With January already speeding by, the next big Apple silicon wave is coming into focus. The M5 Pro, M5 Max, and M5 Ultra are widely expected to arrive in the first half of the year, and early benchmark chatter suggests Apple’s next MacBook Pro upgrades could bring a sizable jump in graphics performance. In fact, leaked Geekbench 6 Metal results indicate the M5 Max may not only leap ahead of the M4 Max, but also edge out the M3 Ultra—even when the Ultra is running its massive 80-core GPU configuration. The M5 Pro also shows surprisingly strong momentum, potentially making it the sweet spot for many buyers.
It’s important to treat early benchmarks as a preview rather than a verdict. Scores can shift as hardware and software are finalized, and real-world performance varies depending on workloads, thermals, and memory configuration. Still, these numbers offer a useful performance guideline for anyone thinking about whether to upgrade now or wait for the next MacBook Pro generation.
Here are the reported Geekbench 6 Metal GPU scores:
M4 Pro (20-core GPU) – 112,304
M5 Pro (20-core GPU) – 151,307 (about 34.73 percent faster than M4 Pro)
M4 Max (40-core GPU) – 191,465
M5 Max (40-core GPU) – 257,960 (about 34.73 percent faster than M4 Max, and about 2.58 percent faster than M3 Ultra)
M3 Ultra (80-core GPU) – 251,466
The standout here is the M5 Max. A roughly 35% jump over the M4 Max in the same benchmark is a meaningful generational gain, and the fact that it can surpass the M3 Ultra’s score—even slightly—suggests Apple is pushing its laptop-class silicon into territory that previously required a desktop-grade chip.
The M5 Pro’s score is arguably just as interesting for everyday buyers. With its 20-core GPU beating the M4 Pro convincingly, it looks like a strong middle-ground option for people who want serious graphics acceleration for creative apps, occasional gaming, or GPU-accelerated workflows, without paying top dollar for the Max tier.
There’s also a pricing caveat. Apple is expected to stick with its unified memory setup, and the M5 Max will likely ship with higher baseline memory configurations than before. That’s good news for performance and longevity—but in the middle of ongoing memory pricing pressure across the industry, it could also mean higher starting prices, especially if you’re aiming for higher RAM tiers.
Competition-wise, Apple has already shown it can stay ahead of rival flagship laptop chips in key CPU benchmarks. If these M5 Max GPU results hold up, it may extend that lead further when the new MacBook Pro models land.
For anyone planning an upgrade, the takeaway is simple: the M5 Pro and M5 Max are shaping up to deliver real graphics gains, with the M5 Max potentially becoming Apple’s fastest silicon yet in this GPU-focused benchmark. If your workload leans heavily on GPU performance, the upcoming MacBook Pro refresh could be a particularly compelling generation—just be prepared for premium pricing at the high end.
