Cyberpunk 2077 performance on various Apple Silicon generations varies, delivering frame rates between approximately 13 to 105fps at 1080p resolution, with the performance dependent on the specific Mac model and game settings employed
In the world of gaming, Mac gamers have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the AAA title, Cyberpunk 2077, on their macOS devices. After a long wait, the game finally landed last July 17. Mac YouTuber and creator, Andrew Tsai, took it upon himself to test the game's performance on four different MacBooks, each equipped with Apple's latest Silicon chips.
The video compared the FPS performance of an M4 MacBook Pro, an M3 Max MacBook Pro, an M1 Max MacBook Pro, and an M1 MacBook Air. Here's what Andrew found:
M4 MacBook Pro (16GB, 10-core GPU)
Running Cyberpunk 2077 at around 30 FPS on high settings at 1080p or slightly reduced resolution (around 1800x1125) is achievable on the M4 MacBook Pro. Ultra settings are near 30 FPS but often require lowering resolution for smoother play. Dynamic resolution scaling is active, with stable 30 FPS performance achievable.
M3 Max MacBook Pro (48GB, 40-core GPU)
The M3 Max MacBook Pro, with its substantial GPU cores and memory, delivers substantially higher performance, capable of smoother and higher frame rates than the M4 and M1 models. The M3 Max is close to the top-end Mac performance class, with enablement of Apple's MetalFX upscaling and resolution scaling allowing good performance at 1080p and possibly higher resolutions.
M1 Max MacBook Pro (32GB, 32-core GPU)
The M1 Max MacBook Pro performs well but is noticeably slower than the newer M3 Max and M4 MacBook Pros. Typical frame rates range from the high teens to low 30s FPS at 1080p depending on settings. This model can run the game but benefits from setting tweaks and MetalFX upscaling support to hit playable frame rates.
M1 MacBook Air (8GB, 8-core GPU)
The lowest-spec machine in the test, the M1 MacBook Air, runs Cyberpunk 2077 but often experiences frame rates around 13 FPS at 1080p or less, making it mostly unplayable at higher graphics settings. The 8GB memory and lower GPU capability limit its performance, and the user experience is more like a "disappointing slideshow."
In terms of recommendations, CD Projekt Red suggests an M3 Pro chip with 18GB unified memory as the sweet spot for smooth 1080p 60 FPS gameplay on macOS. Enabling Apple's MetalFX upscaling technology significantly improves frame rates across all models, especially on M3 and M4 chips, helping bridge the gap versus high-end gaming PCs.
Andrew expects FPS numbers to improve over the coming months as the developers optimize the game more for Apple Silicon. He shared the results of his test in a YouTube video, providing a valuable resource for Mac gamers looking to dive into the world of Cyberpunk 2077 on their Apple devices.
In summary, the M4 and M3 Max MacBook Pros provide the best Cyberpunk 2077 gaming experience among these Macs, with reasonable FPS and visual quality, while the M1 Max is capable but weaker, and the M1 MacBook Air struggles to run the game smoothly.
Gadgets like smartphones may not be ideal for playing Cyberpunk 2077, given the demands of the game on Mac devices with Apple Silicon chips. The M4 and M3 Max MacBook Pros offer the best gaming experience, providing reasonable FPS and visual quality, while the M1 Max is capable but weaker, and the M1 MacBook Air struggles to run the game smoothly.
Smartphone users might want to consider waiting for developers to optimize the game further for high-end mobile devices, or exploring other gaming options that better suit their devices' capabilities.
