Apple Introduces M5 Pro and M5 Max Chips

Apple Inc. has announced its next-generation professional chips, M5 Pro and M5 Max. The new processors are designed to power the latest MacBook Pro models and target users with demanding workflows such as video editing, 3D design, coding, and AI research.

Both chips are built using a new Apple-designed Fusion Architecture. This design connects two silicon dies into a single system on a chip. The combined chip includes the CPU, GPU, Media Engine, Neural Engine, unified memory controller, and Thunderbolt 5 support.

M5 Pro and M5 Max feature a new 18-core CPU design. It includes six high-performance cores, now called super cores, and 12 new performance cores built for efficient multithreaded tasks.

Apple claims the CPU can deliver up to 30 percent better performance for professional workloads compared to the previous generation. The new architecture also offers up to 2.5 times higher multithreaded performance than M1 Pro and M1 Max.

These improvements are expected to benefit tasks such as compiling code in Xcode, running simulations, analyzing large datasets, and complex software development.

The new chips also include a next-generation GPU architecture. M5 Pro supports up to a 20-core GPU, while M5 Max scales up to a 40-core GPU.

Each GPU core includes a Neural Accelerator. Apple says this setup delivers more than four times the peak GPU compute for AI tasks compared to the previous generation. Graphics performance is up to 35 percent higher in apps that use ray tracing when compared to M4 Pro and M4 Max.

The chips also feature higher unified memory bandwidth. M5 Pro supports up to 64GB of unified memory with bandwidth up to 307GB per second. M5 Max supports up to 128GB of unified memory with bandwidth up to 614GB per second. This is aimed at users working with large scenes, heavy visual effects, and AI models.

Apple positions M5 Pro for professionals such as engineers, students in STEM fields, and sound designers who need strong CPU and GPU performance with balanced power efficiency.

M5 Max is aimed at high-end users, including 3D animators, AI researchers, and developers who require maximum graphics power and memory capacity. Apple says M5 Max offers up to 20 percent better graphics performance than M4 Max and up to 30 percent better performance in ray tracing workloads.

Both chips include a faster 16 core Neural Engine to accelerate on-device AI features. They also feature Apple’s latest Media Engine with support for hardware accelerated H.264, HEVC, AV1 decode, and ProRes encode and decode.

M5 Pro and M5 Max support Thunderbolt 5. Each Thunderbolt 5 port has its own dedicated controller built directly into the chip. Apple says this improves data speeds and connectivity for professional setups. The chips also support Memory Integrity Enforcement, which Apple describes as an always-on memory safety feature designed to improve security without affecting performance.

Availability

The new MacBook Pro models powered by M5 Pro and M5 Max are available for pre-order starting tomorrow. Shipping and in-store availability will begin on March 11.