Apple M3 Pro (12-core) vs Apple M5 Pro (18-core)
64.4Single-core100
43.5Multi-core97.2
93.3Efficiencyspec-based93.3
43.4Platformspec-based57.5
1 spec wins — Apple M3 Pro (12-core)8 spec wins — Apple M5 Pro (18-core)
InnoReviews verdict
Apple M5 Pro (18-core) wins this laptop processor face-off, 90.7 to 57.6, pulling ahead mainly in multi-core (+54) and single-core (+36). Apple M3 Pro (12-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 M3 Pro (12-core)
No decisive spec advantages — this side competes on price and preference.
Reasons to pick the Apple M5 Pro (18-core)
- Stronger single-core score: 100 vs 64
- Stronger multi-core score: 97 vs 44
- 200% higher Performance cores: 18 vs 6
- 86% higher Geekbench 6 (multi): 28,436 vs 15,300
- 78% higher Max memory: 64 GB vs 36 GB
General
| Spec | Apple M3 Pro (12-core) | Apple M5 Pro (18-core) |
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2023 | 2026 |
| Process | 3 nm | 3 nm |
Cores & Clocks
| Spec | Apple M3 Pro (12-core) | Apple M5 Pro (18-core) |
|---|---|---|
| Cores | 12 | 18+50% |
| Performance cores | 6 | 18+200% |
| Efficiency cores | 6 | 0 |
| Threads | 12 | 18+50% |
| Base clock | — | 4.4 GHz |
| Boost clock | 4.1 GHz | 4.6 GHz+14% |
| L3 cache | — | 24 MB |
Integrated GPU
| Spec | Apple M3 Pro (12-core) | Apple M5 Pro (18-core) |
|---|---|---|
| iGPU | Apple 18-core GPU | Apple 20-core GPU |
Memory
| Spec | Apple M3 Pro (12-core) | Apple M5 Pro (18-core) |
|---|---|---|
| Memory support | LPDDR5-6400 | LPDDR5X-9600 |
| Max memory | 36 GB | 64 GB+78% |
Benchmarks
| Spec | Apple M3 Pro (12-core) | Apple M5 Pro (18-core) |
|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 (single) | 3,100Top 18% | 4,295+39%Top 4% |
| Geekbench 6 (multi) | 15,300Top 32% | 28,436+86%Top 2% |
| Cinebench R23 (single) | 1,930Top 39% | — |
| Cinebench R23 (multi) | 14,800Top 53% | — |
| PassMark | — | 57,103Top 9% |
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