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Apple M5 — 10C CPU · 10C GPU · Next-gen NPU
Apple

Apple M5

10C CPU · 10C GPU · Next-gen NPU

94
/ 100
From $1,299
VS
Apple M5 Max wins by 4
Apple M5 Max — 16C CPU · 40C GPU · 570 GB/s
Apple

Apple M5 Max

16C CPU · 40C GPU · 570 GB/s

98
/ 100
From $3,499
Specdex verdict

Apple M5 Max takes it — here’s why.

In our weighted Specdex score, Apple M5 lands at 94 and Apple M5 Max at 98. That puts Apple M5 Max ahead by 4 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.

Pick Apple M5 if…

  • ✓Perf-per-watt improved ~18% vs M4
  • ✓Enhanced ray tracing
  • ✓16-core Neural Engine v5 (50 TOPS)

Pick Apple M5 Max if…

  • ✓Leads the industry in perf-per-watt
  • ✓128 GB unified memory option
  • ✓Best-in-class ML acceleration
Apple M5 94
vs
98 Apple M5 Max

Score breakdown

Apple M5
94
single 100
multi 90
gaming 78
efficiency 100
Apple M5 Max
98
single 99
multi 98
gaming 85
efficiency 100

Specs side-by-side

Apple M5 versus Apple M5 Max — full spec comparison
Spec Apple M5 Apple M5 Max
Cores
10 (4P+6E)
▲ 16 (12P+4E)
Memory bandwidth
150 GB/s
▲ 570 GB/s
Neural engine
16-core, 50 TOPS
16-core, 60 TOPS
Process
TSMC N3P
—
GPU cores
—
40

Apple M5

Pros
  • +Perf-per-watt improved ~18% vs M4
  • +Enhanced ray tracing
  • +16-core Neural Engine v5 (50 TOPS)
Cons
  • −Apple-ecosystem only
  • −Limited to first-party products
  • −No Windows gaming story

Apple M5 Max

Pros
  • +Leads the industry in perf-per-watt
  • +128 GB unified memory option
  • +Best-in-class ML acceleration
Cons
  • −Macs only, no DIY
  • −Expensive
  • −Gaming library still limited

FAQ: Apple M5 vs Apple M5 Max

Which is better, Apple M5 or Apple M5 Max? +

Apple M5 Max scores 98 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 94 — strongest in single.

Is Apple M5 Max worth the price? +

At $3,499, Apple M5 Max delivers a Specdex score of 98 — strongest in efficiency.

Does Apple M5 or Apple M5 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.