Apple
Apple M5
10C CPU · 10C GPU · Next-gen NPU
94
/ 100
From $1,299
VS
Apple M5 Pro wins by 2
Apple
Apple M5 Pro
14C CPU · 20C GPU · 300 GB/s
96
/ 100
From $2,199
Specdex verdict
Apple M5 Pro takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Apple M5 lands at 94 and Apple M5 Pro at 96. That puts Apple M5 Pro ahead by 2 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 Pro if…
- ✓Creator-tier silicon in a laptop
- ✓Improved memory bandwidth over M4 Pro
- ✓Excellent media engines
Apple M5 94
vs 96 Apple M5 Pro
Score breakdown
Apple M5
94 single 100
multi 90
gaming 78
efficiency 100
Apple M5 Pro
96 single 99
multi 94
gaming 82
efficiency 98
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Apple M5 | Apple M5 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Cores | 10 (4P+6E) | ▲ 14 (10P+4E) |
| Memory bandwidth | 150 GB/s | ▲ 300 GB/s |
| Neural engine | 16-core, 50 TOPS | 16-core, 55 TOPS |
| Process | TSMC N3P | — |
| GPU cores | — | 20 |
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 Pro
Pros
- +Creator-tier silicon in a laptop
- +Improved memory bandwidth over M4 Pro
- +Excellent media engines
Cons
- −Only in MacBook Pro / Mac mini
- −Premium pricing
- −Windows ARM gap persists
FAQ: Apple M5 vs Apple M5 Pro
Which is better, Apple M5 or Apple M5 Pro? +
Apple M5 Pro scores 96 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 2. 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 Pro worth the price? +
At $2,199, Apple M5 Pro delivers a Specdex score of 96 — strongest in single.
Does Apple M5 or Apple M5 Pro 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.