Apple’s latest M5 chip has established a new record for single-core performance in personal computers, positioning the company at the forefront of processor technology for everyday tasks.
The new M5 chip, featured in the recently launched 14-inch MacBook Pro, achieved an unprecedented 4,263 points in the Geekbench 6 single-core benchmark. This score marks the highest ever recorded for a Mac or PC device in Geekbench’s extensive database.
The M5’s single-core prowess surpasses Apple’s M4 Max chip, which scored 3,914 points, and AMD’s Ryzen 9950X3D, with 3,399 points. This makes the M5 exceptionally capable for single-thread workloads such as launching applications, playing games, and handling general daily computing.
Manufactured using 3rd-generation 3-nanometer technology, the M5 chip incorporates a 10-core CPU. This configuration includes four high-performance cores and six energy-efficient cores, which Apple claims deliver the fastest processing performance globally.
The architecture contributes to a 15% improvement in multi-thread processing efficiency compared to the M4 chip.
In multi-core testing, the M5 chip in the MacBook Pro registered 17,862 points. This represents an approximately 20% speed increase over the M4 chip, which scored 14,726 points in the 2024 14-inch MacBook Pro.
However, the M5’s multi-core performance remains below the M4 Max, which achieved 25,645 points, though it is comparable to the M1 Ultra’s 18,405 points.
Beyond the MacBook Pro, Apple has also integrated the M5 chip into its new iPad Pro models. The M5 in the iPad Pro recorded a strong single-core score of 4,175 points. This deployment indicates Apple’s strategic expansion of the M5 chip across its device ecosystem.
Looking ahead, industry observers anticipate that Apple may introduce M5 Pro and M5 Max chip variants in 2026.