Performance Comparison: Apple M5 Shows Up to 9% Speed Difference Between New iPad Pro and MacBook Pro Due to Clock Speed Variations and Chip Binning Insights

Recent benchmarks have revealed intriguing insights about the new M5 iPad Pro and M5 MacBook Pro, both of which utilize the same chipset upgrade. Initially, it was assumed that their performance capabilities would align perfectly, given their identical CPU and GPU core counts. However, initial test results indicate that Apple may be implementing advanced chip-binning techniques, leading to noticeable disparities in their performance core clock speeds.

Clock Speeds Reveal Key Differences in Performance

Benchmark data from Geekbench 6, shared by @TECHINFOSOCIALS on X, highlights that the single-core and multi-core performance of the M5 iPad Pro and M5 MacBook Pro differ significantly. While it’s logical to expect those differences due to the thermal management advantages of the MacBook Pro’s fan, a closer examination of the clock speeds of their performance cores offers clearer insights.

The M5 MacBook Pro’s six performance cores soar to a peak frequency of 4.61GHz, whereas the M5 iPad Pro’s equivalent cores operate at a slightly lower frequency of 4.43GHz, according to Geekbench 6 data. This variation not only suggests a distinction in single-core performance but also implies a more substantial gap in multi-threaded results. Below is a simplified comparison of their benchmark scores:

M5 iPad Pro Geekbench 6 Results:

Single-core: 4, 138
Multi-core: 16, 366

M5 MacBook Pro Geekbench 6 Results:

Single-core: 4, 263
Multi-core: 17, 862

Performance Comparison:

Single-core performance: M5 MacBook Pro is 3% faster than the M5 iPad Pro
Multi-core performance: M5 MacBook Pro is 9% faster than the M5 iPad Pro

Apple has started listing core counts for RAM, CPU, and GPU across its M5 iPad Pro models, showcasing improved transparency for consumers. Nevertheless, the company continues to omit details regarding clock speed variations, which indicates a strategic approach to chip-binning aimed at differentiating its products. Apple has effectively utilized chip-binning for years, allowing it to optimize manufacturing costs while retaining performance standards.

This revelation marks the first instance where Apple appears to have differentiated clock speeds within its flagship silicon product range. Traditionally, variations were categorized by the number of GPU cores, making this a noteworthy departure. However, it’s essential to consider a peculiar observation: a search for ‘iPad17, 4′ on the Geekbench 6 database offers numerous results, while ‘Mac17, 2′ shows an empty query. Therefore, users are advised to approach these performance figures with some caution until further information becomes available.

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