Maxon is releasing a major update to its popular performance test at the start of 2026. Cinebench 2026 supports native tests for the upcoming GPU generations NVIDIA Blackwell and AMD RDNA 4 for the first time, brings more precise CPU analyses and a completely revised benchmark engine. The tool is clearly aimed at the future – and provides fresh reference values in the hardware world.
- Native support for Blackwell (RTX-5000) and RDNA 4 (Radeon RX 9000)
- New SMT test for detailed CPU analyses
- Revised Redshift engine for more realistic workloads
- New rating scale, not comparable with older versions
Benchmark for the next GPU generation
Cinebench 2026 heralds a new benchmark era. The update uses an enhanced version of the Redshift rendering engine to realistically capture the performance of upcoming high-end GPUs. Both NVIDIA’s Blackwell architecture, presumably as the RTX 5000 series, and AMD’s RDNA 4 chips from the Radeon RX 9000 series are supported natively.
Maxon is thus making the benchmark fit for the graphics hardware of 2026 – at a time when both manufacturers are launching their new flagships on the market. The tool is becoming increasingly important, particularly in the field of GPU rendering, as it provides a detailed depiction of the computing power and ray tracing capabilities of modern GPUs. For workstation operators, 3D artists and technology journalists, Cinebench will once again become the central reference for performance comparisons.
Refined CPU analysis with SMT test
Aside from graphics performance, the update brings one of the biggest changes to CPU tests in years. Cinebench 2026 has a dedicated SMT (Simultaneous Multi-Threading) performance test that measures exactly what added value virtual cores deliver compared to physical cores.
This feature is primarily aimed at enthusiasts and overclockers who want to precisely understand the differences between Intel and AMD architectures. In addition, Maxon now integrates native support for Apple’s M4 and M5 processors, which means that the tool also remains interesting for Mac users with ARM-based chips. The analysis is performed with increased granularity, making Cinebench 2026 a versatile tool for multi-platform comparisons.
New engine, new scores
Under the hood is a modernized version of the Redshift engine with optimized render algorithms and the latest compiler technologies. The scenes are more complex, more realistic and place a greater load on the overall system than in previous versions.
Maxon expressly points out that the scores of Cinebench 2026 are not comparable with the results of earlier versions (R23, 2024). The scoring system has been completely recalibrated to reflect the increased computing load of modern workflows. This creates a clean slate for all upcoming benchmarks – a new baseline for the 2026 hardware generation.
Conclusion
With Cinebench 2026, Maxon delivers a benchmark tool that does justice to the current state of the art and even dares to look into the future. Anyone looking for real comparative values for upcoming GPU architectures or precise CPU analyses will find it hard to ignore. The program is available free of charge for Windows 10/11 (x86-64 and ARM64) and macOS 14.7+ – and should quickly become the new standard in the hardware community.
