The tested 14-inch M5 MacBook Pro beat tested 14-inch M4 and M3 models in Tom’s Guide’s CPU, storage and video-transcoding tests. But there is no cited, controlled test of base M2, M3, M4 and M5 Macs under identical conditions, so the available results do not establish a definitive four-generation speed ranking.
How much faster is M5 than M4?
In Tom’s Guide’s Geekbench 6 tests of 14-inch MacBook Pro laptops, the M5 system scored higher than the M4 system in both CPU tests. The percentage differences below are calculated from those reported scores; they describe these tested laptops, not every Mac using those chips.
| 14-inch MacBook Pro tested | Geekbench 6 single-core | Geekbench 6 multi-core |
|---|---|---|
| M5 | 4,288 | 17,926 |
| M4 | 3,807 | 15,114 |
| M3 | 3,138 | 12,018 |
| M2 | Not reported in Tom’s Guide’s comparison | Not reported in Tom’s Guide’s comparison |
Against the tested M4 laptop, the M5 scored about 12.6% higher in single-core and 18.6% higher in multi-core Geekbench 6. Against the tested M3 laptop, the corresponding score differences were about 36.6% and 49.2%. Those are benchmark-score comparisons, not promises that apps or everyday tasks will finish faster by the same percentages.
The comparison is between named laptop models, not chips tested in isolation. Tom’s Guide also reports results for M3 Pro, M3 Max and M4 Pro laptops; those are different chip tiers and should not be mixed into this base-chip comparison.
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Do the M5 results extend beyond CPU benchmarks?
Tom’s Guide reported results for two additional tests on its M5 and M4 MacBook Pro review systems. The tests measure different things and are not interchangeable with Geekbench CPU scores.
| Test | M5 MacBook Pro, 14-inch | M4 MacBook Pro, 14-inch |
|---|---|---|
| Blackmagic disk-speed write | 6,517.7 MB/s | 3,318.6 MB/s |
| Blackmagic disk-speed read | 6,619.7 MB/s | 2,899.5 MB/s |
| HandBrake 4K-to-1080p transcode | 3:31 | 4:31 |
In those reported results, the M5 laptop had higher measured storage throughput and finished the HandBrake transcode one minute sooner. Storage results depend on the tested drive and review procedure; a video-transcode time depends on the machines, software and settings used. These results do not establish the same advantage in every storage task or video workflow.
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What do M2, M3 and M4 comparisons tell us?
The Mac Observer published base-chip comparisons for M2, M3 and M4. Its CPU figures are useful as a cross-model reference, but not as a fresh, controlled retest: the author used Geekbench 5 where available, normalized some Geekbench 6 values, and noted that model configurations differ.
| Chip | CPU single-core | CPU multi-core | Geekbench 6 Metal GPU |
|---|---|---|---|
| M2 | 1,903 | 8,838 | 42,036 |
| M3 | 2,310 | 10,695 | 46,893 |
| M4 | 2,605 | 12,650 | 52,347 |
The CPU figures in this table come from The Mac Observer’s cross-model comparison, which mixes Geekbench versions and normalization; its Metal GPU figures use Geekbench 6. The Observer calculated the M3 and M4 GPU figures from recent entries because those chips were not included in the scoreboard averages. Metal is Apple’s graphics API, selected by the author for comparing Apple chips.
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The Mac Observer article whose title promises M2-through-M5 speed tests does not provide measured M5 results: it estimates M5 values and says actual M5 test results would be available after the chip was announced. Do not treat those projections as a fourth measured generation or append them to the table above as though they came from the same test series.
What did Apple claim about M5?
In its October 15, 2025 M5 announcement, Apple claimed up to 45 percent higher graphics performance and up to 15 percent faster multithreaded performance than M4. Apple also claimed over four times M4’s peak GPU compute performance for AI. These are manufacturer-reported results based on select benchmarks and particular preproduction M5 and production M4 MacBook Pro systems; Apple said the tests reflect approximate MacBook Pro performance.
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- HAPPILY EVER FASTER — Along with its faster CPU and unified memory, M5 features a more powerful GPU with a Neural Accelerator built into each core, delivering faster AI performance. So you can blaze through demanding workloads at mind-bending speeds.
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Keep the qualifiers attached to those numbers: “up to” is not a guarantee for every app, and peak GPU compute for AI is not a measure of general application speed. Apple senior vice president of Hardware Technologies Johny Srouji said, “With the introduction of Neural Accelerators in the GPU, M5 delivers a huge boost to AI workloads.” That is Apple’s launch statement, not an independent benchmark finding.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why scores can disagree with your experience
A benchmark score is evidence about one workload, not a universal speed rating. Geekbench single-core and multi-core tests measure different CPU behavior; Metal GPU scores measure graphics compute through Apple’s API; storage throughput and video-transcode time reflect still other parts of a system. A score increase in one category does not predict an equal improvement in another.
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- FLY THROUGH EVERYDAY ASSIGNMENTS — Whether you’re cramming for finals, using Apple Intelligence* to summarize class notes, creating presentations, or even playing the latest Apple Arcade game,* MacBook Neo delivers the performance and AI capabilities you need to get things done.
- UP TO 16 HOURS OF BATTERY LIFE — MacBook Neo delivers all day battery life, so you can power through from early morning classes to late night study sessions without worrying about plugging in.
- A VIBRANT 13-INCH DISPLAY* — The gorgeous Liquid Retina display on MacBook Neo supports 1 billion colors, so photos and videos pop and text is crisp for easy reading.
- Match the chip tier. Base, Pro and Max chips are not equivalent comparisons. Core counts, GPU configuration and memory capacity can differ.
- Match the laptop and configuration. Chassis, cooling, memory and storage can affect results. A larger or differently configured Mac should not stand in for a base-chip laptop without qualification.
- Check the benchmark version and workload. Geekbench 5 and Geekbench 6 scores should not be casually combined; CPU, GPU, storage and app results answer different questions.
- Separate review tests from crowd-sourced charts. Tom’s Guide reports tests on specific laptops. Geekbench’s Mac chart aggregates user-uploaded Geekbench 7 results, includes a Mac only after at least five unique results, and updates regularly. Its figures are live crowd-sourced results, not fixed laboratory measurements.
Is M5 worth upgrading to from M3 or M2?
The cited results support a clear M5-over-M3 and M5-over-M4 advantage in the specific 14-inch laptop CPU tests reported by Tom’s Guide, plus M5-over-M4 gains in its storage and HandBrake tests. They do not quantify a controlled M5-versus-M2 uplift. Nor do benchmark deltas alone say whether an upgrade is worth its cost for a particular owner.
For a decision, start with the work you actually do: sustained multi-core jobs, GPU-heavy tasks, AI workloads, video exports, or ordinary single-core app use can respond differently. Then compare the exact chip tier, memory and laptop configuration available to you, and the price difference. If your current Mac already completes your work comfortably, these scores by themselves do not establish a need to replace it; if a task is CPU- or GPU-limited, look for results from that application and a closely matched configuration rather than treating one benchmark as a forecast.
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