Today, Apple unveiled the newest addition to their M-series lineup of Apple silicon, the M5 chip. Here’s how it stacks up against the M4 chip.
## Neural and AI Performance
The standout feature of M5 is a significant enhancement in performance for AI and ML applications. Similar to the A19 and A19 Pro found in the latest iPhone models, the M5 incorporates new Neural Accelerators that greatly increase the speed for tasks involving machine learning or artificial intelligence. Apple provides several examples:
– Time to first token (LLM): 3.6x quicker than M4
– Time to enhance video in Topaz Video: 1.8x quicker than M3
– Time to render in Blender with ray tracing: 1.7x quicker than M3
– Time to enhance voice with AI in Premiere Pro: 2.9x quicker than M3
In addition to the new Neural Accelerators, Apple claims that M5 features an “enhanced 16-core Neural Engine,” which is expected to assist with ML and AI activities.
## Memory Bandwidth
Just like the A19 and A19 Pro from the newest iPhone models, the M5 chip provides a boost in memory bandwidth. It delivers 153GB/s, a 27.5% increase over the M4’s 120GB/s. While this can enhance speed for any demanding workflow, it particularly aids generative AI tasks.
## Graphics
M5 also brings enhancements to graphics performance. Thanks to the new Neural Accelerators, Apple asserts that M5 achieves over 4x the peak GPU compute performance in comparison to the M4 chip. M5 is equipped with a 3rd-generation ray tracing engine and “enhanced graphics capabilities,” though Apple does not specify the exact nature of these enhancements. They do mention that, due to both features, M5 can achieve “up to 45 percent higher” graphics performance than M4.
## Processor
Like prior baseline Apple silicon chips, M5 features a 10-core CPU, with six of those cores designated as efficiency cores and four as performance cores. Consistent with previous models, Apple states that the new performance core is the “world’s fastest performance core.” Apple also notes that the new CPU achieves up to 15% faster multithreaded performance compared to M4, aligning with leaked benchmark data.
## Other Tidbits
The new 14-inch MacBook Pro with M5 now includes a 4TB storage option. Previously, the largest option available was 2TB. Lastly, M5 transitions from TSMC’s 2nd-generation 3nm process to their 3rd-generation 3nm process.
The M5 chip is currently available in the 14-inch MacBook Pro, iPad Pro, and Apple Vision Pro.
