Apple M5 Max (18-core) vs Apple M6 (12-core)
92Single-core98.1
96.6Multi-core70.6
93.3Efficiencyspec-based100
61.9Platformspec-based42.2
6 spec wins — Apple M5 Max (18-core)3 spec wins — Apple M6 (12-core)
InnoReviews verdict
Apple M5 Max (18-core) wins this laptop processor face-off, 89 to 78.4, pulling ahead mainly in multi-core (+26). Apple M6 (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 M5 Max (18-core)
- Stronger multi-core score: 97 vs 71
- 300% higher Max memory: 128 GB vs 32 GB
- 100% higher Efficiency cores: 12 vs 6
- 59% higher PassMark: 57,677 vs 36,310
- 50% higher cores: 18 vs 12
Reasons to pick the Apple M6 (12-core)
- Stronger single-core score: 98 vs 92
- 33% lower process: 2 nm vs 3 nm
General
| Spec | Apple M5 Max (18-core) | Apple M6 (12-core) |
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2026 | 2026 |
| Process | 3 nm | 2 nm+33% |
Cores & Clocks
| Spec | Apple M5 Max (18-core) | Apple M6 (12-core) |
|---|---|---|
| Cores | 18+50% | 12 |
| Performance cores | 6 | 6 |
| Efficiency cores | 12+100% | 6 |
| Threads | 18+50% | 12 |
| Boost clock | 4.6 GHz | 4.8 GHz+4% |
| L3 cache | 24 MB | — |
Integrated GPU
| Spec | Apple M5 Max (18-core) | Apple M6 (12-core) |
|---|---|---|
| iGPU | Apple 40-core GPU | Apple 12-core GPU |
Memory
| Spec | Apple M5 Max (18-core) | Apple M6 (12-core) |
|---|---|---|
| Memory support | LPDDR5X-9600 | LPDDR5X |
| Max memory | 128 GB+300% | 32 GB |
Benchmarks
| Spec | Apple M5 Max (18-core) | Apple M6 (12-core) |
|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 (single) | 4,322Top 3% | 4,610+7%Top 2% |
| Geekbench 6 (multi) | 29,256+41%Top 2% | 20,676Top 11% |
| PassMark | 57,677+59%Top 2% | 36,310Top 17% |
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