The new M5 iPad Pro and M5 MacBook Pro appear to have the same chipset upgrade, but we believed that until the first benchmark comparisons were out. From the looks of it, both products have their performance cores running at different clock speeds, despite sporting the same number of CPU and GPU cores, hinting that Apple is taking chip-binning to a whole new level.
Single-core differences are less prominent, with the highest clock speeds of the M5 operating at an impressive 4.61GHz
Some Geekbench 6 single-core and multi-core score comparisons were posted by @TECHINFOSOCIALS on X, and the first thing we noticed was that both results were different on the M5 iPad Pro and M5 MacBook Pro. Since Apple’s latest portable Mac is equipped with a fan that allows for better heat dissipation, we assumed that this was the reason for the differences in the results, until we looked closer at the performance cores.
The M5 MacBook Pro’s six performance cores run at 4.61GHz, while the ones on the M5 iPad Pro have a 4.43GHz frequency, at least that is what Geekbench 6 is reporting. As expected, this variation will not just have a single-core score difference, but the multi-threaded results will display a larger delta. To make the comparison simpler, we have provided the numbers below.
M5 iPad Pro Geekbench 6 results
- Single-core - 4,138
- Multi-core - 16,366
M5 MacBook Pro Geekbench 6 results
- Single-core - 4,263
- Multi-core - 17,862
Performance differences
- Single-core - M5 MacBook Pro is 3 percent faster than the M5 iPad Pro
- Multi-core - M5 MacBook Pro is 9 percent faster than the M5 iPad Pro
Apple now displays the RAM, CPU, and GPU core count for every single one of its M5 iPad Pro models, showing more transparency to the buyer. However, the company still refrains from providing clock speed differences, hinting that the M5 is undergoing a deeper level of chip-binning to offer some contrast between products. Now, keep in mind that chip-binning has been adopted for years, and Apple has followed this approach for as long as we can remember to save millions in production costs.
However, this might be the first time Apple has introduced clock speed variations for its flagship silicon, whereas previously, the technology giant would separate two chipsets by the number of GPU cores they sport. This is an interesting step taken by the company, but here is the puzzling part. When searching on Geekbench 6’s database, we spotted a myriad of M5 iPad Pro results when typing in ‘iPad17,4,’ but the same database was empty when we typed in ‘Mac17,2.’ With that being said, you should treat these numbers with a pinch of salt until further notice.
About the author: Omar Sohail is a reporter and analyst for Wccftech's mobile section, specializing in the technology and business of the mobile industry. His expertise lies in the intricate hardware supply chain, covering developments in semiconductor manufacturing, chip lithography, and camera sensor technology.
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