Apple M4 Max (128GB) vs Apple M3 Ultra (96GB)
Side-by-side local AI comparison — VRAM, memory bandwidth, model compatibility, and estimated tokens per second across 84 open-weight models.
Quick verdict
Apple M4 Max (128GB) wins for local AI inference. It has 32 GB more VRAM and -33% more memory bandwidth, runs 64 models natively (vs 61), and exclusively fits 3 models the other cannot.
Analysis
There is no "M4 Ultra." When Apple refreshed the Mac Studio in March 2025, it paired the new M4 Max with the previous-generation M3 Ultra instead of a new Ultra-tier chip — M4 Max's die physically lacks the UltraFusion connector needed to fuse two dies together, the trick Apple has used to build every Ultra chip since the M1 generation. That leaves these two as the real, current Mac Studio choice: the newer M4 Max at its largest 128 GB configuration, versus the older but structurally larger M3 Ultra at its base 96 GB.
Despite being the newer chip, the M4 Max's 546 GB/s of memory bandwidth trails the M3 Ultra's 819 GB/s by a real margin — the Ultra's dual-die UltraFusion design outruns even the fastest single-die Max chip Apple has ever shipped. Since LLM decode is bandwidth-bound, the M3 Ultra generates tokens roughly 50% faster than the M4 Max on any model both fit. The M4 Max counters with more capacity at its top configuration — 128 GB versus the M3 Ultra's base 96 GB — and a full generation newer CPU/GPU architecture with better efficiency and ray tracing support. Pricing overlaps: the 128 GB M4 Max Mac Studio runs around $3,699, close to the 96 GB M3 Ultra's $3,999 starting price, though the M3 Ultra can be configured well past 96 GB if more capacity matters more than the price gap.
Bottom line: If raw decode speed matters most and 96 GB covers your models, the M3 Ultra is the faster chip despite its older CPU architecture — a genuine case where "previous generation" doesn't mean "slower" once UltraFusion is factored in. If you need the extra headroom of 128 GB, or want the newest architecture in a MacBook Pro rather than only a Mac Studio, the M4 Max is the better fit. Either way, there's no M4 Ultra to wait for at this chip generation — Apple confirmed the Ultra tier stayed on M3 for this cycle.
Specs comparison
| Spec | Apple M4 Max (128GB) | Apple M3 Ultra (96GB) |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM | 128 GB unified | 96 GB unified |
| Memory type | LPDDR5X | LPDDR5X |
| Bandwidth | 546 GB/s | 819 GB/s(+50%) |
| CPU cores | 16 (12P + 4E) | 28 (20P + 8E) |
| Architecture | Apple M4 Max | Apple M3 Ultra |
| Backend | METAL | METAL |
| Tier | Laptop | Workstation |
| Released | 2024 | 2025 |
| Models (native) | 64 | 61 |
Estimated tokens per second
Computed from memory bandwidth and model active-parameter weight. Assumes model fits natively in VRAM.
| Model | Apple M4 Max (128GB) | Apple M3 Ultra (96GB) | Delta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Llama 3.3 70B Instruct(70B) | 5.7 t/s(Q8_0) | 8.5 t/s(Q8_0) | -33% |
| Qwen 3.6 27B(27B) | 8 t/s(BF16) | 12 t/s(BF16) | -33% |
| Llama 3.1 8B Instruct(8B) | 13.2 t/s(FP32) | 19.8 t/s(FP32) | -33% |
| Qwen 2.5 7B Instruct(7.6B) | 14.1 t/s(FP32) | 21.2 t/s(FP32) | -33% |
Delta is Apple M4 Max (128GB) relative to Apple M3 Ultra (96GB).
Only Apple M4 Max (128GB) can run(3)
Only Apple M3 Ultra (96GB) can run(0)
No exclusive models — Apple M4 Max (128GB) can run everything Apple M3 Ultra (96GB) can.
Both run natively(61)
These models fit in VRAM on both GPUs. Bandwidth determines which runs them faster.
- Step 3.7 Flash22.8 t/svs42.3 t/s
- Step 3.5 Flash22.8 t/svs42.3 t/s
- Mixtral 8x22B Instruct v0.14.6 t/svs10.2 t/s
- Mistral Medium 3.5 128B4.6 t/svs10.2 t/s
- Qwen 3.5 122B-A10B (MoE)14.8 t/svs29.2 t/s
- Nemotron 3 Super 120B13 t/svs26.1 t/s
- GPT-OSS 120B30.6 t/svs61.5 t/s
- Llama 4 Scout 109B8.9 t/svs17.6 t/s
- GLM-4.5 Air 106B12.7 t/svs21.8 t/s
- GLM-4.6V 106B12.7 t/svs21.8 t/s
- Qwen 2.5 72B Instruct5.5 t/svs10.6 t/s
- Llama 3.3 70B Instruct5.7 t/svs8.5 t/s
- DeepSeek R1 Distill Llama 70B5.7 t/svs8.5 t/s
- Llama 3.1 70B Instruct5.7 t/svs8.5 t/s
- Mixtral 8x7B Instruct v0.15 t/svs14 t/s
- Command-R 35B5.4 t/svs13.7 t/s
- +45 more on both
Which should you choose?
- • You need to run larger models (>96 GB VRAM)
- • Faster token generation is the priority
- • You want the newer architecture and longer driver support lifecycle
Frequently asked questions
- Which is better for local AI, the Apple M4 Max (128GB) or Apple M3 Ultra (96GB)?
- For local AI inference, the Apple M4 Max (128GB) has the edge. It offers 128 GB VRAM (vs 96 GB) and 546 GB/s bandwidth (vs 819 GB/s), letting it run 64 models natively in VRAM vs 61 for its rival.
- How much VRAM does the Apple M4 Max (128GB) have vs the Apple M3 Ultra (96GB)?
- The Apple M4 Max (128GB) has 128 GB of LPDDR5X at 546 GB/s. The Apple M3 Ultra (96GB) has 96 GB of LPDDR5X at 819 GB/s. The Apple M4 Max (128GB) has 32 GB more VRAM, allowing it to run 3 models the Apple M3 Ultra (96GB) cannot fit natively.
- Can the Apple M4 Max (128GB) run Llama 3.3 70B?
- Yes. The Apple M4 Max (128GB) runs Llama 3.3 70B natively at Q8_0 quantization at approximately 5.7 tokens per second.
- Can the Apple M3 Ultra (96GB) run Llama 3.3 70B?
- Yes. The Apple M3 Ultra (96GB) runs Llama 3.3 70B natively at Q8_0 quantization at approximately 8.5 tokens per second.
- What is the difference between the Apple M4 Max (128GB) and Apple M3 Ultra (96GB) for AI?
- The key difference for AI inference is VRAM and memory bandwidth. The Apple M4 Max (128GB) has 128 GB VRAM at 546 GB/s (METAL backend). The Apple M3 Ultra (96GB) has 96 GB VRAM at 819 GB/s (METAL backend). VRAM determines which models fit; bandwidth determines tokens per second. The Apple M4 Max (128GB) runs 64 models natively vs 61 for the Apple M3 Ultra (96GB).