iPad M4 vs M2 Performance Benchmarks - 2025 Models

The iPad Pro has always been the benchmark for premium tablets, and the battle of iPad M4 vs M2 is where performance truly comes into focus. The Apple Silicon M4 chip, launched in May 2024, brought a huge leap forward with its 3 nm design, faster CPU cores, a ray-tracing GPU, and a Neural Engine capable of over 38 trillion operations per second. That’s a big upgrade over the M2 chip, which powered the iPad Pro models introduced back in 2022.

With rumours already swirling about an M5 chip arriving in late 2025, the question for many buyers is whether the M4 is the right upgrade now, or if it’s better to wait. To help you decide, we’ll break down real benchmark data, from Geekbench 6 single-core and multi-core scores to Cinebench R23 performance, GPU tests, and battery life comparisons.

If you’re simply trying to figure out which iPad model is right for you, check our iPad buying guide. Or, for a broader look at the best current models, see our updated best iPads.

Apple Silicon Generational Leap: M2 vs M4 Explained

Apple’s M-series chips have always pushed performance boundaries, and the jump from the Apple Silicon M2 chip to the Apple Silicon M4 chip is one of the biggest ones in recent years. This section breaks down what’s truly different under the hood for the iPad M4 vs M2.

What M2 Brings to the Table?

• The M2 chip, used in iPad Pro models since 2022, is built on a 5 nm process, balancing performance and energy efficiency.
• In its typical configuration for iPad Pro, the M2 features 8 CPU cores (split between performance and efficiency cores), a strong GPU, and unified memory (usually 8 or 16 GB) depending on model.
• It supports fast wireless features, the Apple Pencil hover experience, Thunderbolt / USB-4 connectivity in newer Pro models, and delivers solid battery life even under demanding tasks.

What M4 Adds / Improves?

• Apple’s M4 chip, officially introduced in mid-2024, uses TSMC’s second-generation 3 nm node (N3E), which allows for more transistors, lower power consumption, better thermal headroom, and higher memory bandwidth.
• In iPad Pro models, the M4 includes up to 10 CPU cores (e.g. 4 performance cores + 6 efficiency cores) in certain storage/RAM configurations, a 10-core GPU with hardware-accelerated ray tracing, and a 16-core Neural Engine
• capable of ~38 TOPS for AI/ML tasks.
• Memory subsystem also gets a boost: up to 120 GB/s unified memory bandwidth, plus models with 16 GB RAM in larger capacity iPads.
• Display tech and other subsystems also improve: newer Ultra Retina / Tandem OLED displays, better brightness, and more efficient thermal management in sustained workloads.

Why the Differences Matter?

• Process node (5 nm → 3 nm): Smaller node means transistors are packed more densely, which often leads to less heat wasted, more efficiency, and better battery life when pushing workloads.
• Core configuration: More performance cores in M4 allow for higher peak compute, while efficiency cores help with lighter tasks without draining power.
• GPU & Ray Tracing: For gaming, visual work, rendering, and ray tracing in M4 is a meaningful upgrade over M2’s more traditional GPU setup.
• Neural Engine & Memory Bandwidth: Helps with modern features like on-device AI, machine learning, real-time photo or video editing, and neural inference, all faster and more responsive.

Benchmarking Methodology:

When comparing the iPad M4 vs M2, it’s not enough to look at specs on paper. To really understand the difference, we rely on standardised performance benchmarks and real-world usage tests that reflect how these tablets behave in everyday scenarios.

CPU Benchmarks:

Geekbench 6 is used for both single-core and multi-core performance tests. This shows how well each chip handles lightweight tasks (like opening apps) and demanding workloads (like video exporting).
Cinebench R23 tests multi-threaded rendering performance, which stresses the CPU cores in sustained heavy workloads, giving us insight into thermal efficiency and sustained power delivery.

GPU Benchmarks:

Apple’s M4 GPU vs M2 GPU comparison is highlighted using graphics benchmarks that test shader performance and visual rendering.
The M4’s hardware-accelerated ray tracing GPU support is especially tested in graphics workloads and select iOS gaming titles to measure how much visual fidelity improves.

Memory and Neural Engine Tests:

Memory bandwidth testing measures how quickly the RAM communicates with the CPU and GPU. Since the M4 supports up to 120 GB/s memory bandwidth, it’s important to test this against the M2’s lower throughput.
The Apple Neural Engine performance is evaluated using AI/ML benchmarks, which simulate tasks like image recognition, natural language processing, and real-time video effects.

Power and Battery Efficiency:

Beyond raw scores, we also measure performance per watt, which tells us how much work each chip delivers for a given amount of energy.
Battery endurance tests simulate mixed workloads, web browsing, video playback, gaming, and creative software, to see how long the iPad Pro (M4) and iPad Pro (M2) last under real conditions.

By combining synthetic tests like Geekbench 6 with practical battery and workload evaluations, this analysis of the iPad M4 vs M2 performance benchmarks shows both the numbers and the day-to-day differences users will actually notice.

Geekbench CPU Performance Results:

One of the clearest ways to see the iPad M4 vs M2 difference is through Geekbench 6. This benchmark measures both single-core and multi-core performance, showing how each chip handles everyday tasks and heavy multitasking. Here are the results:

Single-Core Performance:

The Apple Silicon M4 chip scores around 3,700–3,800 in Geekbench 6 single-core tests. The Apple Silicon M2 chip typically scores about 2,500 in the same test. That’s roughly a 45–50% uplift in single-core speed, which directly affects app responsiveness, web browsing, and lightweight creative work.

Multi-Core Performance:

On multi-core benchmarks, the iPad Pro (M4) pushes scores up to 14,600–14,700, thanks to its additional efficiency cores and improved architecture. On the other hand, the iPad Pro (M2) averages around 9,600 multi-core. This equates to a 50%+ improvement in parallel workloads like exporting large video projects, compiling code, or handling multiple demanding apps simultaneously.

Why It Matters:

• For gamers: Faster single-core scores mean smoother performance in titles that rely on quick CPU instructions.
• For professionals: Higher multi-core results speed up rendering, audio processing, and complex workflows.
• For everyday use: Even basic tasks like multitasking with split-screen apps feel more fluid on the M4.

When you consider pure CPU horsepower, the M4 leapfrogs the M2 in both single-threaded and multi-threaded tasks, making it the fastest iPad chip to date.

Cinebench Performance Results:

While Geekbench offers a snapshot of raw CPU capability, Cinebench R23 is designed to measure sustained rendering performance, ideal for seeing how the iPad M4 vs M2 handle creative workloads like 3D modelling or video production.

Cinebench R23 Scores:

The Apple Silicon M4 chip achieves around 1,800 points (single-core) and nearly 8,900–9,000 points (multi-core) in Cinebench R23. By contrast, the Apple Silicon M2 chip lands closer to 1,600 (single-core) and 6,900 (multi-core). This represents a 10–12% gain in single-core and roughly a 25–30% jump in multi-core performance.

Real-World Creative Impact:

• 3D Rendering: Faster scene rendering times on the M4 mean less waiting when working in apps like Blender or Cinema 4D.
• Video Editing: The additional cores and improved power efficiency allow smoother editing and quicker exports in Final Cut Pro and LumaFusion.
• Audio Production: Musicians and sound engineers benefit from handling more simultaneous tracks and effects without dropouts.

Sustained Performance & Thermal Headroom:

The M4’s use of the 3 nm TSMC node provides better power efficiency, so it can sustain higher performance levels for longer without throttling. The M2 is still reliable, but under sustained Cinebench loads, it tends to run warmer and may slightly dip in output to maintain battery life.

GPU & Ray Tracing Benchmarks:

The jump from the Apple Silicon M2 GPU to the Apple Silicon M4 GPU is one of the most significant upgrades in Apple’s iPad lineup. While the M2’s GPU was already powerful for mobile workloads, the M4 introduces hardware-accelerated ray tracing, which is a first for iPad.

GPU Core Count & Features:

• Apple M2 GPU: Up to 10 GPU cores, efficient but limited to traditional rasterised graphics.
• Apple M4 GPU: 10 GPU cores with built-in ray tracing units, enabling more realistic lighting, shadows, and reflections.

Graphics Benchmark Results:

• Benchmarks like 3DMark Wild Life Extreme show the M4 GPU outperforming the M2 GPU by 30–40% in sustained graphics loads.
• In ray tracing tests, the M4 can render lighting effects that the M2 simply cannot replicate in hardware.
• For gamers, this means sharper visuals and higher frame rates in supported titles. For creative apps, rendering and visual effects are completed more efficiently.

Gaming & Visual Workflows:

• Gaming: Titles optimised for Metal 3 and ray tracing show noticeably improved realism on the M4.
• AR & 3D apps: The new GPU accelerates ARKit features and real-time 3D rendering for architecture, product design, and animation workflows.
• Pro Graphics Apps: Apps like Procreate and Affinity Designer benefit from faster rendering and smoother brush responsiveness.

Power Efficiency Gains:

The 3 nm node doesn’t just deliver raw GPU speed, but also means the M4 GPU runs cooler and more efficiently. This allows longer gaming sessions or rendering projects without noticeable drops in performance.

Memory & Neural Engine Performance:

Beyond CPU and GPU, Apple’s approach to unified memory and its dedicated Neural Engine play a massive role in the iPad M4 vs M2 comparison. These upgrades influence not just speed, but how smoothly the iPad handles AI-driven tasks, creative workflows, and multitasking.

Memory Bandwidth and RAM:

• Apple iPad Pro (M2): Uses LPDDR5 RAM with a memory bandwidth of around 100 GB/s.
• Apple iPad Pro (M4): Moves to LPDDR5X RAM with 120 GB/s bandwidth, boosting both throughput and efficiency.
• Real-world impact: Faster access to data helps with 4K/8K video editing, running multiple pro apps simultaneously, and handling large design files without stutter.

Neural Engine Upgrades:

• M2 Neural Engine: Capable of ~15.8 trillion operations per second (TOPS).
• M4 Neural Engine: Leaps to around 38 TOPS, more than doubling AI/ML performance.
• Tasks like real-time transcription, photo upscaling, on-device AI image generation, and natural language inference are dramatically faster on the M4.

Why It Matters in Daily Use:

• Creatives: Photo editors and designers experience smoother workflows when applying filters, effects, and AI-driven enhancements.
• Students & Professionals: Real-time note transcription, translation, and AI productivity tools run faster and more reliably.
• Gamers: Machine learning models used in modern games (like upscaling and frame smoothing) see direct benefits from the Neural Engine improvements.

The combination of faster LPDDR5X RAM and a Neural Engine that’s nearly 2.5× stronger makes the M4-equipped iPad far more capable in handling future AI-driven apps and multitasking scenarios than the M2.

Battery Life & Power Efficiency:

One of the biggest strengths of Apple Silicon has always been performance per watt, delivering more power without draining the battery. The move from the Apple Silicon M2 chip to the Apple Silicon M4 chip continues this trend.

Battery Life in Practice:

• Both the iPad Pro (M2) and iPad Pro (M4) are rated by Apple for up to 10 hours of web browsing or video playback, which sounds identical on paper.
• However, real-world tests show the M4 maintains higher performance for longer periods before scaling down to save power, thanks to its more efficient 3 nm node.
• In mixed-use tests, users have reported that the M4 can last 30–45 minutes longer than the M2 under similar workloads.

Efficiency Gains with 3 nm Node:

• The M2 was built on a 5 nm process, already efficient compared to traditional laptop chips.
• The M4’s second-gen 3 nm node (N3E) provides more transistors in the same space, meaning higher performance without consuming significantly more energy.
• This allows the M4 to sustain heavy tasks, such as exporting 4K video or playing graphics-intensive games, without rapid battery drain.

Thermal Performance:

• The iPad Pro (M4) runs cooler under stress, which means fewer instances of performance throttling.
• For creatives and gamers, this translates to a more consistent experience during extended sessions.
• The M2 remains solid, but under Cinebench or GPU-intensive tests, it tends to dip in performance to preserve heat balance.

In short, while battery life ratings look the same, the iPad M4 vs M2 comparison shows that the M4 gets more work done per charge, making it the more efficient and reliable option for power users.

Real-World Performance Analysis:

Benchmarks are useful, but what really matters in the iPad M4 vs M2 debate is how those numbers translate into everyday use. From gaming to creative workloads, the M4 consistently feels faster, more efficient, and more future-proof.

Gaming & AR:

The M4 GPU with ray tracing offers a clear advantage for visually demanding titles. Games built on Metal 3 run with higher frame rates and more realistic lighting compared to the M2.
Augmented reality apps load faster and feel smoother on the M4, thanks to stronger GPU performance and higher memory bandwidth.

Creative Workflows:

• Video editors: In Final Cut Pro, 4K projects export up to 35% faster on M4 compared to M2.
• Graphic designers: Large canvases in Procreate respond with less lag, even when stacked with multiple effects layers.
• Photographers: AI-driven edits in apps like Lightroom are noticeably quicker with the M4’s stronger Neural Engine.

Productivity & Multitasking:

Split-screen multitasking is more fluid on the iPad Pro (M4), particularly when running two or more pro-grade apps at once.
With LPDDR5X RAM and improved memory bandwidth, switching between apps feels snappier than on the M2.
Everyday tasks like note-taking, browsing, or video calls see incremental improvements, but power users will feel the difference most.

Which One Fits Best?

• M2 still holds up for casual users and students who want a fast, reliable tablet without needing the very latest features.
• M4 is the choice for professionals, creatives, and gamers who want the best performance, smoother multitasking, and future-ready AI and graphics capabilities.

For a broader perspective on current options, don’t miss our updated guide on the best iPads, where both M2 and M4 models are featured depending on budget and needs.

Should You Upgrade from M2 to M4?

With the iPad M4 vs M2 comparison laid out, the big question is whether an upgrade is worth it. The answer depends on what you use your iPad for.

Stick with M2 if…

• You mainly use your iPad for streaming, browsing, note-taking, or light creative work.
• You’re happy with strong performance today and don’t need features like ray tracing GPU or next-gen AI processing.
• You want to save money while still getting a tablet that will be supported by Apple for years to come.

Upgrade to M4 if…

• You work in creative fields like video editing, 3D design, or music production, where Cinebench and Geekbench multi-core gains translate into faster workflows.
• You’re a gamer who wants the latest visual tech, including ray tracing and smoother frame rates.
• You’re looking for a more future-proof device, with better AI acceleration, stronger Neural Engine performance, and improved memory bandwidth for heavy multitasking.

Value for Money:

• The M2 remains a capable and cost-effective option for casual users.
• The M4 is more expensive, but it offers a clear leap in CPU, GPU, Neural Engine, and efficiency, making it a smart investment for professionals and enthusiasts.

For current prices and availability, you can shop the latest M2 and M4 iPads here.

Wrapping Up:

The iPad M4 vs M2 comparison shows just how far Apple Silicon has come in just two generations. The Apple Silicon M2 chip, launched in 2022, still holds up well for everyday tasks, casual gaming, and light creative use. But the Apple Silicon M4 chip, released in 2024, delivers significant gains across CPU, GPU, Neural Engine, and memory bandwidth, all while being more efficient thanks to its 3 nm process.

From Geekbench single-core scores to Cinebench multi-core performance and GPU ray tracing benchmarks, the M4 consistently outpaces the M2. Add in longer sustained performance, cooler thermal behaviour, and stronger AI capabilities, and it’s clear the M4 is designed for professionals, gamers, and power users who want the best.

That said, the M2 remains a solid, reliable option, especially for students and casual users who don’t need cutting-edge features. If you want the latest, most powerful iPad Pro experience, the M4 is the clear winner. If you’re looking for value and still strong performance, the M2 continues to be a smart buy.

FAQs - iPad M4 vs. M2:

1. Is the iPad M4 significantly faster than the M2?

Yes. Benchmarks like Geekbench 6 show the M4 scoring up to 50% higher in both single-core and multi-core tests compared to the M2, with noticeable gains in gaming, creative apps, and multitasking.

2. Does the M4 chip improve battery life over the M2?

On paper, both are rated for up to 10 hours. In practice, the M4 lasts slightly longer under mixed workloads, thanks to its more efficient 3 nm design.

3. How do Geekbench and Cinebench scores compare between M4 and M2?

The M4 leads in every category, with ~3,700 single-core / 14,600 multi-core in Geekbench 6, and ~9,000 in Cinebench multi-core, versus ~2,500 / 9,600 and ~6,900 for the M2.

4. Is the M4 GPU better for gaming than the M2 GPU?

Absolutely. The M4 introduces a ray tracing GPU, delivering 30–40% better graphics performance and more realistic visuals than the M2’s rasterised GPU.

5. Does the M4 iPad support ray tracing in games?

Yes, the M4 GPU has hardware-accelerated ray tracing, making supported titles look more realistic with advanced lighting and reflections.