M5 Max Chip Benchmarks Revealed Ahead of MacBook Pro Launch
The first benchmark results for Apple's highly anticipated M5 Max chip have surfaced on Geekbench. This powerful new silicon is expected to debut in the new MacBook Pros, slated for release on March 11.
Initial Performance Figures for the 18-core M5 Max
The initial test data for an 18-core M5 Max chip presents impressive figures. It reported a single-core CPU score of 4,268 and a multi-core CPU score of 29,233. These results were specifically attributed to a Mac17,7 model, which is widely understood to correspond to the forthcoming 16-inch MacBook Pro.
The 18-core M5 Max achieved a single-core CPU score of 4,268 and a multi-core CPU score of 29,233, signaling a strong debut.
Significant Gains Over M4 Max Predecessors
When stacked against its predecessor, the 16-core M4 Max found in the 2024 16-inch MacBook Pro, the M5 Max demonstrates a noticeable leap in performance. These scores indicate an approximate 9% increase in single-core performance and a 13.7% increase in multi-core performance. For context, the M4 Max averages 3,915 in single-core and 25,702 in multi-core on Geekbench.
The M5 Max also surpasses other variants of the M4 Max. Its results outstrip the 14-core M4 Max in the 2025 Mac Studio, which posted 4,015 single-core and 23,560 multi-core scores. Similarly, it outperforms the 16-core M4 Max variant in the same Mac Studio model, which averages 4,028 single-core and 26,166 multi-core.
Compared to the M4 Max, the M5 Max shows an approximate 9% single-core and 13.7% multi-core performance increase, setting a new bar for Apple's Pro lineup.
If these numbers hold consistent once the Macs are officially released and more extensive tests are conducted, the M5 Max is projected to secure the top spot on Geekbench’s Mac Benchmarks for both single-core and multi-core performance.
Graphics Performance: A Strong Contender
In terms of graphical prowess, the M5 Max from this initial test achieved a Metal score of 232,718. This impressive figure positions it second on Geekbench’s Metal benchmark, highlighting its robust capabilities. It is only outranked by the formidable M3 Ultra (featuring a 32-core CPU and 80-core GPU) found in the 2025 Mac Studio.
With a Metal score of 232,718, the M5 Max stands as the second most powerful graphics chip on Geekbench, just behind the M3 Ultra.
Early Look at the A18 Chip in MacBook Neo
Beyond the M5 Max, early Geekbench results have also emerged for the A18 chip. This chip, featured in the new MacBook Neo, registered scores of 3,461 in single-core CPU and 8,668 in multi-core CPU. These results represent about a 0.5% increase over the iPhone 16 Pro’s A18 silicon, indicating a modest but noticeable improvement for the laptop variant.