Apple M5 Max (18-core) vs Intel Core Ultra 5 226V
92Single-core57.6
96.6Multi-core39.3
93.3Efficiencyspec-based88.5
—iGPU73.7
61.9Platformspec-based32.7
11 spec wins — Apple M5 Max (18-core)0 spec wins — Intel Core Ultra 5 226V
InnoReviews verdict
Apple M5 Max (18-core) wins this laptop processor face-off, 89 to 53.7, pulling ahead mainly in multi-core (+57) and single-core (+34). Intel Core Ultra 5 226V 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 single-core score: 92 vs 58
- Stronger multi-core score: 97 vs 39
- 700% higher Max memory: 128 GB vs 16 GB
- 222% higher PassMark: 57,677 vs 17,934
- 202% higher Geekbench 6 (multi): 29,256 vs 9,700
Reasons to pick the Intel Core Ultra 5 226V
No decisive spec advantages — this side competes on price and preference.
General
| Spec | Apple M5 Max (18-core) | Intel Core Ultra 5 226V |
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2026 | 2024 |
| Process | 3 nm | 3 nm |
| Base TDP | — | 17 W |
| Max TDP | — | 37 W |
Cores & Clocks
| Spec | Apple M5 Max (18-core) | Intel Core Ultra 5 226V |
|---|---|---|
| Cores | 18+125% | 8 |
| Performance cores | 6+50% | 4 |
| Efficiency cores | 12+200% | 4 |
| Threads | 18+125% | 8 |
| Base clock | — | 2.1 GHz |
| Boost clock | 4.6 GHz+2% | 4.5 GHz |
| L3 cache | 24 MB+200% | 8 MB |
Integrated GPU
| Spec | Apple M5 Max (18-core) | Intel Core Ultra 5 226V |
|---|---|---|
| iGPU | Apple 40-core GPU | Intel Arc 130V |
| iGPU clock | — | 1,850 MHz |
Memory
| Spec | Apple M5 Max (18-core) | Intel Core Ultra 5 226V |
|---|---|---|
| Memory support | LPDDR5X-9600 | LPDDR5X-8533 (on-package) |
| Max memory | 128 GB+700% | 16 GB |
Benchmarks
| Spec | Apple M5 Max (18-core) | Intel Core Ultra 5 226V |
|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 (single) | 4,322+76%Top 3% | 2,450Bottom 48% |
| Geekbench 6 (multi) | 29,256+202%Top 2% | 9,700Bottom 37% |
| Cinebench R23 (single) | — | 1,650Bottom 45% |
| Cinebench R23 (multi) | — | 8,700Bottom 30% |
| PassMark | 57,677+222%Top 2% | 17,934Bottom 43% |
| 3DMark Time Spy Graphics (iGPU) | — | 3,371Top 10% |
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