How can a m2 air be faster than m2 max on some tasks?

[emraha06]

I have a MacBook Air M2 and a MacBook Pro M2 Max. They’re running the same version of macOS and the same version of PowerPoint, but while the M2 Max takes 7.4 seconds to open the same file, the M2 Air opens it in just 2.5 seconds. I ran other tests as well: the M2 Air opens a blank Word document faster, and it also launches the Chrome app faster on the first try. To test this, I tried compressing a 1.5 GB file, and both devices took the same amount of time to compress it. How is this possible?

 

[Bigwaff]

I tried compressing a 1.5 GB file, and both devices took the same amount of time to compress it.

M2 Max vs M2 CPU Geekbench single core scores are pretty close.

Mac Benchmarks - Geekbench

browser.geekbench.com

Compression software single-threaded?

They’re running the same version of macOS and the same version of PowerPoint, but while the M2 Max takes 7.4 seconds to open the same file, the M2 Air opens it in just 2.5 seconds. I ran other tests as well: the M2 Air opens a blank Word document faster, and it also launches the Chrome app faster on the first try.

Your "tests" don't take into account how macOS manages memory and the caching files/code over time while system is running. Quit all applications and shutdown. Restart and run these tests again first thing after logging in, before you launch any other applications and do work.

How is this possible?

It's complicated, hampered by "tests" which don't reflect real system performance.

 

[blufrog]

SSDs are NOT the same! What are the SSD specs of each machine?

The ZIP took the same time because this is an in-memory operation. You are comparing disk I/O performance, and the Air is obviously much faster.

 

[subjonas]

I agree, try the test again right after restart, and make sure the MBP isn't running a bunch more programs and processes at startup.

You are comparing disk I/O performance, and the Air is obviously much faster.

I think OP is asking why the Air is faster. Does it have better specs than the MBP in this regard?

 

[blufrog]

I agree, try the test again right after restart, and make sure the MBP isn't running a bunch more programs and processes at startup.


I think OP is asking why the Air is faster. Does it have better specs than the MBP in this regard?

I just checked the specs of the M2 Max vs. M2, and the MBP M2 Max should be smoking the M2 Air.

Not sure what to suggest. Try disk I/O performance tester? From the OP description, it certainly seems like disk I/O is the difference.