M5 Max Chip Geekbench Scores Revealed
▼ Summary
– The first Geekbench benchmark for an unreleased 18-core M5 Max chip has appeared, showing scores of 4,268 (single-core) and 29,233 (multi-core).
– These unconfirmed results suggest a performance increase of roughly 9% in single-core and 13.7% in multi-core over the M4 Max in the 2024 16-inch MacBook Pro.
– The reported M5 Max scores also outperform the M4 Max chips found in the 2025 Mac Studio models.
– If verified, the M5 Max would top Geekbench’s Mac CPU benchmarks and rank second in its Metal (GPU) benchmark, behind only the M3 Ultra.
– Early, unverified benchmarks for a purported A18 chip in a “MacBook Neo” were also reported, showing a minor performance increase over the iPhone 16 Pro’s A18.
The first performance figures for Apple’s upcoming M5 Max chip have surfaced on Geekbench, offering an early glimpse at what could be a significant leap in processing power for the next generation of MacBook Pro laptops. While these pre-release benchmarks require cautious interpretation, the numbers suggest Apple’s silicon continues its impressive trajectory of year-over-year improvements.
A new benchmark entry for a device identified as a Mac17,7, the model identifier for the forthcoming 16-inch MacBook Pro, shows scores for an 18-core M5 Max processor. The listing reports a single-core CPU result of 4,268 and a multi-core CPU result of 29,233. Should these figures prove accurate with wider testing, they would represent a notable performance bump over the current flagship chip.
Compared to the 16-core M4 Max found in the 2024 16-inch MacBook Pro, which averages around 3,915 in single-core and 25,702 in multi-core tests, the M5 Max numbers indicate an approximate 9% gain in single-core performance and a more substantial 13.7% increase in multi-core performance. This generational improvement also outpaces the 14-core M4 Max in the latest Mac Studio, as well as the 16-core variant of that chip.
If these initial results hold true as more units are tested after the March 11th release, the M5 Max is positioned to claim the top spot on Geekbench’s Mac performance charts for both single and multi-core tasks. Beyond CPU metrics, the same benchmark run recorded a Metal score of 232,718 for graphics performance. This places the M5 Max second overall in Geekbench’s Metal rankings, trailing only the formidable M3 Ultra chip with its 32-core CPU and 80-core GPU configuration inside the high-end Mac Studio.
In related news, separate Geekbench entries have appeared for what is listed as the A18 chip, potentially destined for a future device like the rumored MacBook Neo. Those results show a single-core score of 3,461 and a multi-core score of 8,668, marking a very minor performance increase over the A18 silicon in the latest iPhone models. As with all unreleased product benchmarks, it is wise to view these early numbers as promising indicators rather than definitive final performance. The true test will come when these new Macs are in the hands of professionals and enthusiasts who can put them through real-world workflows.
(Source: 9to5Mac)
