Apple

Apple M2 Max 38-Core GPU

Expert rating7.8 / 10

GPU Brand:: Apple
Tier:: Integrated (full config)
GPU Cores:: 38
Process Node:: 5nm enhanced (TSMC N5P)
Memory Type:: Unified
Max Unified Memory:: 96GB
Memory Bandwidth:: 400GB/s
PC-Installable:: No

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Manufacturer: Apple Last updated: September 12, 2026

Apple M2 Max 38-Core GPU Review

The Apple M2 Max 38-core GPU is the top graphics configuration of the M2 Max chip, delivering 38 GPU cores, up to 96GB of unified memory, and 400GB/s bandwidth on an enhanced 5nm process, found in the top-spec early-2023 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro.

The M2 Max was Apple's second GPU generation to hit a 400GB/s memory ceiling, and the 38-core variant is the fullest expression of that chip, one CPU-core and GPU-core notch below nothing, it's the maximum config Apple sold. It's easy to mix up with the 30-core M2 Max sold in mid-tier configurations of the same laptop generation; that variant loses eight GPU cores and part of the CPU cluster, a real difference for anyone doing GPU-bound rendering rather than everyday editing.

Apple's Second-Generation 400GB/s Chip

The M2 Max carried forward the 400GB/s memory architecture Apple introduced with the original M1 Max, refined on an enhanced 5nm node, and the 38-core configuration is the version Apple reserved for its priciest early-2023 MacBook Pro builds.

Comparison to Alternatives

Against the Apple M3 Max 40-Core GPU covered elsewhere in this catalog, the M3 Max moves to a smaller 3nm process and edges out this chip on both core count and real-world efficiency, making it the better buy where price parity allows. Against the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop GPU, the M2 Max is not competitive in native Windows gaming, but in Metal-native professional software such as Adobe Premiere Pro or Cinema 4D, it holds up well while using dramatically less power under sustained load.

Our verdict

Reviewed by Burooj Alam. Rated by us, not by users.

Expert rating7.8 / 10

A genuinely capable professional laptop GPU that has aged well for Metal-native creative work, superseded but not embarrassed by the M3 and M4 Max chips that followed it.

Best for

Video editors and motion graphics artists working natively in Final Cut Pro or Motion.
3D rendering and CAD workloads in Metal-accelerated applications that benefit from a large unified memory pool.
Machine learning practitioners running local models that need memory bandwidth beyond what the M2 Pro tier offers.

Not for

Native Windows PC gaming, where this chip cannot match a comparable discrete laptop GPU's frame rates.
CUDA-locked workloads, since Apple Silicon has no CUDA support at all.
Buyers on a tighter budget who don't need the full 38-core configuration; the 30-core M2 Max variant costs less.

Specifications

What these specs mean

Identity and type

Product Type	SoC GPU
GPU Brand	Apple
GPU Model	M2 Max 38-Core GPU
Series	Apple Silicon
Tier	High End

Performance

Memory Type	Unified LPDDR5
Ray Tracing Support	No

Silicon

Architecture	Apple Silicon
Process Node	5nm enhanced (TSMC N5P)

Memory

Memory Bandwidth	400 GB/s

Power

Power Connector	None

Host interface

PCIe Generation	Not Applicable

FAQs

What are the key specifications of the Apple M2 Max 38-Core GPU (Integrated Graphics/Apple Silicon 5nm/38-Core GPU/Up to 96GB Unified Memory/Not PC-Installable)?

Key specs for the Apple M2 Max 38-Core GPU: Memory Bandwidth 400 GB/s, GPU Apple M2 Max (integrated, full config), Process Node 5nm enhanced (TSMC N5P), Paired CPU Config 12-core CPU (8P+4E), Memory Type Unified LPDDR5, Max Unified Memory 96GB.

Who is the Apple M2 Max 38-Core GPU (Integrated Graphics/Apple Silicon 5nm/38-Core GPU/Up to 96GB Unified Memory/Not PC-Installable) best suited to?

Best suited to: Video editors and motion graphics artists working natively in Final Cut Pro or Motion; 3D rendering and CAD workloads in Metal-accelerated applications that benefit from a large unified memory pool; Machine learning practitioners running local models that need memory bandwidth beyond what the M2 Pro tier offers.

What are the drawbacks of the Apple M2 Max 38-Core GPU (Integrated Graphics/Apple Silicon 5nm/38-Core GPU/Up to 96GB Unified Memory/Not PC-Installable)?

Not the best fit for: Native Windows PC gaming, where this chip cannot match a comparable discrete laptop GPU's frame rates; CUDA-locked workloads, since Apple Silicon has no CUDA support at all; Buyers on a tighter budget who don't need the full 38-core configuration; the 30-core M2 Max variant costs less.