB) runs 103 models natively vs 90 for the Apple M2 Ultra (192GB).