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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Apple M2 Pro is a system on a chip (SoC) designed for select Mac computers. It combines the processor, graphics, unified memory system, Neural Engine and media-encoding hardware. It is the name of the chip—not the name of a MacBook Pro or Mac mini.
What does M2 Pro mean?
Apple announced M2 Pro in January 2023 as a higher-capability chip in its M2 family. An SoC brings several computing components together on one chip platform. In an M2 Pro Mac, the CPU handles general computing tasks, the GPU handles graphics and parallel workloads, and the unified memory is shared by those processors rather than divided into separate system-memory and graphics-memory pools.
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M2 Pro is integrated into the computer. Apple’s announcement and specifications identify it in the 2023 MacBook Pro and Mac mini; they do not describe it as a standalone retail processor or a user-replaceable upgrade. Apple’s January 2023 announcement and its specifications for the 14-inch MacBook Pro, 16-inch MacBook Pro and Mac mini identify the relevant computers.
What are M2 Pro’s main specifications?
Apple described M2 Pro as built using a second-generation 5-nanometer process, with 40 billion transistors, up to a 12-core CPU, up to a 19-core GPU, up to 32GB of unified memory and 200GB/s of memory bandwidth. Those are the chip family’s announced maximums, not a guarantee that every M2 Pro Mac has the same configuration.
#1 Best Overall
- SUPERCHARGED BY M2 PRO OR M2 MAX — Take on demanding projects with the M2 Pro or M2 Max chip. M2 Pro has 12 CPU cores, 19 GPU cores, and up to 32GB unified memory. M2 Max has 12 CPU cores, up to 38 GPU cores, and up to 96GB unified memory.
- UP TO 22 HOURS OF BATTERY LIFE — Go all day thanks to the power-efficient design of the M2 Pro or M2 Max chip. And the MacBook Pro laptop delivers exceptional performance whether it’s running on battery or plugged in.
- FULLY COMPATIBLE — All your pro apps run lightning fast — including Adobe Creative Cloud, Xcode, Affinity Designer, Microsoft 365, and many of your favorite iPhone and iPad apps.
- ADVANCED CAMERA AND AUDIO — Look sharp and sound great with a 1080p FaceTime HD camera, a studio-quality three-mic array, and a six-speaker sound system with Spatial Audio.
- CONNECT WHAT YOU WANT — MacBook Pro features a MagSafe charging port, three Thunderbolt 4 ports, an SDXC card slot, an HDMI port, and a headphone jack. And enjoy seamless wireless connectivity with Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3.
- CPU: 10 cores (six performance and four efficiency cores) or 12 cores (eight performance and four efficiency cores), depending on configuration.
- GPU: up to 19 cores. The documented 14-inch MacBook Pro configurations include 16- or 19-core GPU options; the cited 16-inch listing specifies a 19-core GPU.
- Unified memory: up to 32GB, shared across the CPU and GPU.
- Memory bandwidth: 200GB/s.
- Neural Engine: 16 cores, listed in Apple’s 2023 MacBook Pro specifications.
- Media hardware: acceleration for H.264, HEVC, ProRes and ProRes RAW, listed in those MacBook Pro specifications.
For a particular computer, consult its own specifications: the chip’s available CPU and GPU core counts depend on the Mac configuration. Apple’s 14-inch MacBook Pro specifications, 16-inch MacBook Pro specifications and Mac mini specifications describe their respective configurations.
How does M2 Pro compare with M2 and M2 Max?
M2 Pro scales the M2 family for configurations with more CPU and GPU cores and greater memory bandwidth. Compared with M2 Max, Apple’s published maximums show that M2 Pro supports less unified memory and bandwidth; the differences are summarized below.
Rank #2
- SUPERCHARGED BY M5 — The 14-inch MacBook Pro with M5 brings next-generation speed and powerful on-device AI to personal, professional, and creative tasks. Featuring all-day battery life and a breathtaking Liquid Retina XDR display with up to 1600 nits peak brightness, it’s pro in every way.*
- HAPPILY EVER FASTER — Along with its faster CPU and unified memory, M5 features a more powerful GPU with a Neural Accelerator built into each core, delivering faster AI performance. So you can blaze through demanding workloads at mind-bending speeds.
- BUILT FOR APPLE INTELLIGENCE — Apple Intelligence is the personal intelligence system that helps you write, express yourself, and get things done effortlessly. With groundbreaking privacy protections, it gives you peace of mind that no one else can access your data — not even Apple.*
- ALL-DAY BATTERY LIFE — MacBook Pro delivers the same exceptional performance whether it’s running on battery or plugged in.
- APPS FLY WITH APPLE SILICON — All your favorites, including Microsoft 365 and Adobe Creative Cloud, run lightning fast in macOS.*
| Chip | Maximum unified memory | Memory bandwidth |
|---|---|---|
| M2 Pro | Up to 32GB | 200GB/s |
| M2 Max | Up to 96GB | 400GB/s |
These figures are Apple’s announced specifications, not a complete performance ranking. Which chip suits a workload depends on the Mac configuration and the work being done.
What performance claims did Apple make?
In its January 2023 launch announcement, Apple said M2 Pro’s multithreaded CPU performance was up to 20% faster than the 10-core CPU in M1 Pro. Apple also claimed Xcode compiling was up to 2.5 times faster than on the fastest Intel-based MacBook Pro. These are Apple-reported comparisons with specific reference points, not independent benchmark results or promises about every app.
Rank #3
- SUPERCHARGED BY M2 The 13-inch MacBook Pro laptop is a portable powerhouse. Get more done faster with a next-generation 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU and up to 24GB of unified memory.
- UP TO 20 HOURS OF BATTERY LIFE Go all day and into the night, thanks to the power-efficient performance of the Apple M2 chip.
- SUSTAINED PERFORMANCE Thanks to its active cooling system, the 13-inch MacBook Pro can sustain pro levels of performance, so you can run CPU- and GPU-intensive tasks for hours on end.
- BRILLIANT DISPLAY The 13.3-inch Retina display features 500 nits of brightness and P3 wide colour for vibrant images and incredible detail.
- HD CAMERA AND STUDIO-QUALITY MICS Look sharp and sound great with a FaceTime HD camera and three-mic array.
Apple senior vice president of Hardware Technologies Johny Srouji described M2 Pro and M2 Max as delivering “incredible pro performance along with industry-leading power efficiency.” That is an executive’s characterization in the same company announcement, rather than an independently verified measurement.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- SUPERCHARGED BY M2: The 13-inch MacBook Pro laptop is a portable powerhouse. Get more done faster with a next-generation 8-core CPU, up to 10-core GPU and up to 24GB of unified memory.
- UP TO 20 HOURS OF BATTERY LIFE: Go all day and into the night, thanks to the power-efficient performance of the brand new Apple M2 chip. (Up to 20 hours of video playback)
- BIG, BEAUTIFUL DISPLAY: The 13.3-inch Retina display features 500 nits of brightness, P3 wide color, and support for 1 billion colors for vibrant images and incredible detail.
- SUSTAINED PERFORMANCE: Thanks to its active cooling system, the MacBook Pro can sustain pro levels of performance, so you can run CPU- and GPU-intensive tasks for hours.
- VERSATILE CONNECTIVITY: The MacBook Pro features two Thunderbolt 3 ports and a headphone jack that lets you connect and power high-speed accessories.
Rank #4
- Space Gray Unibody Design—elegant, durable, and crafted from recycled aluminum for a premium, eco-conscious feel.
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