Apple M2 (8-core) vs Apple M5 (10-core)
44Single-core100
24.7Multi-core47.2
80Efficiencyspec-based93.3
35Platformspec-based40
0 spec wins — Apple M2 (8-core)11 spec wins — Apple M5 (10-core)
InnoReviews verdict
Apple M5 (10-core) wins this laptop processor face-off, 68.4 to 41, pulling ahead mainly in single-core (+56) and multi-core (+23). Apple M2 (8-core) still makes sense if its price or standout specs fit your needs better.
Which would you pick?
Key differences
Reasons to pick the Apple M2 (8-core)
No decisive spec advantages — this side competes on price and preference.
Reasons to pick the Apple M5 (10-core)
- Stronger single-core score: 100 vs 44
- Stronger multi-core score: 47 vs 25
- 83% higher Cinebench R23 (multi): 15,893 vs 8,700
- 78% higher Geekbench 6 (multi): 17,314 vs 9,750
- 63% higher Geekbench 6 (single): 4,228 vs 2,600
General
| Spec | Apple M2 (8-core) | Apple M5 (10-core) |
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2022 | 2025 |
| Process | 5 nm | 3 nm+40% |
Cores & Clocks
| Spec | Apple M2 (8-core) | Apple M5 (10-core) |
|---|---|---|
| Cores | 8 | 10+25% |
| Performance cores | 4 | 4 |
| Efficiency cores | 4 | 6+50% |
| Threads | 8 | 10+25% |
| Base clock | — | 3.1 GHz |
| Boost clock | 3.5 GHz | 4.6 GHz+32% |
Integrated GPU
| Spec | Apple M2 (8-core) | Apple M5 (10-core) |
|---|---|---|
| iGPU | Apple 10-core GPU | Apple 10-core GPU |
Memory
| Spec | Apple M2 (8-core) | Apple M5 (10-core) |
|---|---|---|
| Memory support | LPDDR5-6400 | LPDDR5X-9600 |
| Max memory | 24 GB | 32 GB+33% |
Benchmarks
| Spec | Apple M2 (8-core) | Apple M5 (10-core) |
|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 (single) | 2,600Top 57% | 4,228+63%Top 5% |
| Geekbench 6 (multi) | 9,750Top 83% | 17,314+78%Top 24% |
| Cinebench R23 (single) | 1,580Top 86% | 2,459+56%Top 2% |
| Cinebench R23 (multi) | 8,700Top 91% | 15,893+83%Top 50% |
| PassMark | — | 26,752Top 59% |
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