We Tested the Impressive Mac Version of Cyberpunk 2077 by CD Projekt Red on Three Devices and Compared Performance Across Various PCs

Performance Analysis of Cyberpunk 2077 on Apple Silicon Macs with MetalFX and AMD FSR Support

After a five-year wait, Cyberpunk 2077, CD Projekt Red’s epic sci-fi RPG, has officially arrived on Apple Silicon Macs. The Mac version promises ray tracing support and advanced MetalFX functionalities. To assess its performance on current Apple computers, tests were conducted across a range of modern Mac hardware provided by Apple. The findings offer interesting insights. The Mac port of Cyberpunk 2077, developed by CD Projekt Red, operates smoothly and features a settings menu identical to its PC counterpart. Beyond Apple’s temporal upscaling solution, MetalFX, the game also includes AMD’s FSR 2.1 and 3.0. Compatibility requires a Mac M-series chip with at least 16 GB of RAM, excluding 8 GB machines and Intel-based Macs. For this assessment, three machines were tested at maximum settings: a low-end Mac Mini M4, a MacBook Pro M4 Max, and a high-spec Mac Studio M3 Ultra.

Upon first loading a saved game, Cyberpunk 2077 undergoes a rapid shader compilation process, visible via the macOS 26 Metal performance HUD on a new installation. While shader compilations are minimal during active gameplay, loading a saved game in a new world segment triggers another compilation phase. This design effectively prevents stuttering during shader compiles, contributing to a stable experience. Tests were conducted on macOS 15.5, with additional metrics gathered using macOS 26 Beta 3. Apple supplied the hardware for this article. Despite generally smooth performance, tests revealed some frame rate drops and stutters during open-world traversal and intense combat sequences. These instances could briefly cause severe drops, at times reaching as low as 50 frames per second (fps), momentarily interrupting gameplay. Adjusting the MetalFX preset to Performance inconsistently alleviated these issues. The exact cause of these drops was challenging to pinpoint, as GPU time readings on the Metal performance HUD did not consistently align with in-game load. Nevertheless, extended play sessions showed that significant performance issues proved infrequent, and overall, the experience was smooth.

Enhancing Cyberpunk 2077 Performance with MetalFX and Dynamic Resolution Scaling

Apple’s MetalFX upscaler delivers strong results for Cyberpunk 2077, integrating smoothly with AMD’s FSR and NVIDIA’s DLSS presets. When paired with dynamic resolution scaling (DRS), MetalFX offers more granular scaling options, ranging from 50% to 80% of the axis resolution in 1440p tests. This means a native 1440p image’s dynamic range can effectively scale between 720p and 1152p. MetalFX can nearly double performance, with tests showing an approximately 130% increase in frame rates when moving from native 4K with TAA to MetalFX quality. At 1440p, the performance boost is less dramatic but still roughly doubles performance with the highest scaling factor, making MetalFX highly effective for achieving optimal results, especially at higher resolutions. In 1440p resolution comparisons, FSR 3’s performance mode upscaling excels, exhibiting fewer artifacts like breakup or disclosure during environmental movement. It competes well against NVIDIA’s DLSS transformer model on PC, often providing a more stable, albeit slightly smoother, image. However, when frame rates decrease, MetalFX’s smoothness and flickering issues become more noticeable on both tested machines. Prior assessments indicating MetalFX’s competitiveness with PC ML-based upscaling continue to hold true in this title.

Improving Mac’s Cyberpunk 2077 Performance with ML-based Upscaling via MetalFX and Potential Rivalry to DLSS Ray Reconstruction

When Path Tracing is enabled in Cyberpunk 2077 on Macs, the game’s brightness can be inconsistent. The RT Overdrive mode, when combined with MetalFX on a MacBook, can appear visually confusing. In contrast, NVIDIA’s DLSS 4 Ray Reconstruction significantly improves image clarity. Visual artifacts, such as speckled and twinkling reflections on surfaces like the ‘Trials floor,’ highlight the Mac’s current lack of an equivalent to Ray Reconstruction. While Ray Reconstruction’s image quality is not flawless, it surpasses typical super-resolution solutions. Apple is preparing to introduce ML-based upscaling via MetalFX in macOS 26 later this year. This will replace manual denoisers with machine learning-based denoising passes, aiming to deliver visual results competitive with solutions like DLSS Ray Reconstruction using similar input data.

Apple’s M3 Ultra Outperforms M4 Max in Cyberpunk 2077 Benchmarks on Mac Studio and Pro

The Mac Studio’s M3 Ultra, which comprises two linked M3 Max chips via a silicon interposer, actually debuted after the M4 Max. Apple has indicated that an Ultra chip may not be released for the current generation, positioning the M3 Ultra as one of Apple’s fastest chips for some time. In benchmark tests at Ultra and RT Overdrive settings, the M3 Ultra outperforms the M4 Max by 35% to 41%. This lead decreases to approximately 23% in Ultra RT settings on the Mac Studio. While the Mac Mini’s integrated GPU delivers solid performance, it falls short compared to larger chips. With roughly a quarter of the GPU resources, the Mac Mini achieves approximately a quarter of the M4 Max’s frame rate in these tests. The MacBook Pro M4 Max’s main competition in Cyberpunk 2077 is likely the NVIDIA RTX 4060. In Ultra rasterization tests, the two chips perform comparably, a notable achievement given the M4 Max’s significantly lower power draw (a fraction of the RTX 4060’s 115W TDP). However, with ray tracing enabled, the M4 Max slightly lags behind the RTX 4060, though the gap is not substantial.

Enhanced M3 Ultra Performance in Cyberpunk 2077 on Mac Studio and Pro vs Modern GPUs and Steam Deck

The M3 Ultra’s combined rasterization performance at Ultra settings places it between the RTX 4060 and RTX 5060 Ti, closer to the 4060. When ray tracing is added, its performance drops, bringing it closer to the RTX 4060’s level. This performance is comfortable for rasterized Cyberpunk 2077, and users should expect no significant issues with reasonable settings. In contrast, the Mac Mini’s GPU is weaker than modern discrete GPUs like the AMD RX 6600, showing a significant performance drop that widens further with ray tracing. This suggests a persistent issue in macOS regarding RDNA 2’s RT acceleration. However, compared to a Steam Deck, the M4 chip delivers a remarkable 47% better performance in rasterization benchmarks.

Optimized Cyberpunk 2077 Gameplay on MacBook Pro with Impressive Battery Life and MetalFX Integration

The MacBook Pro’s battery life proves impressive for a gaming laptop, especially considering the demanding nature of Cyberpunk 2077. It sustained approximately one hour and eighteen minutes of gameplay on ‘For this Mac’ settings with HDR activated and maximum screen brightness. This is a significant achievement, as most gaming laptops struggle to power both the GPU and CPU effectively on battery alone. The MacBook Pro, however, maintains consistent performance whether plugged in or not, thanks to Apple’s highly efficient system-on-chip (SOC) designs. Under load, the CPU, GPU, and Apple Neural Engine combined peak at around 55 watts. The integrated 99.6Wh battery, calibrated to a maximum of 100Wh by FaFa, ensures optimal power delivery for the MacBook Pro. The Cyberpunk 2077 Mac port stands out as one of the best AAA game adaptations seen on macOS. It operates smoothly, is user-friendly, and fully integrates Apple technologies like MetalFX upscaling. While high-end Mac GPUs may align with NVIDIA’s 70-series and occasionally 80-series products in synthetic benchmarks, actual gameplay performance tends to be closer to that of budget desktop or midrange laptop setups. Further in-depth analysis could explore this discrepancy.

Optimized Cyberpunk 2077 on MacBook Pro with Superior Performance and Customizable Settings for Apple Silicon Users

CD Projekt Red has delivered a well-optimized experience, making Cyberpunk 2077 a highly recommended title for Mac users with compatible Apple Silicon hardware. The game leverages Apple’s customization efforts for its platform, offering a refined, console-like experience with the flexibility to adjust settings. The MacBook Pro M4 Max delivers strong performance, including over an hour of gameplay on a single charge, supported by the Mac’s superior integrated display quality and user-friendly experience that eliminates concerns about driver updates or component compatibility.

In Case You Missed It

For those who appreciate the artistry and collectibility that often accompanies a Hideo Kojima title, “Death Stranding 2” has just released with its Collector’s Edition stirring up nostalgia for the golden age of physical gaming memorabilia. Carlos Mendoza dives deep into this release in his post from July 23rd, exploring how it stands out as a rare gem in today’s predominantly digital landscape. If you’re a fan of collectibles or curious about where the future of Collector’s Editions is headed, don’t miss Death Stranding 2 and the Forgotten Era of Collector’s Editions on “Death Stranding 2 and the Forgotten Era of Collector’s Editions.” For all you Cyberpunk 2077 enthusiasts out there, Sophie Laurent has a fantastic piece that just dropped on July 25th about the latest collectible addition to the game’s merchandise lineup. She delves into the pre-order excitement for a stunning Songbird PVC statuette from Dark Horse, which is sure to delight fans of the Phantom Liberty expansion. While it’s a long wait until May/June 2026, this new collectible item is yet another testament to Cyberpunk’s enduring appeal and success. Be sure to check out all the details at Cyberpunk 2077: New Stunning Collector Announced for Fans! In recent weeks, the tech industry has been buzzing with discussions about the significant layoffs at Microsoft’s ZeniMax Media. For a deeper dive into this unsettling event, check out Marcus Thompson’s article “Microsoft Employees Detail Zenimax Layoffs as Chaotic and Dehumanizing,” published on July 23, 2025, which sheds light on the often-overlooked human side of corporate restructuring Microsoft Employees Detail ZeniMax Layoffs as Chaotic and Dehumanizing. This piece offers a poignant look at how affected employees navigated through the chaos and uncertainty, highlighting both the emotional toll and the resilience of those involved.

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Jonathan Dubinski

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