It’s hard to be a windows laptop guy - MacBook Pro M5

Quick Overview

The new MacBook Pro M5 significantly outperforms previous M-series chips in AI and GPU benchmarks, delivering over 6x peak GPU compute for AI compared to the M1, although the host notes that the M4 Pro is still faster in some tests and the high price point (starting at $4,499 for the 4TB configuration) makes upgrading difficult to justify for current M1 users.

Key Points: The MacBook Pro M5 shows massive gains in AI performance, achieving over 6x peak GPU compute compared to the M1 chip. In Cinebench 2024 GPU tests, the M5 scores 6854, significantly lower than the M4 Pro's 7711, but much higher than the M1 Max (3939) and M3 (3711). The M5 CPU scores 292 in Cinebench 2024 Single-Core, surpassing the M4 Pro (175), M3 (143), and M1 Max (190). Gaming performance (Grid Legends, 1080p Ultra) shows the M5 averaging 82 FPS, trailing the M4 Pro's 99 FPS, but significantly ahead of the M3 (47 FPS). The base M5 model starts with 8GB RAM and 512GB storage, while the high-end configuration shown costs $4,499.00 with 4TB storage. The host notes that the high cost and the already strong performance of the M1 generation make upgrading a difficult recommendation for existing users. The M5 features a 10-core GPU with a dedicated Neural Accelerator in each core.

Context: The video presents a review and performance analysis of the hypothetical new MacBook Pro featuring the M5 chip, comparing it against previous generations like the M4, M3, and M1 Max chips across various benchmarks including AI processing, GPU rendering, and gaming. The host, Linus Sebastian, frames the discussion around whether the M5 offers a compelling enough upgrade over the already powerful M1 generation, especially considering the high cost of the new models.

Detailed Analysis

The video reviews the perceived performance improvements of the hypothetical MacBook Pro M5. Initial unboxing reveals the inclusion of a USB-C to MagSafe power cable and a 70W USB-C Power Adapter, which the host appreciates, noting that MagSafe's return is a positive feature. Port selection (SDXC Card Slot, Thunderbolt 4, HDMI 2.1 on the right; MagSafe, 2x Thunderbolt 4, 3.5mm Headphone Jack on the left) is noted as largely unchanged from previous high-end models. The host tests the M5's capabilities, particularly in AI workloads, citing Apple's claim of over 6x peak GPU compute for AI compared to the M1. Benchmarks support significant gains: in UL Procyon AI tests, the M5 scores 1438, beating the M4 Pro (1359) and M1 Max (655). In Cinebench 2024 Single-Core, the M5 scores 292, significantly ahead of all predecessors. However, in GPU benchmarks, the M4 Pro still leads (7711 vs M5's 6854). Gaming tests using Cyberpunk 2077 show the M5 running natively at around 30 FPS in SDR, but the host criticizes the screen defaulting to 60Hz refresh rate in HDR instead of the expected 120Hz variable rate. The M5's performance in Total War: Warhammer III (32 FPS average) is better than the M3 (19 FPS) but trails the M4 Pro (38 FPS). The host concludes that while the M5 is very fast, especially in AI, the performance jump over the existing M1 generation (which he states was already 5 times stronger than his high school experience) might not warrant the high price tag ($4,499 for the top-spec model shown).