Apple
Apple M5
10C CPU · 10C GPU · 153 GB/s memory
93
/ 100
From $1,299
VS
Apple M4 Max wins by 4
Apple
Apple M4 Max
16C CPU · 40C GPU · 16-core Neural Engine
97
/ 100
From $1,299
Specdex verdict
Apple M4 Max takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Apple M5 lands at 93 and Apple M4 Max at 97. That puts Apple M4 Max ahead by 4 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Apple M5 if…
- ✓10-core CPU (up to 4 performance + 6 efficiency)
- ✓10-core GPU
- ✓153 GB/s unified memory bandwidth
Pick Apple M4 Max if…
- ✓Industry-best perf-per-watt
- ✓128 GB unified memory option
- ✓Hardware ray-tracing
Apple M5 93
vs 97 Apple M4 Max
Score breakdown
Apple M5
93 single 100
multi 90
gaming 78
efficiency 100
Apple M4 Max
97 single 98
multi 96
gaming 82
efficiency 100
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Apple M5 | Apple M4 Max |
|---|---|---|
| Cores | 10 (up to 4P + 6E) | ▲ 16 (12P+4E) |
| Memory bandwidth | 153 GB/s | ▲ 546 GB/s |
| Neural engine | 16-core | 16-core, 38 TOPS |
| Process | TSMC 3 nm (3rd-generation) | TSMC N3E |
| Release year | 2025 | — |
| Threads | — | 16 |
| Max memory | — | 128 GB unified |
Apple M5
Pros
- +10-core CPU (up to 4 performance + 6 efficiency)
- +10-core GPU
- +153 GB/s unified memory bandwidth
Cons
- −Apple-ecosystem only
- −Base tier starts at 16 GB
- −Windows via Parallels only
Apple M4 Max
Pros
- +Industry-best perf-per-watt
- +128 GB unified memory option
- +Hardware ray-tracing
Cons
- −Apple ecosystem lock-in
- −Not user-replaceable
- −Limited Windows gaming
FAQ: Apple M5 vs Apple M4 Max
Which is better, Apple M5 or Apple M4 Max? +
Apple M4 Max scores 97 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 4. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Apple M5 worth the price? +
At $1,299, Apple M5 delivers a Specdex score of 93 — strongest in single.
Is Apple M4 Max worth the price? +
At $1,299, Apple M4 Max delivers a Specdex score of 97 — strongest in efficiency.
Does Apple M5 or Apple M4 Max last longer? +
Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.