Apple M5 10 Cores
Apple M6 12 Cores vs Apple M5 10 Cores
CPU Comparison Result
Below are the results of a comparison of the characteristics and performance of the Apple M6 12 Cores and Apple M5 10 Cores processors. This comparison will help you determine which one best suits your needs.
Basic
Label Name
Apple
Apple
Launch Date
August 2026
October 2025
Platform
Laptop
Laptop
CPU Name
Apple M6
Apple M5
Model Name
?
The Intel processor number is just one of several factors - along with processor brand, system configurations, and system-level benchmarks - to be considered when choosing the right processor for your computing needs.
Apple M6 12 Cores
Apple M5 10-Core
Foundry
TSMC N2
TSMC N3P
Generation
M6
M5
CPU Specifications
Performance-core Multi-Core Max Frequency
4.61 GHz
-
Efficient-cores
6
6
Super-core Max Frequency
4.80 GHz
-
Performance-cores
4
4
Super-cores
2
-
Total Cores
?
Cores is a hardware term that describes the number of independent central processing units in a single computing component (die or chip).
12
10
Total Threads
?
Where applicable, Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology is only available on Performance-cores.
12
10
CPU Architecture
-
Apple custom ARM architecture
Max Turbo Frequency
?
Max Turbo Frequency is the maximum single-core frequency at which the processor is capable of operating using Intel® Turbo Boost Technology and, if present, Intel® Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 and Intel® Thermal Velocity Boost. Frequency is typically measured in gigahertz (GHz), or billion cycles per second.
-
4.61 GHz
Efficient-core Max Turbo Frequency
?
Maximum E-core turbo frequency derived from Intel® Turbo Boost Technology.
3.20 GHz
3.05 GHz
Performance-core Max Turbo Frequency
?
Maximum P-core turbo frequency derived from Intel® Turbo Boost Technology.
-
4.61 GHz
Technology
?
Lithography refers to the semiconductor technology used to manufacture an integrated circuit, and is reported in nanometer (nm), indicative of the size of features built on the semiconductor.
2 nm
Third-generation 3 nm
Memory Specifications
Memory Type
?
Intel® processors come in four different types: Single Channel, Dual Channel, Triple Channel, and Flex Mode. Maximum supported memory speed may be lower when populating multiple DIMMs per channel on products that support multiple memory channels.
Unified memory
LPDDR5X unified memory
LPDDR5 Speed
10667 MT/s
-
Max Memory Size
?
Max memory size refers to the maximum memory capacity supported by the processor.
32 GB
32 GB
Max Memory Bandwidth
?
Max Memory bandwidth is the maximum rate at which data can be read from or stored into a semiconductor memory by the processor (in GB/s).
170 GB/s
153 GB/s
Maximum Memory Speed
-
9600 MT/s
GPU Specifications
External Display Standard
DisplayPort 1.4 over Thunderbolt 4; HDMI
Thunderbolt / DisplayPort over USB-C; HDMI
GPU Name
Apple M6 12-core GPU
Apple M5 10-core GPU
Hardware-accelerated ray tracing
Supported
Supported
Max External Display Resolution
Up to 8K at 60Hz or 5K at 120Hz or 4K at 240Hz
Up to two external displays: two 6K at 60Hz or 4K at 144Hz; or one 8K at 60Hz, 5K at 120Hz or 4K at 240Hz
Video Decode
H.264, HEVC, ProRes, ProRes RAW, AV1
H.264, HEVC, ProRes, ProRes RAW, AV1; hardware-accelerated; frame rate not disclosed
Video Encode
H.264, HEVC, ProRes, ProRes RAW
H.264, HEVC, ProRes, ProRes RAW; hardware-accelerated; frame rate not disclosed
Graphics Core Count
12
10
Max Resolution
Up to 8K at 60Hz or 5K at 120Hz or 4K at 240Hz
Up to 8K at 60Hz or 4K at 240Hz
Number of Displays Supported
3
-
GPU APIs
-
Metal
Media Engine
Hardware-accelerated H.264, HEVC, ProRes and ProRes RAW; AV1 decode
Hardware-accelerated H.264, HEVC, ProRes and ProRes RAW; AV1 decode
Video Decode Engines
1
1
Video Encode Engines
1
1
ProRes Encode/Decode Engines
1
1
AI Specifications
NPU Name
Dual 16-core Neural Engine
16-core Neural Engine
AI Engine
Dual 16-core Neural Engine; Neural Accelerators in each GPU core
Apple Neural Engine with Neural Accelerators in GPU cores
Neural Engine Core Count
32
16
Connectivity
Bluetooth Support
-
Supported
Interfaces and Ports
Thunderbolt Support
Thunderbolt 4
Thunderbolt 4
USB Version
-
USB 4 up to 40Gb/s
USB4 Support
Supported
Supported
Advantages
Apple M6 12 Cores
- More Total Cores: 12 (12 vs 10)
- Higher Technology: 2 nm (2 nm vs Third-generation 3 nm)
- Newer Launch Date: August 2026 (August 2026 vs October 2025)
Apple M5 10 Cores
- Higher Memory Type: LPDDR5X unified memory (Unified memory vs LPDDR5X unified memory)
Geekbench 7
Single Core
Apple M6 12 Cores
+10%
4077
Apple M5 10 Cores
3703
Multi Core
Apple M6 12 Cores
+20%
22392
Apple M5 10 Cores
18638
SiliconCat Rating
19
Ranks 19 among Laptop CPU on our website
118
Ranks 118 among all CPU on our website
