Apple M5 10 Cores
vs
Apple M6 12 Cores
vs
CPU Comparison Result
Below are the results of a comparison of
Apple M5 10 Cores
and
Apple M6 12 Cores
processors based on key performance characteristics, as well as power consumption and much more.
Advantages
- Higher Memory Type: LPDDR5X unified memory (LPDDR5X unified memory vs Unified memory)
- More Total Cores: 12 (10 vs 12)
- Higher Technology: 2 nm (Third-generation 3 nm vs 2 nm)
- Newer Launch Date: August 2026 (October 2025 vs August 2026)
Basic
Apple
Label Name
Apple
October 2025
Launch Date
August 2026
Laptop
Platform
Laptop
Apple custom ARM architecture
CPU Architecture
-
Apple M5
CPU Name
Apple M6
Apple M5 10-Core
Model Name
?
The Intel processor number is just one of several factors - along with processor brand, system configurations, and system-level benchmarks - to be considered when choosing the right processor for your computing needs.
Apple M6 12 Cores
TSMC N3P
Foundry
TSMC N2
M5
Generation
M6
CPU Specifications
-
Performance-core Multi-Core Max Frequency
4.61 GHz
-
Super-core Max Frequency
4.80 GHz
10
Total Cores
?
Cores is a hardware term that describes the number of independent central processing units in a single computing component (die or chip).
12
10
Total Threads
?
Where applicable, Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology is only available on Performance-cores.
12
4
Performance-cores
4
6
Efficient-cores
6
-
Super-cores
2
4.61 GHz
Max Turbo Frequency
?
Max Turbo Frequency is the maximum single-core frequency at which the processor is capable of operating using Intel® Turbo Boost Technology and, if present, Intel® Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 and Intel® Thermal Velocity Boost. Frequency is typically measured in gigahertz (GHz), or billion cycles per second.
-
3.05 GHz
Efficient-core Max Turbo Frequency
?
Maximum E-core turbo frequency derived from Intel® Turbo Boost Technology.
3.20 GHz
4.61 GHz
Performance-core Max Turbo Frequency
?
Maximum P-core turbo frequency derived from Intel® Turbo Boost Technology.
-
Third-generation 3 nm
Technology
?
Lithography refers to the semiconductor technology used to manufacture an integrated circuit, and is reported in nanometer (nm), indicative of the size of features built on the semiconductor.
2 nm
Memory Specifications
LPDDR5X unified memory
Memory Type
?
Intel® processors come in four different types: Single Channel, Dual Channel, Triple Channel, and Flex Mode. Maximum supported memory speed may be lower when populating multiple DIMMs per channel on products that support multiple memory channels.
Unified memory
-
LPDDR5 Speed
10667 MT/s
32 GB
Max Memory Size
?
Max memory size refers to the maximum memory capacity supported by the processor.
32 GB
153 GB/s
Max Memory Bandwidth
?
Max Memory bandwidth is the maximum rate at which data can be read from or stored into a semiconductor memory by the processor (in GB/s).
170 GB/s
9600 MT/s
Maximum Memory Speed
-
GPU Specifications
Thunderbolt / DisplayPort over USB-C; HDMI
External Display Standard
DisplayPort 1.4 over Thunderbolt 4; HDMI
Apple M5 10-core GPU
GPU Name
Apple M6 12-core GPU
Supported
Hardware-accelerated ray tracing
Supported
Up to two external displays: two 6K at 60Hz or 4K at 144Hz; or one 8K at 60Hz, 5K at 120Hz or 4K at 240Hz
Max External Display Resolution
Up to 8K at 60Hz or 5K at 120Hz or 4K at 240Hz
H.264, HEVC, ProRes, ProRes RAW, AV1; hardware-accelerated; frame rate not disclosed
Video Decode
H.264, HEVC, ProRes, ProRes RAW, AV1
H.264, HEVC, ProRes, ProRes RAW; hardware-accelerated; frame rate not disclosed
Video Encode
H.264, HEVC, ProRes, ProRes RAW
10
Graphics Core Count
12
Up to 8K at 60Hz or 4K at 240Hz
Max Resolution
Up to 8K at 60Hz or 5K at 120Hz or 4K at 240Hz
-
Number of Displays Supported
3
Metal
GPU APIs
-
Hardware-accelerated H.264, HEVC, ProRes and ProRes RAW; AV1 decode
Media Engine
Hardware-accelerated H.264, HEVC, ProRes and ProRes RAW; AV1 decode
1
Video Decode Engines
1
1
Video Encode Engines
1
1
ProRes Encode/Decode Engines
1
AI Specifications
Apple Neural Engine with Neural Accelerators in GPU cores
AI Engine
Dual 16-core Neural Engine; Neural Accelerators in each GPU core
16
Neural Engine Core Count
32
16-core Neural Engine
NPU Name
Dual 16-core Neural Engine
Connectivity
Supported
Bluetooth Support
-
Interfaces and Ports
Thunderbolt 4
Thunderbolt Support
Thunderbolt 4
USB 4 up to 40Gb/s
USB Version
-
Supported
USB4 Support
Supported
Benchmarks
Geekbench 6 Single Core
Apple M5 10 Cores
4228
Apple M6 12 Cores
4501
+6%
Geekbench 6 Multi Core
Apple M5 10 Cores
17314
Apple M6 12 Cores
21312
+23%
Cinebench 2024 Single Core
Apple M5 10 Cores
200
Apple M6 12 Cores
220
+10%
Cinebench 2024 Multi Core
Apple M5 10 Cores
1030
Apple M6 12 Cores
1368
+33%
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