Apple M5’s Graphics Leap: 45% Gains But Pro Gap Remains

According to CNET, Apple’s new M5 chip delivers significant performance improvements over the M4, particularly in graphics capabilities. Testing reveals the M5 provides a 13.7% single-core boost in Cinebench R24 and an 18.8% gain in Geekbench 6, while GPU performance shows dramatic 31-45% improvements across various benchmarks. The chip’s new Neural Accelerators enable a 12% AI performance advantage over even the M4 Pro model and nearly double the image generation speed in Stable Diffusion tests. Despite these gains, the base M5 still trails the M4 Pro in multicore performance by 21-36% due to core count differences. Battery life also improves, with the M5 MacBook Pro extending runtime to nearly 23 hours compared to the M4’s 22 hours. These results highlight Apple’s continued silicon evolution while revealing strategic positioning gaps.

The Architecture Advantage Beyond Core Counts

What makes Apple’s consistent performance gains remarkable is that they’re achieving them without increasing core counts. Both the M4 and M5 feature identical 10-core CPU configurations (4 performance + 6 efficiency cores) and 10-core GPUs. The 13-18% CPU improvements and massive 31-45% GPU gains stem entirely from architectural refinements and the increased memory bandwidth jumping from 120GBps to 153GBps. This demonstrates Apple’s focus on efficiency-per-core rather than simply adding more cores, a strategy that pays dividends in thermal management and battery life. The CPU improvements, while modest compared to GPU leaps, maintain Apple’s single-core performance leadership against AMD, Intel, and Qualcomm competitors.

GPU and AI: Where the Real Battle Is

The massive GPU performance improvements—45% in Cinebench R24 and 46% in Solar Bay Extreme—signal where Apple sees the future computing battleground. Gaming performance reaching 56fps in Shadow of the Tomb Raider at highest settings demonstrates Apple’s serious commitment to competing in traditionally Windows-dominated spaces. More importantly, the Neural Accelerators driving AI performance gains indicate Apple’s response to the industry’s AI computing arms race. Nearly doubling Stable Diffusion performance suggests Apple is positioning its silicon not just for consumer applications but for the emerging generative AI workload category that’s reshaping computing demands across all segments from mobile to desktop.

The Strategic Gap in Apple’s Lineup

Perhaps the most telling finding is how the base M5 compares to the existing M4 Pro. The 21-36% multicore performance deficit and 30% GPU gap reveal Apple’s intentional product segmentation strategy. By keeping the base M5 MacBook Pro significantly behind the previous generation’s Pro model, Apple creates clear upgrade paths and maintains the value proposition of their higher-tier chips. This isn’t about technological limitations—it’s about market positioning. Consumers coming from M1 or M2 base chips get substantial improvements, while professionals still have compelling reasons to consider Pro/Max variants when they eventually arrive.

Broader Industry Implications

Apple’s continued performance gains, particularly in single-core and GPU domains, put increasing pressure on x86 competitors and even fellow ARM-based chip designers. The efficiency improvements enabling longer battery life while delivering more performance create a challenging benchmark for Windows laptop manufacturers. More significantly, Apple’s integrated approach—where CPU, GPU, and neural processors share memory and work in concert—highlights the advantage of controlling the entire stack from silicon to software. As the industry moves toward more specialized computing for AI and graphics workloads, Apple’s architectural decisions with the M5 suggest they’re betting on balanced improvements across all compute domains rather than extreme specialization in any single area.

What Comes Next for Apple Silicon

The M5’s performance profile suggests Apple’s roadmap will continue emphasizing GPU and AI capabilities, with more modest CPU improvements. The real test will come with the M5 Pro and Max variants, where increased core counts could potentially deliver performance that not only surpasses the M4 Pro but challenges dedicated desktop GPUs in certain workloads. The consistent year-over-year improvements also raise questions about how long Apple can maintain this pace before hitting physical limitations. For now, the M5 represents another solid step in Apple’s silicon journey—impressive enough to maintain their performance leadership while leaving ample room for the Pro variants that will define the true ceiling of this generation’s capabilities.