Apple Unveils M5 Chip With Major Focus On AI And Graphics Performance Like clockwork, Apple has introduced its new M-series chip, the M5, powering updated versions of the iPad Pro, MacBook Pro, and for the first time, the Apple Vision Pro. While the M5 shares many similarities with the M4 chip launched earlier in 2024, its most significant advancements are concentrated on boosting graphics and AI capabilities, key areas for modern computing. The M5 chip is manufactured using a new third-generation 3nm process. It features an updated 10-core GPU architecture across all versions, which Apple claims delivers four times the peak GPU compute performance of the M4. This new GPU continues to support hardware-accelerated ray tracing for more realistic lighting in games and professional applications. For the CPU, the M5 features a 10-core configuration, mirroring the M4, with a mix of up to four performance cores and six efficiency cores. However, there is a notable configuration difference on the new iPad Pro. Only the 1TB and 2TB storage models get the full 10-core CPU and GPU. The more affordable 256GB and 512GB models are equipped with a nine-core CPU, featuring three performance cores and six efficiency cores. Apple states the 10-core CPU offers up to 15 percent faster multithreaded performance compared to the M4. This boost is likely aided by improved memory bandwidth, which has been increased to 153GB/s on the M5, up from the base 120GB/s on the M4. This bandwidth, however, is still less than what is available on the higher-tier M4 Pro and M4 Max chips, which are expected to get M5 successors next year. The most user-noticeable improvements are likely to come from the graphics enhancements. Apple promises up to 30 percent faster general graphics performance and a substantial 45 percent uplift in applications using ray tracing compared to the M4. These gains make the M5 particularly compelling for creative professionals, gamers, and developers. The performance leap is especially critical for the Apple Vision Pro. The headset can now achieve a 120Hz refresh rate, up from a previous maximum of 100Hz, and can render 10 percent more pixels, leading to a smoother and more detailed visual experience. Artificial intelligence performance also receives a significant upgrade, though not solely from the Neural Engine. The M5 includes the same 16-core Neural Engine found in the M4. The real innovation for AI tasks comes from new dedicated Neural Accelerators embedded within each core of the GPU. This distributed approach to AI processing provides extra horsepower for on-device AI tasks. According to Apple, this results in faster performance for Apple Intelligence features and for computationally intensive processes like generating a Persona on the Vision Pro. While in-depth testing and benchmarks are needed to fully understand the M5s impact on general CPU performance, the initial focus is clear. Apple is continuing to push the boundaries of graphics power and on-device AI processing. This strategic direction benefits users who rely on MacBooks and iPads for creative workloads, AI-driven applications, and high-end gaming.
