Following the success of the M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max, Apple is preparing to unveil a series of superior 3nm chipsets. The upcoming M3 Ultra is expected to be Apple’s most powerful offering yet, ushering in a new age of bespoke chipsets. While recent reports indicate that the desktop-based Apple Silicon is still in development, speculations point to a game-changing 80-core GPU that will establish a new bar for the tech giant.
Despite the high expectations, a comparison between the M2 Ultra and the rumored M3 Ultra reveals a subtle difference in GPU core count. The current flagship M2 Ultra boasts a 76-core GPU, making the potential 80-core version of the M3 Ultra a marginal upgrade.
The M3 Max, on the other hand, provides a unique customisation option, enabling users to spend a $500 more for a 16-core or a 40-core GPU. The M3 Ultra, with an 80-core GPU, would practically quadruple the GPU cores compared to Apple’s current flagship 3nm SoC.
According to insights shared by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the M3 Ultra might boast a 32-core CPU alongside the formidable 80-core GPU, coupled with an impressive 256GB of unified RAM. This potential configuration positions the M3 Ultra as a powerhouse in the realm of Mac chips, promising unparalleled performance for users.
Gurman speculates that Apple’s decision to cap the GPU cores at 80 may be influenced by the capabilities already demonstrated by the M3 Max. The 16-core GPU version of the M3 Max outperforms the M2 Ultra in Geekbench 6’s multi-core test and closely rivals a laptop RTX 4080 in GFXBench. Leveraging Apple’s innovative ‘UltraFusion’ process, which combines two M3 Max dies to create a single M3 Ultra, this chipset promises exceptional performance gains without resorting to an excess of GPU cores.
However, it’s important to approach these reports with caution, as the new Apple Silicon—including the M3 Ultra—is still in testing and hasn’t been made available to the general public. The anticipated positive news about the M3 Ultra is expected to surface next year when it is developed for the updated Mac Studio and Mac Pro models. Until then, the true performance of this unreleased chipset remains speculative, and enthusiasts eagerly await its official debut.
