Initial Apple M5 Benchmarks Show Small CPU Improvements but Notable GPU Gains

Apple’s upcoming M5 processor, expected to power new iPads and Macs later this year, shows modest CPU improvements but more substantial GPU performance gains compared to the previous M4 generation. Early benchmarks, conducted by Russian YouTuber Wylascom, indicate the M5 iPad Pro delivers an 11% increase in single-core performance over last year’s model and 7% over the M4 Pro MacBook Pro. However, in multi-core tests, the M5 lags behind the M4 Pro and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme. GPU performance, on the other hand, shows a 26% improvement in the Geekbench 6.5 Metal benchmark, suggesting that graphical workloads will benefit more from the upgrade. FCC filings confirm upcoming releases including a Vision Pro headset, an updated MacBook Pro, and six new iPad Pro models. While the M5 chip offers limited CPU gains, it may still appeal to users upgrading from older M1 or M2 devices. Release dates for the M5 iPads are not yet clear, but the unboxing video hints at an imminent announcement. Overall, the M5 presents incremental CPU improvements and notable GPU enhancements, with the M5 Pro expected to offer further gains in future MacBook Pro models.